ZF is a global leader in driveline and chassis technology as well as active and passive safety technology. The company, which acquired TRW Automotive on May 15, 2015, is now represented at about 230 locations in some 40 countries. The two companies, that were still independent in 2014, achieved a sales figure exceeding €30 billion with 134,000 employees. As in previous years, both companies have in- vested approximately 5 percent of their sales in Research and Development (recently €1.6 billion) in order to be successful with innovative products. ZF is one of the top three automotive suppliers worldwide.

ZF’s non-automotive business comprises the development and production of transmissions and axles for agricultural- and construction machinery, driveline technology for material handling systems, rail- and special vehicles, marine propulsion systems, aviation technology as well as gearbo- xes for wind turbines.

ZF annually invests about 5 % of its sales in research and development. Marine products benefit from ZF Group R&D investment e.g. through design of light gearboxes with high torque transfer rate, worldwide unique acoustics test bench, constant development of single parts.