08-11_Wikov_c_koleje_CZ_loko_cz.qxd

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6.9.2023

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rail transport

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.

Division of competences

d

As mentioned above, acquisitions of competitors can take various forms. Yet, the

former competitors Wikov MGI and

Gmeinder Getriebe in the field of gearboxes for rolling stock preferred cooperation

and the pursuit of maximum synergies. In

their joint project, both companies defined their individual areas of activity. Each

of the companies specializes in a different

field, but they also have many common interests that needed to be arranged in order not to waste their capacity.

Four years later, the situation is as follows: Wikov MGI specializes in the production of gearboxes for trams, electric

Life-time test of a tram gearbox for a German customer

T+T T e c h n i k a a t r h 5/ 2 0 2 3

suburban units, subway, monorail, highspeed 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 rehabilitation 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 vehicle type.

The production of components is also divided between the two companies. The

know-how in the production of Klingelnberg

bevel gears built for generations in Gmeinder, Mosbach, led us to shut down the

production of bevel gears in Wikov (Wikov Gear, Plzeň) and put the centre of

competence on the shoulders of Gmeinder Getriebe. On the other hand, spur cut

gears are manufactured in larger volumes

at Hronov. The same applies to the machining of gearbox housings. The Hronov

plant also has competence in the field of

heat treatment and testing.

Gmeinder Getriebe, in turn, is developing its know-how in servicing all brands

of gearboxes for rolling stock. We have divided our competences to respect each

other. Of course, from time to time there