Development and series production of drive shafts, propeller shafts and joints for passenger cars and light commercial vehicles
IFA Holding GmbH
Haldensleben · Hanau · Summerville (Charleston), USA · Novi, USA · Ujazd, Poland · Shanghai, ChinaNew on Amplifa
About IFA Group
IFA Holding GmbH is an automotive supplier based in Haldensleben, Saxony-Anhalt, specialising in the development and series production of drive shafts, propeller shafts, side shafts as well as universal joints and constant velocity joints for vehicles with combustion, hybrid and battery drive. Founded in 1959 as a state-owned industrial combine and privatised in 1992 by Heinrich von Nathusius, the group generates an annual revenue of 448 million euros (2024) with around 1,520 employees. Production covers concept development and simulation, prototype construction, test bench validation and large-scale series production on semi-automatic lines; in 2024, 3.1 million propeller shafts, 1.1 million side shafts and 3.4 million joints were produced. Materials are mainly steel alloys for tubes and joints; in process development, friction welding and magnetic pulse welding processes, among others, are being tested. Customers include European, American and Asian vehicle manufacturers, including Volkswagen, Audi and German and Italian sports car manufacturers. In addition to its headquarters in Haldensleben, the group maintains locations in Hanau, Summerville (USA), Novi (USA), Ujazd (Poland) and Shanghai (China) with four test centres.
- Site
- Haldensleben
- Processes
- Friction welding with linear rubbing (in testing), Magnetic pulse welding (in testing), Coating with water-based paint / primer, Manufacturing of universal joints and constant velocity joints on semi-automatic production lines, Series production of propeller shafts (gelenkwellen), Series production of side shafts, Prototype construction (small series of drive shafts), Product validation / test bench testing (torque, rotational speed, temperature, vibration,
- Materials
- Steel alloys (state-of-the-art, for tubes and joints), Plastics (for joint sealing, in testing), Steel alloys, Water-based paint / primer, Friction welding with linear rubbing, Magnetic pulse welding, Plastics
- Certificates
- DIN EN ISO 9001:2015, IATF 16949:2016, ISO 14001:2015, DIN EN ISO 14001, ISO 45001:2018, TISAX, ISO 9001, IATF 16949, ISO 14001, ISO 45001
- Founded
- 1959
- Employees
- 1520
- Industries
- Automotive industry (passenger cars and light commercial vehicles), Combustion, hybrid and electric drive, Premium vehicles/sports cars, Automotive industry (passenger cars and light commercial vehicles)
- 01
Research & Development / Advance Development
- 02
Simulation and Concept Development (Digital Mock Up)
- 03
Prototype construction in small quantities
- 04
Product validation / Test bench trials in four test centres
- 05
Series production on semi-automatic production lines
- 06
Coating with water-based paint / primer
- 07
Installation and function testing in the vehicle
Materials and Processes
Steel alloys
State-of-the-art steel alloys for tubes and joints to increase service life and reduce weight.
Water-based paint / primer
Environmentally friendly primers and corrosion-inhibiting water-based paints are transferred to series production after testing.
Friction welding with linear rubbing
Welding process being tested on drive shafts (in testing).
Magnetic pulse welding
Welding process researched at universities, being tested on drive shafts (in testing).
Plastics
New plastics are being tested for improved sealing of joints.
Locations
Haldensleben
DEHeadquarters, development and production, prototype construction, test centre
- Lot size
- Large-scale series; prototype construction in small quantities
- Materials
- Steel alloys
- Lead test centre
- Prototype hall with own machine park
Hanau
DELocation
Summerville (Charleston), SC
USProduction (IFA Rotorion North America LLC)
- Lot size
- Large-scale series
- Materials
- Steel
Novi, MI
USSales/Development, test centre
- Test centre
Ujazd
PLSide shaft production, test centre (IFA Powertrain Polska Sp. z o.o.)
- Lot size
- Large-scale series
- Materials
- Steel
- Test centre
Shanghai
CNPlant, test centre (IFA Powertrain Shanghai Co., Ltd)
- Test centre
Industries
Processes & technical limits
| Processes | Tolerance | Max. part | Weight | Lot size | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friction welding with linear rubbing (in testing)Joining | – | – | – | – | Steel |
| Magnetic pulse welding (in testing)Joining | – | – | – | – | Steel |
| Coating with water-based paint / primerSurface | – | – | – | – | – |
| Manufacturing of universal joints and constant velocity joints on semi-automatic production linesAssembly | – | – | – | – | Steel |
| Series production of propeller shafts (gelenkwellen)Assembly | – | – | – | – | Steel |
| Series production of side shaftsAssembly | – | – | – | – | Steel |
| Prototype construction (small series of drive shafts)Assembly | – | – | – | small quantities | – |
| Product validation / test bench testing (torque, rotational speed, temperature, vibration,Testing | – | – | – | – | – |
| Simulation and concept development of drive shafts (Digital Mock Up)Engineering | – | – | – | – | – |
Additional services
Reference customers
Quality and Certification
Quality assurance follows the IFA Production System (IPS), which combines robust design with capable processes; inspections ensure that only conforming parts leave the workplace. Four test centres test torque, rotational speed, temperature, vibration, corrosion and crash loads; the management system is regularly audited according to TISAX.
| Evidence | Haldensleben | Summerville (Charleston), SC | Ujazd | Shanghai |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ISO 9001 | ||||
| IATF 16949 | ||||
| ISO 14001 | ||||
| ISO 45001 |
History
- 1800–1945
Johann Gottlob Nathusius founded mechanical and plant engineering in the Magdeburg region; the family tradition of the von Nathusius family shaped the region over three generations.
- 1959
Foundation of the state-owned industrial combine IFA-Gelenkwelle in Haldensleben from three nationalised machine-building companies.
- 1990
Conversion into a GmbH; the company passes into the ownership of the Treuhandanstalt.
- 1992
Privatisation by Heinrich von Nathusius on 15 June with 100 employees and a start-up investment of 10 million Deutschmarks.
- 1993
Renovation of the factory halls and equipment; first large orders for all-wheel drive shafts from Volkswagen and Audi.
- 1996
Profitability achieved for the first time with revenue of 24 million Deutschmarks.
- 2000
Awarded the quality prize 'Formel Q' by Volkswagen.
- 2001
Expansion of production capacities in Haldensleben with a new hall and training centre.
- 2002
New plant in Gardelegen (IFA Antriebstechnik GmbH) after an investment of around 50 million euros.
- 2006
Cooperation with the Japanese NTN Group for the development and production of side shafts.
- 2009
Acquisition of the Rotorion propeller shaft division of Tognum AG (Daimler); integration of the Charleston plant (USA); company renamed IFA Rotorion with around 1,300 employees and around 350 million euros revenue.
- 2012
Federal Cross of Merit, First Class, for Heinrich von Nathusius.
- 2014
Award 'Factory of the Year' and opening of the Shanghai plant.
- 2015
Prize 'Macher 25' from the VBKI for Heinrich von Nathusius.
- 2016
Acquisition of part of a premium vehicle manufacturer's side shaft production; entry into side shafts for battery-electric vehicles.
- 2017
Opening of the Ujazd plant (Poland) for side shaft production.