- February 28, 2023
February 28, 2023, Sint-Truiden: Punch Powertrain Sint-Truiden is advancing to large scale serial production of its novel hybrid DCT for the European market. With the capacity for initial 300.000 key components manufacturing being successfully installed, the company is rapidly progressing with further increase of its capacity towards 600.000 units in 2023. It will further increase its capacity with additional 600.000 units to satisfy 2024 and 2025 demand. To accommodate 2023 production volumes the company has kicked-off an intense hiring campaign comprising up to 100 incremental hires for manufacturing roles this year, of which up to 40 vacancies are reserved for reorientation on the job market, backed by an extensive, custom designed training program.
Today Punch Powertrain reports its full readiness for start of production at the Sint-Truiden plant, which is entrusted with manufacturing of the key components of its class leading, proprietary hybrid DCT. The full process of validation and testing for the piloting car models has been completed and the hardware design is released for serial production.
As the project is already in ramp-up phase, the plant has successfully completed and validated the installation of machines towards the yearly production of the first 300.000 units in both its Sint-Truiden and Metz locations, with the installation of equipment for additional key components currently ongoing. Punch Powertrain Sint-Truiden aims at producing over 600.000 key component sets in first instance, further increasing its output over the next year with additional 600.000 units.
In order to further ramp up capacity, Punch Powertrain Sint-Truiden is aiming to recruit a large number of employees, directly related to manufacturing: notably oriented towards operating and maintenance of the machines that will manufacture the electrified DCT key components. In view of this, the company has issued up to 100 vacancies for 2023, with a similar amount expected in 2024 and up to 50 additional positions in 2025.
We are proud of the work, completed by our teams in order to prepare for the first ramp-up phase of production.
Producing the hybrid transmission with a highly automated process, requiring accuracy at micron level, the company seeks to attract highly technically skilled professionals. To anticipate the challenging labor market, up to 40 positions are reserved for recruits without prior machine operating experience. For this group Punch Powertrain has designed a curated practical training in collaboration with Qrios, an acclaimed provider of upskilling education programs. Through this intensive training, the company facilitates personal growth for people with affinity and interest in technology, who do not yet possess the necessary technical credentials.
“We are proud of the work, completed by our teams in order to prepare for the first ramp-up phase of production” says Stephane Lozach, Plant Manager Sint-Truiden.
“In order to meet the challenging production volume requirements in the hybrid dual clutch transmission project, we look forward to growing our diverse and passionate team. In addition to on the on-the-job training for all new recruits, we have designed a dedicated training program for people who seek to reorient and join our clean, safety oriented and high-tech production environment.”
The DT2 electrified transmission is one of the most significant technologies to be realized by Punch Powertrain. Alongside Punch Powertrain’s EV product range, it demonstrates the company’s transition from conventional to electrified transmissions, and an important step forward in green technology employable at scale. This hybrid dual clutch transmission also signifies growth in European and global markets for the company. While the company’s legacy CVT product is predominantly servicing the Chinese market at present, in its bid to lead the electrified dual clutch transmission market in 2025, Punch Powertrain’s DT2 significantly shifts the center of gravity towards Europe and other regions of the world.
