ZF Group: major investments in sustainability

Sustainability is an integral part of ZF Group’s strategy. Its targets include complete climate neutrality by 2040. The extent to which the company invests in sustainability is shown by the transformation of the existing ZF factory in Klášterec, Czech Republic, in a climate-neutral one and the latest plant openings in Gray Court, USA, and Oragadam, India.

With the expansion of its global production capacity, ZF is following a long-term growth and sustainability strategy, meeting demand in important market regions locally (”local-for-local”) and save emissions that would otherwise be caused by transporting complete systems from remote locations. But that’s not all. Sustainability plays a vital role in all these investments. Klášterec (opening image) even serves as a blueprint for all ZF plants worldwide which are gradually being transformed to work completely climate-neutral. And ZF also contributes to the production of energy from renewable sources and thus to the decarbonization of the world with its wind power business unit. Wim Geens, our FuturesStarter of the month, is working in ZF’s new test and prototype center for wind power systems in Lommel, Belgium. Learn more about him, all the investments in sustainability and other interesting topics in the second edition of our newsletter “To Mobility and Beyond”. Enjoy!

ZF opens first zero-emission factory in Klášterec, Czech Republic

At the production site for power electronics in Klášterec in the Czech Republic, ZF is opening its first zero-emission factory after a renovation period of just under a year and a half. The plant, which is part of the Electrified Powertrain Technology division, supports the company’s efforts to achieve climate neutrality across all value chains by 2040. It will be used as the blueprint for all ZF plants worldwide. The technology company is gradually shifting to sustainably generated energy at all locations, increasing the energy efficiency of processes, electrifying a significant proportion of its products and using recycled materials.

A new plant in Oragadam, India

ZF’s Commercial Vehicle Solutions (CVS) division opened a plant in Oragadam, India (Tamil Nadu Province). Chassis and electric components such as the air compressor for light and medium-duty commercial vehicles for the Indian and Asian markets will soon be produced there. ZF plans to operate the new location in India with 100% renewable energy. The facility has a solar plant that can generate up to 450 kWp, complemented by additional energy sourced from long-term contracts for solar and wind power to meet its ongoing energy-demand. And it is equipped with a system to collect and reuse rainwater and is expected to be water neutral by 2025.

Investment in Gray Court, USA

ZF continues its pursuit of Next Generation Mobility across passenger car as well as the spectrum of light, medium and heavy-duty commercial vehicles with a planned $500 million investment in its Gray Court, South Carolina, facility. Offering everything from traditional ICE to e-mobility technologies, for both passenger car and commercial vehicle applications, ZF Gray Court is officially the company’s first flex manufacturing facility in North America. Through this planned investment, ZF will be adding new product lines in Gray Court over the next several years, including the launch of the 8-speed automatic transmission for plug-in hybrids (8HP Gen4 PHEV). Through PHEV technology, drivers are offered pure electric driving, and in addition, a highly efficient internal combustion engine. Additionally, ZF started local production of the efficient and hybrid-capable PowerLine transmission for light commercial vehicles for the North American market.