18.01.2019

Dana acquires SME Group

Global drive train and transmission supplier Dana has agreed the acquisition of the SME group.

Headquartered in Arzignano, northern Italy, SME designs, engineers, and manufactures low voltage AC motors, inverters and controls for a wide range of off highway electric vehicle applications, including material handling, agriculture and construction equipment. The company employs over 100 and also operates in China, Germany and Canada.

Dana says the acquisition will extend its capabilities to applications up to 250kW. No details of the acquisition were disclosed, and it follows the company’s planned acquisition of the Drive Systems division of gear manufacturer Oerlikon, which will be completed in the next few months.

Dana chief executive Jim Kamsickas said: “Dana's acquisition of SME enhances our ability to address the electrification and hybridisation needs of our customers, while also increasing the potential for incremental content per vehicle. SME's exceptional electric motor and inverter products, which largely support off highway applications, are highly complementary to the technologies we acquired with TM4, which are predominately focused on light and commercial vehicle applications.”

Chief technology officer Christophe Dominiak added: “Dana is equipped to provide complete e-Propulsion systems that balance the demands for performance, power density, and weight. The addition of SME's low voltage induction motors rounds out our already robust offering of high voltage permanent magnet motors and enables us to deliver a complete range of electrified solutions for our customers.”