NEWS
Combining strengths
Audi launches strategic partnership with Global Bioenergies
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udi is launching a strategic partnership with Global Bioenergies. The carmaker will work with the French biotechnology company to promote the development of non-fossil fuels. In addition to the Audi e-gas and e-diesel projects, the research into e-gasoline is part of Audi’s persistent efforts to find alternative fuels. Reiner Mangold, head of Sustainable Product Development at AUDI AG: “We’re taking another step closer to carbon-neutral mobility with our partners at Global Bioenergies. We are supporting an innovative technology here which can be used to produce renewable fuel. This process
does not create competition with food production and farmland.” e-gasoline is part of the overall Audi e-fuels strategy. Audi is already operating a research facility for the production of e-ethanol and e-diesel with its partner Joule in Hobbs, New Mexico. The Audi e-gas plant in Werlte began feeding into the grid in 2013. Synthetically produced gas is used here to store electric surplus energy. Thanks to its innovative powertrain technology, Audi also delivers low fuel consumption figures with its conventional drive systems. Visit: www.audi.com
New member of the Balluff Group
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ATB Austria and Wolong Electric Group establish joint venture
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TB Austria Antriebstechnik AG, Vienna has entered into a joint venture with Wolong Electric Group, a company belonging to the same group of companies as ATB’s major shareholder Wolong Investment GmbH. The JV involves the co-ownership of the company Wolong Electric Wuhan Co. Ltd, which will be renamed ATB Wuhan (Motors) Co. Ltd. ATB will then take over the management of the company, a production plant in Wuhan within the province of Huwei. This strategic extension of the ATB Group serves to increase ATB’s market share and to provide a production platform for local manufacturing in China. It gives ATB the opportunity to enhance its position in the global market place. The new cooperation also further strengthens synergies between Wolong and ATB and therefore constitutes a win-win situation for both groups of companies. Visit: www.atb-motors.com
New joint venture between Ferrostaal and Rheinmetall
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heinmetall AG of Düsseldorf and Ferrostaal GmbH of Essen have established a new joint venture company, Rheinmetall International Engineering GmbH, in which both organisations hold a 50% stake. Rheinmetall International Engineering will plan and build industrial facilities, serving as
18 Industry Europe
a single-source supplier. The new company is headquartered in Geisenheim, Germany, close to Frankfurt/Main. Rheinmetall intends to use the new joint venture to accelerate internationalisation of its defence operations, especially in regions where until now it has had only limited access. Intermeshing of the two groups’ sales networks should ensure broader
he company STM Sensor Technologie München GmbH (STM) has joined the Balluff Group. As development and technology partners in the area of speciality photoelectric sensors, the companies are connected by a long-standing cooperation venture. With the integration of Balluff STM, the area of sensor miniaturisation for industrial automation in particular will be further expanded. “Thanks to the concentration of our competencies in this area we are able to offer our customers extended and integral solutions,” states Florian Hermle, Balluff managing director. There will also be synergy effects and new potential for production. For instance, Balluff STM has a patented production process in photoelectric precision sensor systems. A big strength of the Bavarian company is its production of photoelectric sensors for use in the cleanroom environment and in high vacuums, such as those used in the semiconductor industry. Michael Unger, management spokesperson of Balluff GmbH, sees huge opportunities in the modular product structure. “With Balluff STM we are able to provide an impressive variety of customerspecific solutions in a fast and flexible manner.” Visit: www.balluff.com access to target markets in North Africa and Middle East as well as Asia and Latin America. Ferrostaal expects the joint venture to give its activities in these regions a significant boost. This also applies to Ferrostaal’s traditional oil and gas operations, which it is contributing to the joint venture in the form of Ferrostaal Industrieanlagen GmbH. Visit: www.rheinmetall.de
