Cummins announced the signing of an agreement to acquire Jacobs Vehicle Systems (JVS), a subsidiary of Altra Industrial Motion Corp., and a supplier of engine braking, cylinder deactivation, start and stop and thermal management technologies.
The agreement brings the addition of new technologies to provide growth opportunities for Cummins’ current and future advanced diesel engine platforms.
The company said the acquisition of JVS also secures critical USMCA-qualified engine components for current and aftermarket products and expands on Cummins Turbo Technologies’ success with customers globally.
“JVS brings engineering expertise, best in class products and key manufacturing capabilities to Cummins that will allow us to continue developing component technologies that deliver market leading performance and emissions,” said Jennifer Rumsey, Cummins’ president and CEO. “We expect that this transaction will provide both attractive financial returns and future growth opportunities for our company.”
Cummins plans to maintain JVS’ customer relationships and offer improved value and other benefits to the customers of both companies, it said.
The acquisition also represents another step forward in Cummins’ continued investment in key technologies to advance its path to zero emissions strategy that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and lower the air quality impacts of their products. Engine braking and cylinder deactivation technologies will be key components to meeting current and future emissions regulations, and this acquisition will allow Cummins to better integrate valuable components with its emissions-leading medium- and heavy-duty engines, the company said.
“We’re excited about the prospect of welcoming employees from JVS into the Cummins organization and look forward to adding their deep engineering talent to complement our expertise as we work together to develop innovative and cost-effective products now, and in the future,” said Shon Wright, vice president of Cummins Turbo Technologies.
Founded in 1961, JVS has roughly 600 employees and more than 60 years of experience in engine retarding and valve actuation systems for the commercial vehicle industry. The company has two primary manufacturing facilities: in Bloomfield, Conn., and Suzhou, China.
Interesting to note is that there is historical linkage between JVS and Cummins. In 1961, JVS introduced the first engine brake, commonly referred to as the “Jake Brake” for commercial vehicles, which was invented by Clessie Cummins, the founder of Cummins.