Dana Holding Corp. and Europe’s Rexroth AG have inked a memorandum of understanding to form a 50-50 joint venture that will develop and manufacture transmissions for the global off-highway market. This effort follows an ongoing joint project by the two companies to develop power split transmissions for construction machines.
The planned joint-venture company – as-yet unnamed, but expected to operate in Arco, Italy – aims to engineer, manufacture, and market hydro-mechanical variable powersplit transmission systems (HVT), a technology designed to improve fuel economy, vehicle productivity, reduce emissions, and boost maneuverability simultaneously.
"We are excited about the opportunities that this combination of two respected global off-highway transmission manufacturers presents," said George Constand, Dana’s chief technical officer. "Together, Dana and Bosch Rexroth offer a broad range of complementary skill sets, which will enable the joint venture to deliver a unique array of advanced transmission solutions to the off-highway marketplace."
In particular, the planned joint venture combines Dana's expertise in off-highway transmission engineering and manufacturing with Bosch Rexroth's knowledge of hydraulics and systems, he said.
"The smart interaction of hydraulics and mechanics will be the driving factor for future innovation in drive transmissions," added Reiner Leipold-Buettner, Bosch Rexroth’s executive vp of engineering and manufacturing. "Only those with the best know-how in both fields will master the growing market demands. Dana and Bosch Rexroth ideally combine both fields."
