Wikov MGI and Gmeinder Getriebe: Stronger together
Wikov MGI and Gmeinder Getriebe: four years of cooperation of former competitors
Division of competences d
As mentioned above, acquisitions of com-
petitors can take various forms. Yet, the
former competitors Wikov MGI and
Gmeinder Getriebe in the field of gearbo-
xes for rolling stock preferred cooperation
and the pursuit of maximum synergies. In
their joint project, both companies defi-
ned their individual areas of activity. Each
of the companies specializes in a different
field, but they also have many common in-
terests that needed to be arranged in or-
der not to waste their capacity.
Four years later, the situation is as fol-
lows: Wikov MGI specializes in the pro-
duction of gearboxes for trams, electric
suburban units, subway, monorail, high-
speed trains and electric locomotives.
They can produce these items from small
prototype batches to large-scale projects.
Gmeinder Getriebe is the market leader in
gearboxes and drives for special vehicles,
railway cranes, track inspection vehicles,
tampers, track construction and rehabilita-
tion machines, maintenance vehicles, etc.
In addition, they are a specialist in diesel
railcars and diesel locomotives. This is
how we have divided the market by ve-
hicle type.
The production of components is also divi-
ded between the two companies. The
know-how in the production of Klingelnberg
bevel gears built for generations in Gme-
inder, Mosbach, led us to shut down the
production of bevel gears in Wikov (Wi-
kov Gear, Plzeň) and put the centre of
competence on the shoulders of Gmein-
der Getriebe. On the other hand, spur cut
gears are manufactured in larger volumes
at Hronov. The same applies to the ma-
chining of gearbox housings. The Hronov
plant also has competence in the field of
heat treatment and testing.
Gmeinder Getriebe, in turn, is develo-
ping its know-how in servicing all brands
of gearboxes for rolling stock. We have di-
vided our competences to respect each
other. Of course, from time to time there
TT ++ TT
Technika a trh 5/2023
rail transport
8
Wikov MGI and Gmeinder Getriebe
stay stronger together Four years
of cooperation between former competitors
The rolling stock market has been undergoing a major consolidation over the last five
years. Vehicle manufacturers are buying each other out, small players are vanishing,
and price pressure is increasing. However, consolidation also takes place in the field
of components for this market, including in the field of gearboxes and drives.
There is a plethora of approaches to carry out the process, but many of them lead to
the demise of the weaker party involved in the takeover. But this is not the case of the
purchase of rival German company Gmeinder Getriebe by the Czech engineering
group Wikov Industry in 2019. Martin Wichterle, the company owner, had high
expectations for synergistic effects. Four years later, we can take a closer look
to see whether his expectations have been met.
Life-time test of a tram gearbox for a German customer
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