A US manufacturer of special trailers for military transport has placed a large order with the Bessenbach supplier of commercial vehicle axles and suspension components, SAF-Holland. The order involves pendulum axles, including accessories such as support winches, which are used in low loaders for military transport. According to the company's press release, the total volume of the order is "in the high single-digit million US dollar range." The first pendulum axle assemblies from the manufacturer in Lower Franconia, which is one of the world's largest suppliers of trailer and truck components, are expected to be delivered this year 2025.
Alexander Geis, Chairman of the Board and CEO of SAF-Holland SE, expressed his delight in the report about the trust that the large order expresses.
“This order is based on our long-standing partnership. And it shows the successful intensification of our sales activities in the military field in Europe and North America.
With our broad product portfolio of special and heavy-duty axle systems, also from our subsidiaries Tecma and Assali Stefen, we are well positioned for this.”
Load Compensation in Strong Unevenness
The pendulum axle assemblies, which SAF-Holland offers in its special axles division alongside pendulum, heavy-duty, and rigid axles, are particularly robust components for extreme operating conditions. Longitudinal and transverse axis pendulum bearings are arranged in the vehicle, stabilizing the vehicle during the pendulum movements required to compensate for strong road unevenness and axle load compensation between the involved axles. According to the manufacturer, the solution, which is also customized and available with different axle loads, has been globally appreciated for operations under extreme conditions for years.
“The SAF pendulum axle assembly is a heavy-duty product designed for extremely high loads and robust off-road operating conditions.”
SAF-Holland has been following its corporate strategy “drive2030” for some time, which, according to the company,
is intended to successfully continue the growth path of the last five years. The now received large order is seen as a confirmation of this plan, which aims for profitable growth also through acquisitions, as repeatedly assured by the management.
Growth in Multiple Directions
For example, the company announced around a year ago that it intends to develop into the “leading one-stop-shop provider in the commercial vehicle industry for suspension-related applications” – also through acquisitions. And at the product presentation at the IAA Transportation in September 2024, it was assured, among other things, to advocate for the transformation of the transport industry with solutions in connectivity, electrification, and autonomous driving.
As a result, the publicly listed company (SDAX) wants to continue and further grow alongside conventional growth in the commercial vehicle market of trucks and trailers, as the current press release states. This should be achieved through “specific strategic initiatives” that
consist of expanding the sector's range:
“Among other things, the broad product portfolio is to be used to increasingly serve customers from other industries with special applications and off-highway products.”
As part of this, intensified sales activities in the military transport sector are also being pursued, according to the company's information.
SAF-Holland, headquartered in Bessenbach, Lower Franconia near Aschaffenburg, is one of the internationally leading companies in this field, manufacturing suspension-related assemblies and components for trailers, trucks, and buses. In addition to SAF and Holland, the brands also include Haldex and Neway. In 2024, the company generated sales of approximately 1.877 billion euros worldwide with around 5,700 employees – about 200 million less than the previous year. Customers are supported by a comprehensive global sales network and service stations. Just a few months ago, due to high demand for brake calipers, the company began to expand production capacities at the Turkish
