Rolls-Royce and ZF Collaborate on Marine Propulsion Systems

• Closer collaboration to strengthen technology leadership in the marine marketplace and create additional client benefits

• Long-standing partners sign agreement to seal new collaborative alliance

Rolls-Royce Power Systems and ZF Friedrichshafen AG will be collaborating even more closely on marine propulsion systems in future. A collaboration agreement to that effect has now been signed by Dr. Ulrich Dohle, CEO of Rolls-Royce Power Systems, and Wilhelm Rehm, Member of the Board of Management of ZF Friedrichshafen AG.  

Precisely matched combinations of MTU engines from Rolls-Royce Power Systems and marine transmissions from ZF have been the preferred choice on many commercial ships and yachts for a long time. From now on, the two companies will be exchanging information and knowledge relating to the development of new technologies and products more intensively than ever to ensure that clients are provided with fully optimized propulsion solutions.

“Through the even closer collaboration with our long-standing partner ZF, we will further expand our systems expertise and, with our MTU engines, will thus be able to provide our customers with optimally matched and innovative propulsion solutions“, said Dr. Ulrich Dohle, CEO of Rolls-Royce Power Systems AG. “We too see excellent opportunities resulting from the expansion of our two product portfolios“, added Wilhelm Rehm, the Member of the Board of Management of ZF Friedrichshafen AG responsible for the Industrial Technology Division. “Together with MTU, we will develop pioneering technologies and supply the market with system solutions.”

The precise details of the collaboration will be specified in subsequent talks. The partners expect to achieve the greatest synergy effects in three areas: each company intends to extend its respective product range with the addition of jointly developed fully integrated systems and to collaborate closely in R&D and applications development. The ultimate aim is to provide optimally matched systems and new solutions for future marine propulsion systems, such as hybrid propulsion systems or digitally networked solutions. The partners also intend to work together in the fields of marketing, sales and service.

                    MTU engines and ZF transmissions in the Galactica Super Nova