Getrag Ford Transmissions GmbH is a joint venture formed by Getrag GmbH & Cie, a Ludwigsburg-based gearing specialist, and Ford-Werke AG, of Cologne. Both companies have 50 percent interest in the venture which started operations earlier this year in February to develop and the produce manual transmissions.
The contract award decision was heavily influenced by two installations supplied previously by ABB to the two organizations: In 1991, ABB designed and built the first gearbox assembly line for Ford in Cologne, followed by a planned expansion and retrofitting of a duplicate line. Currently, 3,350 MTX units are being assembled daily for Ford's Mondeo, Escort Classic, Focus, and Cougar models. Another ABB-built line to assemble C90 transmissions was purchased by Getrag, the gearbox manufacturer and installed in its Neuenstein works. The highly automated assembly line is equipped with ten ABB IRB 6400 industrial robots permitting future gearbox models to be flexibly accommodated.
Ford, Getrag, and ABB have maintained a long-standing relationship. ABB’s close physical proximity to the Getrag Ford production facility ensures prompt attention to service and support.