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German car parts maker From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
ZF Friedrichshafen AG, also known as ZF Group, originally Zahnradfabrik Friedrichshafen (lit. 'Cogwheel Factory of Friedrichshafen'), and commonly abbreviated to ZF, is a German technology manufacturing company that supplies systems for passenger cars, commercial vehicles and industrial technology. It is headquartered in Friedrichshafen, in the south-west German state of Baden-Württemberg. Specializing in engineering, it is primarily known for its design, research and development, and manufacturing activities in the automotive industry and is one of the largest automotive suppliers in the world. Its products include driveline and chassis technology for cars and commercial vehicles, along with specialized plant equipment such as construction equipment. It is also involved in the rail, marine, defense and aviation industries, as well as general industrial applications. ZF has 162 production locations in 31 countries with approximately 168,700 (2023) employees.
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| Formerly | Zahnradfabrik GmbH (1915—1921) Zahnradfabrik Friedrichshafen AG (1921—1991) |
|---|---|
| Company type | Private (Aktiengesellschaft) |
| Industry | Engineering & manufacturing: Automotive industry (car and CV), rail transport, marine engineering, aviation |
| Predecessor | ZF Sachs  |
| Founded | 20 August 1915 |
| Founder | Ferdinand von Zeppelin Alfred von Soden-Fraunhofen |
| Headquarters | Friedrichshafen, Baden-Württemberg , Germany |
Number of locations | 162 production locations in 31 countries |
Area served | Worldwide[1] |
Key people |
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| Products | Transmission systems,[1] steering, axle components, Electronic Systems, Advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS), Inflatable Restraint Systems/Airbag, Seat Belt Systems, Brake Systems |
| Services | Design, Research and development |
| Revenue |  €46.6 billion (2023)[3] |
| €763 million (2023)[3] | |
 €126 million (2023)[3] | |
| Total assets | €39.170 billion (2023)[3] |
| Total equity | €7.512 billion (2023)[3] |
| Owners | Zeppelin Foundation (93.8%) Dr. Jürgen und Irmgard Ulderup Foundation (6.2%)[4][5] |
Number of employees | 167,738 (2023)[3] |
| Divisions | Active Safety Systems,[6] Car Chassis Technology, [6] Electrified Powertrain Technology, [6] Electronics & ADAS, [6] Passive Safety Systems, [6] Commercial Vehicle Solutions, [6] Industrial Technology, [6] Aftermarket [6] |
| Website | www |
The company was founded by Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin, the inventor of the zeppelin airship and engineer Alfred von Soden-Fraunhofen in 1915 in Friedrichshafen, Germany as a subsidiary of Luftschiffbau Zeppelin, to manufacture gears for zeppelins and other airships.[7] The German Zahnradfabrik translates to 'gear factory' or cogwheel factory' in English.
In 1999, the steering systems division was made separate and became the new ZF Lenksysteme GmbH, a joint venture between ZF Friedrichshafen and Robert Bosch GmbH.
Due to the 2008 financial crisis ZF took a €250 million loan from the state-owned KfW Bank and embarked on a company-wide restructure that shut down unprofitable locations, particularly outside Germany, the total number of employees was reduced from 63,000 to 59,000 worldwide.[8] CEO Hans-Georg Härter stated that the combined effects of the loan and restructuring will eliminate the need for further employee reduction.[9]
On 16 September 2014, the Wall Street Journal reported that ZF agreed to acquire TRW Automotive Holdings for $13.5 billion. The acquisition would create the world's second largest automotive parts concern, ranked just behind Robert Bosch GmbH.[10] For clearing way to acquire TRW Automotive Holdings, ZF Friedrichshafen AG sold its stake in ZF Lenksysteme GmbH to Robert Bosch GmbH.[11] ZF Lenksysteme GmbH has now been renamed as Robert Bosch Automotive Steering GmbH.[12]
In September 2020, ZF Friedrichshafen AG entered a partnership with Aeva Inc. to put LIDAR sensors for self-driving vehicles, into production.[13]
Some of the most important milestones:
ZF Friedrichshafen manufactures automatic and manual transmissions for cars, trucks, buses and construction equipment; chassis components (ball joints, tie rods, cross-axis joints, stabiliser bars, control arms); shock absorbers and suspension struts; electronic damping systems including Continuous Damping Control (CDC), Active Roll Stabilization (ARS); clutches; torque converters; differentials; axle drives; and industrial drives.
ZF products include[32]
 | This section contains content that is written like an advertisement. (June 2024) |
ZF components are utilized across a diverse range of vehicles and machinery, including cars, trucks, buses, light commercial vehicles, off-road equipment, rail vehicles, helicopters, motorcycles, lift trucks, machinery and system construction, test systems, cranes, as well as special marine, military and agricultural vehicles and equipment.
The ZF Lenksysteme division, a joint venture between ZF and Bosch, specializes in the production of steering systems and components. This includes steering columns, gears, pumps, Electric Power Steering (EPS), and Active Steering systems.
In response to the increasing adoption of automatic transmissions in buses, ZF developed the ZF AS Tronic transmission.[33] The company also produces a range of manual and automatic transmissions for trucks and buses. Notably, ZF transmissions, such as the Ecomat introduced in 1980, are widely used in buses.
ZF Lemförder and ZF Sachs AG are specialized divisions within ZF, focusing on the production of both original equipment and aftermarket auto parts.
| This section contains content that is written like an advertisement. (June 2024) |
ZF Friedrichshafen is organized into nine divisions, each focusing on different aspects of automotive and industrial technology:[1]
Sales (2020): €4,987 million.
Products: Electronic Stability Control, Integrated Brake Control, Electric Park Brakes, Electrically Powered Steering Systems, and Electrically Powered Hydraulic Steering Systems.
Sales (2020): €6,680 million.
Products: Chassis components for wheel guidance, complete front and rear axles, passive and semi-active dampers, and electromechanical active chassis systems.
Sales (2020): €8,459 million.
Products: Automatic Transmissions, Automated Manual Transmissions, Manual Transmissions, Dual-Clutch Automatic Transmissions, Powertrain Modules, Electronic Systems, Electric Motors, Electric Vehicle Drives, and Electronic Interfaces.
Sales (2020): €1,561 million.
Products: Advanced driver assistance systems, sensor technologies, integrated electronics, advanced safety domain control units, safety electronics such as airbag electronic control units, and crash sensors for the automotive industry.
Sales (2020): €3,503 million.
Products: Airbags, airbag inflators, seat belt systems, and steering wheels.
Sales (2020): €1,539 million.
Products: Braking control systems and advanced technologies that enhance the safety, efficiency, and connectivity of commercial vehicles.
Sales (2020): €3,307 million.
Products: Automated, manual, and powershift transmissions, drive components such as clutches and electric drives, ADAS technology including automated, camera and radar-based comfort and safety functions for trucks and buses, chassis systems, chassis components, and steering systems for vehicles.
Sales (2020): €2,687 million. Products: Transmissions and axles for agricultural and construction machinery, driveline technology for material handling systems, rail and special vehicles, marine propulsion systems, aviation technology, gearboxes for wind turbines and industrial applications, and test systems for driveline and chassis technology.
Sales (2020): €2,522 million.
Brands: ZF, LEMFÖRDER, SACHS, TRW, and BOGE.
TRW Automotive, based in Livonia, Michigan, was originally the automotive division of TRW Inc., established in 2002. It specializes in designing, manufacturing, and selling automotive safety systems. With approximately 200 facilities and 66,100 employees across 26 countries, TRW Automotive was acquired by ZF Friedrichshafen in 2015 and now forms the Active & Passive Safety Technology division.
In October 2022, ZF spun off the Passive Safety Systems division into a standalone entity, ZF Lifetec, focusing on vehicle safety tests and equipment.[34]
ZF Group operates globally, with Europe as its primary market, followed by the Asia-Pacific region, North and South America and Middle East & Africa.[promotion?]
The company maintains six research and development (R&D) centers worldwide to tailor product development to local markets, investing approximately 5% of its sales revenue annually in R&D.
In Great Britain, ZF has been active since 1973. The manufacturing base in Darlaston supplies chassis components to the British automotive industry, including Jaguar, BMW, and Land Rover. ZF Great Britain Ltd. in Nottingham also has a remanufacturing facility and customer support operations.[35]
In the NAFTA region, ZF operates 16 locations, including an R&D center near Detroit and a manufacturing plant in Laurens County, South Carolina, which began production in 2013.[36]
ZF has a significant presence in Asia, focusing on China, Korea, Japan, and Australia. Liuzhou ZF Machinery Co., Ltd. in China, a joint venture with Guangxi LiuGong Machinery Co., manufactures driveline components for construction machinery.[citation needed]
ZF's presence in India includes joint ventures and license partnerships spanning over three decades. ZF India Private Ltd., operational since 2007 in Pune, focuses on axles, off-road driveline technology, and commercial vehicle technology. The facility includes factory buildings, a warehouse, and an aftermarket service facility.
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