The Italian power transmission manufacturer Bonfiglioli Riduttori is acquiring a 55 per cent stake in the German heavy-duty gear-maker O&K Antriebstechnik for ?25.7 million. O&K?s former sole owner, Italy?s Carraro Group, will retain a 45 per cent share in the business and will have a strategic role as a key partner in the delivery of specific components.

The deal will extend Bonfiglioli?s portfolio, allowing it to offer products for higher power applications, while the Carraro Group will be able to focus on developing innovative products - especially transmissions - for agricultural and construction equipment.O&K designs and manufactures planetary gearboxes for high-power machines Bonfiglioli?s Chairman, Sonia Bonfiglioli, said that the deal is aimed at ?completing our product range with applications on high-power machines such as earthmoving, construction and mining machines, as well as machines for the marine, port and airport sectors, thus extending the area of global leadership of Bonfiglioli in the transmission and power control field?.