LiuGong and ZF have celebrated completion of the first prototype axle (AP3000), which was produced by their new joint venture company, ZF Liuzhou Axle. The companies have worked together before and in 1995 they set up Liuzhou ZF Machinery to produce construction transmissions and spare parts. “It has been successfully serving joint venture partner LiuGong and third parties with high quality construction machinery transmissions for years,” says the jv.
LiuGong and ZF have celebrated completion of the first prototype axle (AP3000), which was produced by their new joint venture company, ZF Liuzhou Axle. The companies have worked together before and in 1995 they set up Liuzhou ZF Machinery to produce construction transmissions and spare parts.
“It has been successfully serving joint venture partner LiuGong and third parties with high quality construction machinery transmissions for years,” says the jv.
“After the continued success of the first jv with ZF, LiuGong and ZF built a new joint venture together last September, focusing on wheeled loader axles that are specially tailored for the requirement of developing markets.”
ZF Liuzhou Axle Co is targeting an increase in annual volume to more than 30,000 units by 2018.
“Liuzhou ZF Machinery has been a win-win example in the industry for years. Today, we come to another milestone with our new jv company, ZF Liuzhou Axle,” says Wang Xiaohua, chairman of the board for LiuGong.
“I am very pleased to be here to unveil the brand new AP3000 axle. It marks a new level of our excellent cooperation with ZF, demonstrating our determination in the heavy machinery industry.”
The AP3000 was developed through the joint efforts of research teams from ZF headquarters in Germany, ZF China and LiuGong. It can be assembled with dry or wet brakes, and is mainly designed for 5-6tonne wheeled loaders. LiuGong’s 855N will be the first machine equipped with the new axle.
Currently, the prototype is being put through its paces in the test shops in Passau, Germany, and in field trials in vehicles in LiuGong before large-scale production starts. Further projects and product innovations between the agreement participants, ZF and LiuGong, are also being planned.
