SAT acquisition adds to ZFs agricultural strength
SAT acquisition adds to ZFs agricultural strength
By Peter Hill
GERMAN power transmissions specialist ZF has secured a firmer grip on the agricultural sector by acquiring Steyr Antriebstechnik (SAT), the off-highway drivelines division of the Austrian Steyr-Daimler-Puch group.
The Steyr-Daimler-Puch group has been divided into a number of autonomous divisions recently. The agricultural tractor business was bought by Case Corporation in 1996, while Magna International of Canada bought the groups automotive interests, which include assembly of Chryslers Jeep 4×4 and Voyager MPV at Graz, Austria.
Magna has sold the off-highway drivelines business to ZF to concentrate on its road vehicles.
As the industrys leading supplier of tractor axles and transmissions, the ZF logo can be found on the front drive axles of John Deere 6010 Series, Massey Ferguson 8200 Series and biggest Deutz-Fahr Agrotron models. ZF also manufactures front drive axles – both rigid and incorporating hydraulic suspension – for Fendt tractors.
And ZF gearboxes and transaxles are used in a number of Agrotron models, in Steyr 9100 series and equivalent Case-IH CS tractors and the Fendt Favorit 800 Series. The firm will also supply transmissions jointly developed with Valtra for the Valmet S Series, a four-model range of up to 260hp tractors due for launch later this year.
The acquisition of ZF Steyr, as the new business unit is called, adds supply contracts for Agrotron rear axles, and Steyr/Case-IH CS tractor rear axles and gearboxes.
The deal also gives ZF a strong grip on the burgeoning market for continuously variable tractor transmissions. SAT developed the hydro-mechanical gearbox now commercially launched in Case-IH CVX and Steyr CVT tractors (FW, 16 June). ZF has its own design, called Eccom, which is set to be launched by Deutz-Fahr and as-yet undisclosed manufacturers preparing to join the tractor transmissions revolution. *
Transaxle assemblies produced at ZFs newly-acquired Steyr manufacturing facility in Austria are used in all Steyr/Case-IH CS tractor and some Deutz-Fahr Agrotron models.