trailer world Issue Two 2012

Issue Two 2012 39 Photos:OliverWillms All these customer-specific wishes find their technical production implementa- tion in the generously designed axle man- ufacture. The agricultural axles are also physically separated from the high-speed axles because the small batch sizes in the se- ries are what makes the production in the agricultural sector so special. Depending on the numbers and the special design, the axle beams and the auxiliary frames often ordered, which are delivered to the customer direct as a “rolling chassis”, are produced using manual welding processes, or with the aid of modern weld- ing robots. The most important aid for small- and special-series production is a detailed de- sign description for the men at the work- benches, because the production process sometimes varies greatly depending on the type – from the trailed axle to the heavy- duty assembly. One axle has cooled steering pivots shrunk in at -180 °C, while the steer- ing housing is heated by induction to sev- eral hundred degrees in the previous work station, so that it makes a permanent, inter- nally stable connection with the axle stub. Special processes are also required when it comes to brake production. The standard repertoire of the Magyars includes a range of different wheel brake systems, from the classical wedge-type brake as an overrun brake to the power-operated brake with flat cams or wing cams from 4 to 12 tonnes axle load, not counting any other special ver- sions required. In agricultural axle production however, quality still remains the overall priority, because it is the chassis which determines volume, mobility, speed and efficiency of a vehicle. Customers who have succumbed to the temptation of a low-cost provider, and later return to the quality of BPW, are the favourites of Péter Mándli, because “they then remain customers for ever”. Mándli also sees plenty of potential for the future. Russia is growing into a major market for high-tech quality products for agriculture. New developments are there- fore an essential part of the programme in Szombathely. The team is currently work- ing on individual wheel suspension for one customer, while adjustable-track ax- les and active hydraulic suspensions are also undergoing testing. Customers still remain conservative however with regard to steel as the material. The market would hardly accept GFRP axles or suspensions, as market expert Mándli is well aware: “The farmer believes rather in solid, massive material!” (owi) Further information on BPW production in Hungary can be found at www.bpw-hungaria.hu The axle production at the traditional Hungarian site of Szombathely covers all production steps from solid material to the finished high- end axle in its own chassis. BPW produces all conceivable variants of axles for trailers up to the XXL wide-track chassis. The range of variants must be contrasted with the single- figure numbers

trailer world Issue Two 2012

Pages