ZF plans new testing centre for transmissions

ZF Friedrichshafen AG is bolstering corporate R&D at its headquarters: The technology company intends to set up a new testing centre for transmissions in the R&D Center on Graf-von-Soden-Platz in 2015 and 2016.

“Strong research and development is fundamental to ZF's continued success,” says CEO Dr. Stefan Sommer. The lack of space in the R&D Centre – some 1,700 employees are currently working at the facility – will only be relieved to a certain extent even by relocating the Group’s central departments to the new Corporate Headquarters in the ZF Forum. “We may well gain office space as a result,” stresses Sommer, “but there will be no space for laboratories and test benches.” The existing buildings can only be converted to a limited extent due to design constraints.

The Group also aims to merge development departments which are currently spread out across several leased office facilities in Friedrichshafen, in the R&D Centre, thus returning the site to its original purpose. “For these reasons we have opted for a new building in order to provide our engineers in future as well with optimum conditions for straightforward, close, and productive collaboration,” explains Sommer who is also responsible for Corporate R&D.

The testing centre will be built in the western part of the R&D Centre. The new building will be home to test benches and workshops. The plan is to have modular interior fixtures so that the building can be used for various purposes depending on the research and development requirements. “This design allows us to respond quickly to new developments in metrology and test technology for vehicle parts,” says Dr. Harald Naunheimer, head of ZF’s Corporate R&D.

Photograph: The new testing centre will replace the so-called ‘Komm’ building in the western area of the R&D Centre.