Innovation and family tradition ADR

INNOVATION AND FAMILY TRADITION

Increasingly sophisticated products, constant innovation and a strong belief in experienced, effective and long-term human resources are the driving forces pushing the growth of the ADR group, a world leader in terms of wide axle and suspension products. Barbara Rossi speaks to its CEO, Mr Flavio Radrizzani.

The ADR group comprises several companies and, while the official financial holding company is RPF, ADR Axles plays the main role, from its base between Milan and the Malpensa airport, practically acting as the holding company in management terms. ADR Axles was established in 1954 by the parents of Mr Radrizzani as a manufacturer of wheels for trolleys. Following in the footsteps of his brother, who entered the company in the early sixties and started axles manufacturing, Mr Radrizzani joined ADR in the early 1970s, further developing the axle activity and starting the internationalisation process. The first foreign acquisition took place in 1989, when French company Colaert Essieux was acquired, followed by the purchasing of Polish ATW in 1996 and then British Tyremart. Since then joint ventures have been set up in both China and Brazil and now the company also has its own company in China, as well as having created another the Brazilian company a 100 per cent owned subsidiary. Currently two acquisitions in Spain and South Africa have just come to a successful conclusion.

Axles and suspensions for both agricultural and special transport and industrial machines are the group’s core business and the group is world renowned in both fields. However, ADR is also maintaining a small production of trolley wheels (for instance for car-trailer, gardening and airport trol-

From the left: Mr J Westphäling certification components and systems TÜV SÜD, Mr Flavio Radrizzani CEO of ADR group, Mr S Frigerio, ADR R&D

ADR premises Trial benches Colaert premises

leys), thanks to CLM, known as Italruote, a subsidiary based in the north-eastern Italian region of Friuli. This production is not particularly significant in terms of turnover but it is maintained for historical and sentimental reasons. Furthermore, the group also has a soil division, a niche activity which offers special products used in the preparation of agricultural soil, in particular demand in countries with industrialised agriculture.

The group has standard products in its catalogue, which are virtually always customised to fulfil clients’ needs, and can offer axles, suspensions or the whole components. While ADR Axles is the most renowned of the group’s companies, engaged in product development and manufacturing of mediumhigh range products, the Polish company is the largest of the group in terms of staff and dimensions. It offers a wide range, and manufactures many components for the other members of the group. The Chinese companies also produce a wide range of products for supply to the Far East, Africa and parts of Europe. Brazil mainly produces axles for industrial trailers. Tyremart is active at a commercial level, as well as in assembling products to fulfil the needs of its clients.

Continuously innovating

Talking about new products and R&D Mr Radrizzani says: “We always present new products at each trade fair, as we have just done in Bologna. For this purpose, there is a strong collaboration taking place between ADR Axles and Colaert Essieux. The Italian company, with its 15 R&D dedicated technicians and engineers is mainly focused on developing axles and brakes, while the French company’s specialism is that of developing new suspensions. We are equipped with trial benches for product homologation, so that TUV and UTAC executives can come and certify our products at our premises. We are currently working on products which will come on the market in 3 to 5 years. At Bologna we have presented new products with regard to both axles and suspensions. We have recently launched a new series of certified brakes, complying with both the new German and French legislation, as well as a twin steering axle that solves the problems encountered with multi-axle trailers. We invest a significant amount in R&D, mainly due to the high cost of trial benches.” Mr Radrizzani continues: “We have also invested in our production sites, particularly in Brazil and China, and we will carry on doing so in these countries, as well as In Poland, expanding our facilities and installing new machinery.”

Products for the agricultural sector, such as for trailers and other agricultural machines, are mainly sold in Europe, while products for industrial trailers are mainly supplied to non-European countries (which also purchase the products for the agricultural sector). While the agricultural sector is still claiming the lion’s share, the industrial sector is experiencing strong growth.

“In terms of geographical markets we supply our products all over Europe, from Portugal to Russia, including the Balkans and Turkey, as well as serving South America, the Middle East, Africa, the Far East,

www.jacam.ch

Our company was established in 2004 by a team with twenty years of experience in the transport sector, Our company was established in 2004 by a team with twenty years of experience in the transport sector, which has made reliability and effi ciency our own company brand.which has made reliability and effi ciency our own company brand.

Thanks to its experience and professionalism, Jacam has been working for a long time with thousands of Thanks to its experience and professionalism, Jacam has been working for a long time with thousands of clients in the transport sector, as well as in national, international, maritime, land and air shipments. clients in the transport sector, as well as in national, international, maritime, land and air shipments.

Today Jacam is a comprehensive organisation offering all the activities concerning logistics with the aim ofToday Jacam is a comprehensive organisation offering all the activities concerning logistics with the aim of providing total client satisfaction. The recognition of the quality of our work makes us proud and willing to providing total client satisfaction. The recognition of the quality of our work makes us proud and willing to continuously improve. continuously improve.

We We fi nd ourselves in a strategic position, at the centre of one of the most dynamic and productive areas in fi nd ourselves in a strategic position, at the centre of one of the most dynamic and productive areas in Europe, engaged in offering a highly reliable logistics, transport, national and international shipment service.Europe, engaged in offering a highly reliable logistics, transport, national and international shipment service.

The Jacam staff has well over ten years of experience of using all the major international languages and we The Jacam staff has well over ten years of experience of using all the major international languages and we are equipped with a commercial office which is at client’s disposal for transport quotations for any needs. are equipped with a commercial office which is at client’s disposal for transport quotations for any needs.

Brazilian sugarcane trailer

Australia and New Zealand. We also commercialise our products in North America, thanks to our base in Canada.”

While the group is an absolute leader in the supply of axles, suspensions and whole components for the agricultural sector in Europe, given the current stagnant economic situation of this area, expansion is expected elsewhere, namely in eastern Europe, Russia, China and Australia, as well as in Brazil, despite the fact that even these markets feel the effects of the current global economic downturn. A continent offering particular opportunities is Africa, from South Africa to the Maghreb region. Because of this, the group is focusing on expanding its position on these markets.

“Future growth will derive from a mix of organic growth and acquisitions, with the latter materialising if the right opportunities should arise. Acquisitions have played a very important part in our history so far, so we may repeat the experience in future. Our future developments will unfold on the basis of two elements, namely innovative products and geographical expansion. The former will be central in Europe, while the latter will apply to other markets,” Mr Radrizzani explains, further adding “Europe demands more sophisticated products than the rest of the world. This level of sophistication may be hard to market in other countries, although we have managed to enter some of our new markets thanks to the very sophisticated European type of products that we were proposing and which they did not have. It’s important to find the right balance in terms of innovation, presenting a product which the market is able to use, otherwise problems may arise. We work in partnership with our clients, offering them advice on the type of products which can best meet their needs, and educating them in the use of increasingly sophisticated products.”

Innovation and a strong belief in the importance of human resources are the pillars on which this family-led group is built. The third generation of the family has become active in the company, operating alongside experienced managers and a pool of long-term staff. Mr Radrizzani concludes “We operate as a large family, valuing our staff – something which is proven by our extremely low staff turnover.” n

Four axles with hydraulic suspension trailer ADR trailer product on test