ZF Wind Power, global leader in powertrain platforms, launches the modular SHIFT powertrain

• ZF Wind Power launches the SHIFT powertrain, the world’s first complete modular powertrain platform.

• Based on the modular SHIFT concept, the powertrain offers unlimited solutions to meet the diverse needs in the wind market.

• With more than 20 years powertrain experience and over 3 000 powertrains produced, ZF Wind Power is the global leader in powertrain platforms.

Lommel (Belgium). ZF Wind Power, global leader in powertrain platforms, announces the launch of the world’s first complete modular powertrain solution, marking a significant milestone in the evolution of wind turbine technology. Building on a decade of proven success with SHIFT, the modular gearbox concept and 20 years of powertrain design, this innovation combines deep engineering expertise, validated models, data-driven performance and true modularity. The result is a modular powertrain platform designed to deliver reliability, efficiency and competitiveness, while enabling turbine manufacturers to adapt quickly to diverse market and project requirements.

ZF stands out as the global leader in powertrain development and production through its unmatched combination of experience, engineering excellence and system integration capabilities. “With more than 20 years of powertrain expertise and more than 3000 systems delivered, ZF has pioneered across the entire worldwide powertrain setup. By engineering both the main bearing unit and gearbox in-house, ZF maintains control over performance, quality, and innovation, while enabling a highly flexible architecture adaptable to a wide range of turbine designs,“ explains Dr. Jochen Witzig, CEO of ZF Wind Power. Combined with ZF’s
unique system cooperation approach from the earliest phase, each powertrain solution is precisely aligned with customer needs, long-term performance objectives and adaptable to market dynamics.

SHIFT Powertrain - Proven modularity, unlimited solutions

The SHIFT gearbox forms the central backbone of the powertrain. Built around ZF’s advanced modular concept, it is designed to meet the rapidly evolving demands of the wind industry. This enables a wide range of powertrain configurations to be built from a single, robust base platform.

This modular approach extends across the entire system. Gearbox modules and main bearing unit configurations are engineered in-house by ZF, ensuring seamless system integration, consistent quality, and optimized performance across all configurations. “Medium-speed as well as high-speed powertrain layouts can be created by combining these standardized in-house modules, offering high flexibility to adapt to varying turbine designs, load conditions and operating environments,” explains Bert Verdyck, CTO of ZF Wind Power.

ZF applies a true system-level engineering approach to powertrain development, in which the generator is seamlessly integrated into the overall drivetrain architecture from the earliest design stages. By optimizing the interaction between gearbox, main bearing unit and generator as a single engineered system, ZF maximizes efficiency, load management, reliability and lifetime performance. This holistic approach enables tailored powertrain solutions that are precisely matched to specific customer and project requirements, while reducing integration risks and accelerating deployment.

“The result is a modular powertrain platform that combines deep in-house expertise with high flexibility, delivering tailored solutions that reduce complexity and accelerate time to market. Designed to evolve with market demands, the platform is scalable to support a broad spectrum of torque requirements for future onshore and offshore projects, ensuring readiness for the next generation of largescale applications,” summarizes Bert Verdyck.

SHIFT - proven legacy, powering the future

With more than a decade of continuous development, the SHIFT platform represents a proven legacy of innovation and reliable performance, with over 65 GW installed worldwide. This extensive track record demonstrates reliability of ZF’s modular designs at global scale, forming the trusted foundation for ZF’s powertrain advancements.

SHIFT platforms are engineered for efficiency by design, optimizing every component to boost energy yield and operational performance. Its inherently competitive architecture ensures adaptability across all wind markets, supporting customers in meeting stringent NVH requirements and diverse technical and commercial demands. At the same time, SHIFT is driven by data and leveraging real-world insights to continuously enhance performance, predictability and lifecycle value.

This combination of proven experience, intelligent design and ongoing innovation directly fuels the development of ZF’s modular SHIFT powertrains, while delivering future-ready solutions built on a long track record of success.

Empowering a sustainable future together

The SHIFT powertrain is built on ZF’s powerful System Co*operation approach, ensuring close collaboration with partners across every phase of the lifecycle to deliver high performance and reliability. From the earliest Co*Design stage, ZF collaborates closely with turbine OEMs to tailor the optimal configuration, ensuring every SHIFT powertrain configuration is optimized for load profiles, longterm cost of ownership, environmental conditions and logistical & installation requirements. This seamless partnership continues through the Co*Evaluate, Co*Produce and Co*Logistics phase until Co*Service, where ZF remains a longterm partner, supporting operators with advanced monitoring, service solutions and continuous optimization. By working together at every step, ZF ensures each SHIFT powertrain evolves alongside their partners’ technical and commercial ambition. “By working closely with turbine manufacturers, operators and other partners, we combine expertise, capacity and innovation to deliver faster, fully aligned designs while reducing development time and costs. Through reliable, scalable, and efficient gearbox and powertrain solutions, we help accelerate the growth of wind energy, empowering a sustainable future together, “concludes Dr. Jochen Witzig.

Photo credits: ZF

Press contacts:

Kris Adriaenssen, Head of Marketing, ZF Wind Power
Phone: +32 11 34 98 96, email: kris.adriaenssen@zf.com

Gernot Hein, Head of Communications, Industrial Technology Division
Phone: +49 (0) 851 494 2480, email: gernot.hein@zf.com

About ZF

ZF is a globally active technology company. The company supplies advanced products and systems for the mobility of passenger cars, commercial vehicles, and industrial technology. With a comprehensive product portfolio, ZF primarily serves automotive manufacturers, mobility providers, and emerging companies in the transportation and mobility sectors. ZF electrifies vehicles across a wide range of categories and, through its products, helps reduce emissions, protect the climate, and make mobility safer. In addition to its automotive segments for passenger cars and commercial vehicles, ZF serves market sectors such as construction and agricultural machinery, wind power, marine applications, rail technology, and test systems.

In 2025, ZF generated sales of €38.8 billion with approximately 153,000 employees worldwide. The company operates 162 production sites in 29 countries.

About ZF Wind Power

ZF Wind Power is a global leader in technology-driven manufacturing and a leading provider of wind turbine gearbox services. The company is leading the high-performance onshore segments with the SHIFT compact modular platform designs. ZF delivered the world’s first offshore 9.5 MW wind turbine gearbox and, in close cooperation with its partner, delivered the first next-generation offshore powertrains. The company has the world’s largest installed capacity +8 MW offshore wind turbine gearboxes. Since entering the wind industry in 1979, ZF Wind Power has delivered over 90,000 gearboxes and more than 3000 complete powertrains, powering more than 220 GW (primarily high-performance) wind turbines.

By partnering closely with turbine manufacturers and operators, the company supports the continued growth of wind energy through reliable, scalable, and efficient gearbox and powertrain solutions. Together with its partners, ZF Wind Power continuously invests in innovation and the wind market, empowering a sustainable future together.

For further press information and photos, please visit: www.zf.com.