WABCO’s OptiFlow is designed to increase vehicle efficiency and reduce fuel consumption for trucks, trailers and buses.WABCO Holdings Inc. has acquired Ephicas, a pioneering company in the field of aerodynamic solutions for commercial vehicles.
Leveraging Ephicas’ expertise and patented technologies, WABCO says it will develop a range of aerodynamic products, branded OptiFlow, that are designed to increase vehicle efficiency and reduce fuel consumption for trucks, trailers and buses.
“Like WABCO, Ephicas is an innovator of technologies for vehicle efficiency and an industry pioneer for bringing these technologies to market. Together, we expect to accelerate WABCO’s drive for leadership in the field of commercial vehicle aerodynamics,” says Nick Rens, vice president of trailer systems and aftermarket for WABCO. “We see a growing opportunity in aerodynamics as commercial vehicle manufacturers and fleet operators around the world seek to meet government targets for vehicle emissions while satisfying their own requirement to enhance fuel efficiency.”
The three founders of Ephicas will join WABCO. Ephicas’ leader, Hessel Jongebreur, will become a product line leader within WABCO’s trailer systems business; fellow founders Gandert Van Raemdonck, technical head, and Hjalmar Van Raemdonck, operations head, will be responsible for ongoing innovation and operational delivery of OptiFlow products.
“Ephicas has proved its ability to invent, patent and deliver breakthrough aerodynamic solutions for commercial vehicles,” says Jongebreur. “By joining forces with WABCO, we can further leverage mutual innovation power and contribute to WABCO’s technology leadership while also delivering OptiFlow solutions to a global customer base.”
