Rolls-Royce, ZF Strengthen Propulsion Ties
An agreement between ZF Friedrichshafen AG and Rolls-Royce Power Systems will see the two companies collaborate even more closely on the development, marketing, sales and service of marine propulsion systems.
The combination of MTU engines from Rolls-Royce Power Systems and marine transmissions from ZF have long been a match for many commercial ships and yachts. Now, the two companies plan to work together even more intensively to develop new technologies and products to help ensure clients are provided with fully optimized propulsion solutions.
“Through the even closer collaboration with our long-standing partner ZF, we will further expand our systems expertise and, with our MTU engines, will thus be able to provide our customers with optimally matched and innovative propulsion solutions,” said Dr. Ulrich Dohle, CEO of Rolls-Royce Power Systems AG, who signed the collaboration agreement with Wilhelm Rehm, the Member of the Board of Management of ZF Friedrichshafen AG responsible for the Industrial Technology Division.
“We too see excellent opportunities resulting from the expansion of our two product portfolios,” Rehm said. “Together with MTU, we will develop pioneering technologies and supply the market with system solutions.”
Though the precise details of the collaboration are yet to be specified, the partners say they expect to achieve the greatest synergy effects in several key areas. Each company intends to extend its respective product range with the addition of jointly developed fully integrated systems and to collaborate closely in R&D and applications development.
According to the two companies, the ultimate aim is to provide optimally matched systems and new solutions for future marine propulsion systems, such as hybrid propulsion systems or digitally networked solutions.
The partners also intend to work together in the fields of marketing, sales and service.
