SAF-HOLLAND helping trucks and trailers tone down: the IAA Commercial
Innovation drive brings trucking companies greater payloads and lower
consumption
Luxembourg September 16, 2010 - At the International Commercial Vehicles
fair (IAA) in Hanover from September 23 to 30, 2010, SAF-HOLLAND S.A. will
present an extensive range of new weight-optimized components for trucks
and trailers. 'In Europe and North America, customers are increasingly
demanding lighter components for commercial vehicles. We can take advantage
of this trend with our new products,' says Rudi Ludwig, CEO of SAF-HOLLAND.
'Lighter trucks and trailers benefit the environment and companies equally:
trucks consume less fuel and can transport higher payloads.'
Weight reduction of up to 200 kilograms
In cooperation with Swedish brake manufacturer Haldex, SAF-HOLLAND has
developed a lighter-weight trailer disc brake. With an intelligent new
design, it is six kilograms lighter than conventional systems, providing a
weight reduction of 12 kilograms per axle. Production is expected to start
in the second quarter of 2011. SAF-HOLLAND has exclusive rights to market
the new Haldex disc brake in Europe through the end of 2011. A
newly-developed wheel head reduces the weight of a trailer axle by another
20 kilograms, giving total weight savings of 96 kilograms for a triple-axle
trailer. Aluminum rims allow further weight reduction - the truck trailer
combination shedding a total of 204 kilograms.
SAF-HOLLAND will present a weight-optimized fifth wheel for trucks at the
IAA. The cast steel model, tried and tested in Europe, is now up to 33
kilograms lighter than comparable products on the market. In addition, from
the USA, comes the lightest series-produced aluminum fifth wheel, a first
for Europe. This innovation alone makes the truck trailer combination 55
kilograms lighter and is also easy to maintain as it no longer needs to be
greased.
Trailer tire pressure automatically set
Approximately 30 percent of fuel consumption in semi trucks is due to the
rolling resistance of tires. Monitoring the tire pressure is therefore a
simple and efficient way to reduce the operating costs of vehicle fleets.
To this end, SAF-HOLLAND is introducing a system, already proven in the
USA, to the European market. If the tire pressure decreases, the system
automatically raises it again to the pre-set level. This not only saves
diesel, it also increases the lifespan of the tires and reduces the risk of
failure.
Annual savings of 7.2 million liters of diesel and 18.8 million kilograms
of CO2
The use of lighter components is particularly beneficial for fuel tankers
and silo trucks. The vehicle's payload is thus increased and the forwarder
can transport more per trip. The purchase costs pay for themselves within
two years. In this way, total savings of 7.2 million liters of diesel and
18.8 million kilograms of CO2 can be made annually in Europe (assuming
50,000 newly registered vehicles).
Company Profile:
With approximately EUR 420 million in sales and over 2,000 employees,
SAF-HOLLAND S.A. is one of the world's leading manufacturers and suppliers
of premium product systems and components primarily for trailers as well as
trucks, buses and recreational vehicles. The product range encompasses axle
and suspension systems, fifth wheels, coupling devices, kingpins, and
landing legs. SAF-HOLLAND customers include the majority of large truck and
trailer producers all over the world. The products are sold to Original
Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) and Original Equipment Suppliers (OESs) by
means of a global service and distribution network and via aftermarket
channels directly to the end users and service garages. SAF-HOLLAND has
therefore established itself as one of the few manufacturers in its sector
that is internationally positioned with an extensive product range and a
broad service network. SAF-HOLLAND S.A. has been listed in the Prime
Standard of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange since July 2007.
Contact:
SAF-HOLLAND Group GmbH
Barbara Zanzinger
Hauptstraße 26
63856 Bessenbach
Phone +49 6095 301-617
barbara.zanzinger@safholland.de
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