The company, Koepfer Zahnrad- und Getriebetechnik GmbH, headquartered in Furtwangen, Germany, has acquired the Getrag timing gear production in Ludwigsburg, Germany. The acquisition closing happened June 2013, expanding Koepfer’s presence and capabilities for clients worldwide.

Getrag now focuses on its business of transmissions for passenger cars. Getrag, headquartered in Untergruppenbach, Germany, is one of the world’s largest system suppliers for transmissions with approximately 12,500 employees and 24 locations worldwide. The 137 Ludwigsburg plant employees are now under Koepfer employment.

Bernd Eckl, executive vice president of sales, marketing and business development of Getrag, said April 2nd: “It is our clear strategy to focus on the transmission business globally. With this focus, it has always been very important for us to find a future-oriented solution for our employees in Ludwigsburg. Ludwigsburg has for a very long time not only been contributing to our success, [but] it will always be a place of history for our company. We are grateful for the job our employees have done here. This is why we are happy to have found a strategic buyer who acts with discernment and offers the employees the future prospects they deserve.”

Koepfer has announced its plans to generate additional orders for the plant. The plant’s backlog is filled through 2016.