Skip to main content

50 years of driveline technology

ZF has celebrated 50 years of developing and producing driveline technology and axle systems for construction machinery at its location in Passau, Germany. The company is also celebrating two world premieres: ZF cPower, a continuously variable construction machinery transmission, and ZF Ergopower Hybrid.
May 14, 2012 Read time: 2 mins
2304 ZF has celebrated 50 years of developing and producing driveline technology and axle systems for construction machinery at its location in Passau, Germany.

The company is also celebrating two world premieres: ZF cPower, a continuously variable construction machinery transmission, and ZF Ergopower Hybrid.

ZF’s path in construction machinery started off with powershift transmissions, planetary design and reduplan transmissions for wheel and crawler excavators. Then its product portfolio was extended to steering and rigid axles for construction machinery.

In 1997 series production of the ZF-Ergopower transmission started, and according to ZF “to the present day Ergopower transmissions are still common practice in many wheel loaders, dumpers and aircraft tow tractors.”

Hermann Beck, vice president business unit Construction Machinery Systems at ZF Passau, said: “ZF develops the whole driveline ranging from transmissions over axles to hydraulic/electronic control elements and functional software. Thanks to the optimised interaction with diesel engine and working hydraulics the driveline becomes an integral component of the overall vehicle system. This is the only way to achieve up to 20% fuel savings as well as up to 40% productivity increase in the latest transmission generation.”

Today ZF Passau is represented with driveline technology and axle systems for construction machinery on all international markets with its export rate of over 80%.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Stage 3 market for Bell motor graders
    March 18, 2025

    Bell will start production later this year of its motor graders for Stage 3 markets after years of research, development and having prototypes on site.

    Jeremiah Mokhomo, Bell Equipment product manager, explained that the Tier 3 range consists of three base models, each available in either a 4WD or 6WD configuration. The G140 is well suited to all maintenance and light to medium construction tasks. The G160, with its increased power and performance, is designed to handle heavy construction applications, while the G200 is designed for bulk earthworks and the mining industry.

  • Key technology moves for Leica Geosystems
    July 9, 2024
    Leica Geosystems is developing its product offerings with key moves.
  • Innovations in concrete paving with new technology
    June 22, 2016
    The start of 2016 has seen major developments in the concrete paving sector - Mike Woof writes So far in 2016 there have been several major developments in the concrete paving equipment market. Many of the key players have introduced new models, broadening their ranges of machines on offer. US firms continue to dominate this niche area of the construction equipment market, with one European company being the only other major international player. At least two Chinese manufacturers have unveiled concrete
  • Hillhead-line acts for 2014 show
    July 2, 2014
    The 2014 edition of Hillhead, the three-day biennial flagship show for the quarrying, recycling and heavy construction industries, is set to welcome thousands of visitors, keen to see the latest leading equipment models alongside innovative machine and site management control technology. Guy Woodford reports on what a variety of major companies will be showcasing during this month’s show at Lafarge Tarmac’s Hillhead Quarry near Buxton in Derbyshire With around 450 UK and international suppliers of plant, eq