With its Commercial Vehicle Solutions (CVS) division, the Friedrichshafen-based supplier and technology group ZF covers the commercial vehicle segment. In this area, solutions for trucks, trailers, buses and light commercial vehicles are offered. For the next commercial vehicle trade show Nufam from 26 to 28 September 2025 in Karlsruhe, the company aims to focus mainly on products for trailer manufacturers dealing with "decarbonization, driving safety and suspension as well as digital systems." Among them is the electrification program for trailers TrailTrax and the intelligent electronic braking system portfolio iEBS. And the new SUMS Service Suite is also tailored as a modular solution for software updates specifically for trailers.
According to the supplier, the innovations should not only contribute to reducing emissions but also bring progress to participants in road freight transport with respect to efficiency, safety and digitalization. In addition to the exhibits, discussion rounds with manufacturers and fleet customers on current trailer topics invite visitors to the ZF booth.
According to Christiaan Verschueren, Vice President Trailer Solutions at ZF, the company, which is currently globally present with 161,600 employees, presents itself as an ideal partner for trailer manufacturers and fleet operators with a particularly broad offering in the industry. All the more so, as
the company can draw on decades of experience in the field of technologies for transmissions, brakes and steering, as the website notes: "Therefore we know how important road safety and driver comfort are in our industry." Exactly these points that ZF wants to address at the trade fair in September – and demonstrate how they harmonize with digitalization. Verschueren:
„Dank unserer umfassenden Truck-Trailer-Kompetenz zeigen wir gleichzeitig, wie Zugfahrzeug und Trailer aufeinander abgestimmt sind. Unsere einzigartigen Technologien unterstützen einen sicheren, intelligenten, effizienten und nachhaltigen Warentransport.“
TrailTrax: Decarbonizing with an electric axle combination
Although semi-trailer tractors already offer a lot of efficiency and CO2-friendly operation, ZF notes. But with its e-Trailer solution TrailTrax the company had anticipated the expected stricter regulations years ago and developed a way to reduce CO2 emissions by converting a diesel semi-trailer into a hybrid by equipping it with an electric drive axle and a battery system. When applied to an electric truck, the system would be suitable for increasing range. The system for electrifying trailers, which had already been presented two years ago at the last Nufam, was also presented in 2024 at IAA Transportation and received, in the same year, as reported, its current name.
Also at the upcoming Nufam, the
solution, which integrates its own 210 kW powerful E-axle AxTrax 2, the trailer's EBS and a battery box with control as a complete system in a semi-trailer, is set to be one of the highlights. With this system, emissions can be significantly reduced, according to ZF:
„Customers benefit from an additional electric drive assist and the possibility to recover braking energy. In combination it achieves CO2 reductions of up to 16 percent, with a plug-in solution even up to 40 percent.“
Trailer manufacturers such as Kässbohrer and Krone are cited as references for the functioning of the development.
Electronically controlled, even safer brakes: iEBS
With its intelligent electronic braking system iEBS (intelligent Electronic Braking System), ZF aims to offer a trailer braking platform as an "All-in-One solution" that should increase the safety and efficiency of all types of trailers. This is achieved through a combination of ABS and EBS systems—and further complemented by the possibility of "new functionalities," as stated. As part of the global ZF platform for braking systems for trailers (Intelligent Braking Platform), the solution can be made available in different configurations depending on market requirements – i.e. for conventional and air-suspension systems in Basic, Standard and Premium versions.
Benefits are especially visible
in easy handling: the solution is said to be quick to install, easier to maintain and service, and easier to store for trailer manufacturers as well as workshops – "which increases operational efficiency and uptime for fleets."
Among the mentioned additional functions – there should be more than 40 – are, for example, the integration of trailer braking systems, sensors and electronic suspension control programs. All of this is intended to contribute to the safety and comfort of truck-trailer combinations in road traffic and everyday transport.
Faster updates with SUMS
Also addressed at trailer manufacturers is ZF with its new solution for simplified software updates SUMS (Software Update Management System). The new digital solution is designed as a comprehensive toolkit to help trailer manufacturers comply with international statutory standards for software updates in the automotive industry. The application is based on UNECE Regulation R156, by which manufacturers are required to implement such a SUMS in their products to ensure functional safety and cybersecurity throughout the vehicle's life cycle. "The SUMS Service Suite from ZF enables trailer manufacturers to meet these requirements and also provides a comprehensive end-to-end support toolkit for manufacturers," the supplier assures.
ZF at Nufam, 25 to 28 September 2025, Hall 1, Booth
