23rd July 2010 - ITT to Open New Transportation Research Center in Frankfurt, Germany

ITT Motion Technologies will invest $10 million in a new research and development facility in Frankfurt, Germany.

It will be a center of excellence for new product development, testing and measurement and it will contribute in strengthening ITT as a leading provider of brake pads, friction materials and performance shock absorbers for the public and private transportation markets. The new R&D center will replace a facility that ITT has maintained in Bad Camberg since 1985. The decision to relocate to Frankfurt was made to be closer to additional railway product development capability.

“This is a major investment, and further demonstrates our commitment to key customers in the transportation markets, especially for Central and Northern Europe, which today represent the largest portion of our business,” said Salvatore Torrisi, ITT Motion Technologies president. “It will provide a significant additional capability that will fuel our new product development plans and ensure continuous product and technology leadership to benefit all our customers, and will boost our ability to grow in the private and public transportation businesses.”

From the Frankfurt airport all major European cities can be reached in less than three hours flying time and whoever or whatever arrives has as seamless connection to the rail and road network.

The new 2,600 square meter facility is expected to reach about 40 employees in the first six months. Initial operation is slated for November 2010 and ITT has engaged Cushman & Wakefield LLP to incorporate into the facility the latest innovations in environmental sustainability, with emphasis on renewable energy.

The company also has R&D centers in Barge, Italy; Oud Beijerland, Holland; Novi, Michigan, USA; and Tokyo, Japan.