Spheros has taken a decisive step in strengthening its local presence in North America. Upon completion of the acquisition at the end of January, ACC Climate Control, a U.S. company based in Elkhart, Indiana, became part of the international Spheros Group. Full business operations of ACC are to be continued with its existing production plants and a workforce of 140 employees.
The acquisition of ACC Climate Control by the international Spheros Group results in the combination of two enterprises that ideally complement each other, offering considerable potential growth and synergies with technologically and economically outstanding air conditioning products. “In ACC Climate Control we have found a partner that is a perfect match as far as our core bus business, philosophy and customer orientation are concerned. As market leader, Spheros-ACC will be the ideal partner for customers of HVAC systems in buses and special-purpose vehicles in North America,” says Heiko Baufeld, CEO Spheros North America.
The combined capabilities of Spheros Group, ACC and Spheros North America will now be able to offer customers and business partners in North America what the group is already renowned for in all global volume markets: technological leadership in the product engineering, smart application engineering close to the customer, best-in-class production hubs and comprehensive sales and service of HVAC products for all types of buses, particularly in the field of electric drives. “As part of an international group, ACC will not only profit in the future from the processes of an established OEM partner, global engineering and international buying. It will also be able to offer its customers heaters and roof hatches for their buses,” says Casey Cummings, CEO of ACC.
Expansion of the Elkhart facility
At its headquarters in Elkhart, Indiana, ACC maintains a research and development department, a state-of-the-art testing lab and a high-capacity production plant for vehicle air conditioning systems together with administration. “We benefit here, on the one hand, from an enormous pool of product and market experience, on the other hand from a fully developed manufacturing hub, a full range of testing equipment in the market and a proven service network,” adds Helmut Zanker, CEO of the Spheros Group. “The Elkhart plant is a perfect backbone for our North American operations. Significant investments in production are already planned for 2015.”
