The Dumarey Group, Belgian family-owned company specialised in powertrain solutions, announced today the acquisition of ZF Bouthéon from ZF, a global technology company supplying systems for passenger cars, commercial vehicles and industrial technology, through its French company Dumarey Powerglide Strasbourg.
This acquisition marks an important milestone in the Dumarey Group’s development strategy, which aims to promote the transition to cleaner, carbon-free mobility. The Dumarey Group is in the process of rebranding itself from PUNCH to signify the considerable transition it has made from its origins 40 years ago in punched metal to today’s innovations in sustainable mobility such as hydrogen combustion engines and hybrid flywheel technologies.
ZF Bouthéon, located in France west of Lyon, produces transmissions for commercial vehicles. The company, which will be known as Dumarey Powerglide Bouthéon, employs more than 300 people, is specialised in machining mechanical parts as well as assembling and testing transmissions. These products are exported all over the world to the major truck and bus manufacturers.
With all its competencies and know-how maintained, the Dumarey Powerglide Bouthéon plant will continue to manufacture transmissions for ZF during a transitional period until 2027. Dumarey Powerglide Bouthéon will expand the market and product portfolio of transmissions or reducers for commercial vehicles, similar to Dumarey Powerglide Strasbourg in the domain of passenger cars.
Guido Dumarey, founder and President of the Dumarey Group, commented «The acquisition of the Bouthéon plant is an important asset in the execution of our strategy, as it will enable the Group to extend its diversification by positioning itself for carbon-free propulsion also in the commercial vehicle market. Our desire is to make a technological shift by equipping medium-duty commercial vehicles with hydrogen engines produced from renewable energies. We look for an ethical approach to give a second life to a technology and thereby reduce waste and scrap. The global challenge is to reduce the environmental impact of transport by developing innovative solutions.”
This step – together with the recently announced acquisition of Vitesco Technologies Italy, planned at the end of this year, – strengthens the Dumarey Group’s commitment and capability to provide innovative mobility solutions, integrating cutting-edge technologies into the design and production of automotive powertrains that will help to reduce carbon emissions and enable more sustainable mobility.
Dr. Peter Laier, Member of the Board of Management of ZF Group, responsible for Commercial Vehicle Solutions, Industrial Technology and group-wide Operations pointed out: “I am convinced, with the Dumarey Group, we have found the right industrial and intrepreneurial investor. Based on their strong vision how to contribute to the decarbonization of the road transportation sector leveraging the know-how and capabilities of ZF Bouthéon, employees, customers, and suppliers will benefit from Dumarey and ZF Group continuing business for many years to help ensure a seamless transition period and a long-term economic success of this strategic transaction.”