Delivering unique, heavy-haulage technology

DELIVERING UNIQUE,

HEAVY-HAULAGE TECHNOLOGY

Doll Fahrzeugbau is a market leader in the development of heavy transport solutions. Philip Yorke talked to Patrick Spitznagel, the company’s sales director for heavy vehicles, about its latest semi-trailer technology, new ‘Trailer-in-a-box’ option and its move into the expanding Indian market.

Doll Fahrzeugbau AG is a privately owned, family-managed business that was founded in Germany in 1878. The company began trading as a wagon-works and went on to produce all types of carriages and forestry tools and equipment, before moving into the heavy haulage sector in the 1970s. Since then it has seen consistent growth and in 2009 opened a new, state-of-the-art facility in Mildenau, Germany, to extend its manufacturing capabilities. Now in its fourth generation of family management, the company is recognised as a global leader in its specialised area of heavy-haulage transport solutions.

Doll Fahrzeugbau’s headquarters and its extensive manufacturing and R&D facilities are located in Oppenau in the Black Forest. Despite the prevailing adverse global trading conditions, last year the company managed to increase its turnover by over 10 per cent, to record sales in 2012 of more than €62 million.

Diverse, heavy-haulage solutions

For many years, Doll has pioneered the special trailer technology that drives the heavy haulage industry. Its products are divided into five distinct product groups. These are platform semitrailers, low-bed semi-trailers and drop-bed semi-trailers, as well as self-steering trailers and off-road vehicles. In addition to the proven technology developed for its Vario heavy-haulage series, the company is also responsible for the world’s most manoeuvrable semi-trailers, the panther series, with its patented self-steering technology and independent heavy-duty suspension systems.

The range of applications for Doll’s hightech, heavy haulage solutions is unlimited and ranges from military applications for the transportation of tanks and heavy armour, to special scissor-lift vehicles for the catering and construction industries. This is in addition to the diverse range of industries it serves that include railways, forestry, energy and oil refineries, all of which require the transportation of massive and unusual loads from time to time.

Expanding global reach

Until recently, the company’s export activities have been centred on the EU countries, as well as North Africa and Singapore,

where it has well-established sales offices. In addition it has a joint-venture company in Thailand that serves the Far East markets.

Doll also has an extensive network of sales and service partners worldwide. However, a major development took place recently when it entered into a new joint venture agreement with one of India’s leading transportation engineering companies, JCBL Ltd.

Mr Spitznagel said, “Whilst Germany remains our biggest single market, we are seeing steady growth in our export sales. Around 40 per cent of our products are produced for export markets with a significant proportion destined for Switzerland and Scandinavia. However, we expect to see our export sales climb this year since the signing of a new licence agreement with India’s leading bus and coach manufacturer, JCBL.

“This company’s main plant is situated just north of Delhi where much of their production is geared to building bus bodies for the big OEMs, as well as manufacturing special purpose vehicles and its own brand of integral coaches. Initially this licence agreement will relate to our smaller, ‘bread and butter’ flat-bed trailers. In the USA too, our ground support services business is growing thanks to collaboration with the Palfinger North America Group, who are marketing our special lift vehicles for airport catering services and other industrial applications.

“Returning to our Asian initiative, India is a very price-sensitive market, especially at the lower end, which is why in the future we will focus on our heavy haulage series to cater for such items as wind turbines and military transport. In order to maintain and guarantee our high quality standards in Asia, we are training JCBL engineers in Oppenau while at the same time ensuring the same level of after sales service and technical support.

Mr Spitznagel added, “We are considered to be the premium product leader in our area of operations and are fortunate in having within our company some of the best qualified and most experienced engineers in the business, many of whom have been working for us for many years. Interestingly, some of our most impressive heavy haulage solutions have been developed to serve the needs of

companies involved in infrastructure, where massive concrete structures require to be transported, as well as for heavy military transporters for NATO and others, and for large OEM truck manufacturers like Daimler and Renault.”

Vario and Panther technology leads the field

Doll’s panther semi-trailers offer exceptional, innovative running gear that provides unbelievable manoeuvrability and can adapt to suit the most challenging terrain. Operators and drivers alike are enthusiastic about the excellent driving dynamics, road safety features and low-loading height of these semi-trailers. The revolutionary technology employed in the Panther series has proved to be a global success and the range includes vehicles that offer between two and ten axles, all with independent suspension. Within just two years, the Doll Panther range has become a byword for quality and reliability in the heavy haulage industry.

In addition, the company’s well-proven Vario series are heavy-duty semi-trailers with beam axles and air-suspension as standard, although hydraulic suspension is also available as an option. Today, Doll continues to apply its innovative muscle across all its business activities and is now marketing a new ‘value-added’ option, as Mr Spitznagel explains, “Yet another major development recently has been our strategic decision to offer what we call the ‘Trailer-in-a-box’ option. This means that customers can purchase major parts of our trailers, including our special hydraulic systems, and integrate them into their own vehicles. This offers them a very attractive, cost-effective option and one that complements our own key business activities. We will also be reaching an entirely new target audience with the opportunity for new sales that this represents. Furthermore, we know that the market is looking for more sophisticated steering solutions for heavyhaulage trailers and we have now developed the most advanced and reliable products on the market. These will all be showcased at the forthcoming BAUMA Trade Show in Munich in April this year on our outside stand: F9 N932/3.” n

For further information about Doll Fahrzeugbau and its advanced heavyhaulage products and services visit: www.doll-oppenau.com