DGAP-News: SAF-HOLLAND S.A.: SAF-HOLLAND and LOHR Industrie seal strategic partnership for e-axles

Corporate News

SAF-HOLLAND and LOHR Industrie seal strategic partnership for e-axles
 

- First prototype deliveries to customers to take place shortly

- Customers to realise significant benefits in terms of total cost of ownership
 

Bessenbach, May 16, 2019. The SAF-HOLLAND Group ("SAF-HOLLAND"), one of the leading suppliers of truck and trailer components, together with the French company LOHR Industrie S.A. ("LOHR"), the world leader in vehicle transporters, today signed a contract for a strategic partnership for electric trailer axles in Duppigheim in the Alsace region.
 

The jointly developed electric trailer axle AXEAL (AXle Electric Assist Lohr) works completely independent of the tractor's main drive and supports this during acceleration and braking with energy recuperation. By providing traction assistance, the tractor operates at a more optimal duty point and thereby consuming up to 15 percent less fuel while improving ride comfort.
 

The central mechanical system includes a differential, a reduction gear and a power take-off that can be coupled when haltered to drive a peripheral system, such as a hydraulic pump. When halted, the electric motor can be disconnected from the transmission to drive the peripheral systems.
 

SAF-HOLLAND's contribution to the overall system will be the SAF TRAKe. The use of this trailer axle allows vehicle transporters to load and unload in urban areas at night, among other things. As a result, the truck and trailer combination overall thus meets all the legal requirements for noise and exhaust emissions.
 

The first semi-trailers for the transport of passenger cars were equipped with this new application in the first quarter of 2019 for test purposes. In the next several weeks, the first LOHR customer vehicles equipped with AXEAL will be delivered to the US company Virginia Transport and the South African company KDG Logistics. The findings gathered during actual operation will be directly incorporated into further development. LOHR will also be adding AXEAL to its product portfolio for vehicle transporters starting in the second half of 2019.
 

"This cooperation is an excellent example of a targeted exchange of know-how while at the same time representing a milestone in the use of our TRAKe electric trailer axle in series," says Alexander Geis, CEO of SAF-HOLLAND. "We are simultaneously committed to helping reduce the total cost of ownership and helping our customers comply with ever more stringent noise and emissions restrictions."
 

The cooperation is initially set up for 10 years and includes an extension clause. The worldwide distribution rights of the AXEAL system are held by SAF-HOLLAND.
 

Christian Fity, CEO of LOHR Industrie S.A., explains: "SAF-HOLLAND is the ideal partner for the global marketing of this system due to its international presence and expertise in the development of electromobility solutions."

About SAF-HOLLAND

SAF-HOLLAND S.A., located in Luxembourg, is the largest independent listed supplier to the commercial vehicle market in Europe delivering mainly to the trailer markets. With sales of approximately EUR 1,301 million in 2018, the Company is one of the world's leading manufacturers and suppliers of chassis-related systems and components primarily for trailers, trucks, buses, and recreational vehicles. The product range comprises axle and suspension systems, fifth wheels, kingpins, and landing gear marketed under the brands SAF, Holland, Neway, KLL, V.Orlandi and York. SAF-HOLLAND sells its products to Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) on six continents. The Group's Aftermarket business supplies spare parts to the service networks of Original Equipment Suppliers (OES), as well as to end customers and service centers through its extensive global distribution network. SAF-HOLLAND is one of the few suppliers in the truck and trailer industry that is internationally positioned in almost all markets worldwide. With the innovation campaign "SMART STEEL - ENGINEER BUILD CONNECT" SAF-HOLLAND combines mechanics with sensors and electronics and drives the digital networking of commercial vehicles and logistics chains. More than 4,400 committed employees worldwide are already today working on the future of the transportation industry.
 

About LOHR

LOHR is a private French group established in Alsace near Strasbourg. For more than 50 years it has been a global specialist in the design, manufacture and marketing of goods transport systems. Today the LOHR Group has 2000 members of staff throughout the world, a development centre with more than 120 engineers and technicians, and factories in Turkey, China, United States and Mexico. LOHR consolidates its position as world leader on the car transporter vehicle market, develops its innovative piggyback activity and promotes projects for the benefit of sustainable mobility.

 

Contact

Michael Schickling
Head of Investor Relations and Corporate Communications
Tel: +49 (0) 6095 301 617
michael.schickling@safholland.de
 

Photo material to press release

https://corporate.safholland.com/en/news-media/media/products

Future-oriented statements

This press release contains certain future-oriented statements that are based on current assumptions and forecasts made by the management of SAF-HOLLAND S.A. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors may lead to the actual results, financial position, development or performance of the company deviating considerably from the appraisals specified here. The company assumes no obligation to update future-oriented statements of this nature or adapt them to future events or developments.
 

Notes

This announcement is for information purposes only and does neither constitute an offer to sell, purchase, exchange or transfer any securities nor a solicitation of any offer to sell, purchase, exchange or transfer any securities. The securities referred to herein have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act") and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an exemption from registration under the Securities Act. SAF-HOLLAND S.A. does not intend to register any securities referred to herein under the Securities Act or with any securities regulatory authority of any state or other jurisdiction in the United States in connection with this announcement.