VERNON HILLS, Ill. – As the renewable energy industry continues to expand, ZF Services, the strategic aftermarket business unit of ZF Friedrichshafen AG, will open a wind turbine gearbox service center at its Vernon Hills, Ill., facility in 2010.
       
While this is a new endeavor for ZF Services in North America, the Vernon Hills facility will mark the company’s third global wind energy location, with two others located in Nottingham, U.K., and Dortmund, Germany.
       
The Vernon Hills facility currently serves as the aftermarket center for ZF in North America. Opened in 1992, the 289,000-square-foot facility houses business operations, remanufacturing and a state-of-the-art distribution center.
       
“ZF was originally founded in 1915 to develop transmissions for the Zeppelin airships in Germany. This knowledge, combined with years of experience in the passenger car, commercial vehicle, off-highway, marine and aviation industries makes the addition of wind turbine gearbox service a natural fit for ZF Services North America,” said Tim Corcoran, president and COO, ZF Services North America.