Dana expands portfolio with strategic acquisition

2254 Dana Incorporated has completed the acquisition of the SME Group, based at Arzignano in Italy. The firm is a specialist suppliers of low-voltage AC induction and synchronous reluctance motors, inverters, and control. These are used in a wide range of off-highway electric vehicle applications.

The addition of SME’s low-voltage motors and inverters expands Dana’s electrified product portfolio. These products are primarily designed to meet the evolution of electrification in off-highway equipment.

“Dana’s acquisition of SME enhances our ability to address the electrification and hybridisation needs of our customers,” said Jim Kamsickas, president and chief executive officer of Dana. “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.”

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

Dana’s existing portfolio of Spicer Electrified with TM4 motors and inverters combined with SME’s low-voltage motors will expand the company’s capabilities to applications ranging up to 250kW.

Dana’s electrification capabilities will be further strengthened by the anticipated acquisition of the Drive Systems segment of the Oerlikon group, enabling Dana to provide products for a broad range of hybrid and electric-vehicle configurations. The transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2019.