Trailers with many applications Zaslaw

TRaILERs WITh many aPPLICaTIons

Zaslaw, a company from Andrychow, is one of Poland’s leading manufacturers of trailers and semitrailers for agricultural and road use. “Our brand is well-known and recognisable both in Poland and other countries,” as Jaroslaw Luczak, the company’s commercial director explains to Dariusz Balcerzyk.

Zaslaw has a long tradition in the production of road and agricultural trailers, semi-trailers, undercarriages, containers and various arrangements. Its history reaches back to 1953, so in 2018 the company celebrates its 65th anniversary.

Since the very beginning, Zaslaw has been one of Poland’s leading manufacturers of agricultural trailers. Its main product, ‘Autosanki’ trailers, are its most popular agricultural trailers, with 68 per cent of Polish farmers using them. The company’s annual output in 1960, 1970 and the 1980s reached 20,000 vehicles.

In the 1990s Zaslaw was completely restructured: initially, in 1996, the limited company was established and then, eight years later, its ownership structure was changed. Since then, it has been owned by a group of Polish entrepreneurs. In 2008 the company moved its entire production to Andrychow, a town that is one

of the most important industrial centres in the southern part of Poland. Since 2007, there has been a special economic zone with a total area of nearly 140 ha.

Over the years since its establishment the company has extended its offer, which now includes curtain semi-trailers, dumping semitrailers, vehicles for timber transport, construction trailers, semitrailers and vehicles for the municipal sector.

Crossing borders

Zaslaw makes both agricultural trailers and road vehicles (i.e. various types of road trailers). Each segment makes up 50 per cent of its total annual sales. For 2018, its projected output is 1600 heavy vehicles and 6000 small lightweight luggage trailers, including around 530 agricultural trailers.

“In terms of the agricultural trailers’ sales volumes we are only the fifth producer in Poland, but we are the undisputed leader in the sale of large trailers with a load capacity of more than 12 tonnes. This is due to our quality policy. Our trailers are equipped with components made only by reputable companies, such as SAF Holland, BPW, ArcelorMittal, Jost, Hella or Aspock. Therefore, they are often more expensive than the trailers made by our competitors. In the case of small trailers, this difference in price is of fundamental importance,

Aspöck Systems

Aspöck company has focussed on the planning, development and production of future-orientated lighting for diverse vehicles for 40 years now. During that time have brought light to the roads and are therefore europe’s leading manufacturer for pre-fabricated lighting systems for all types of towed vehicles. From the concept, right up to a product ready for assembly, Aspöck develops solutions concerning lighting for truck trailers, trailers, agricultural machines, automotive, motorcycles and caravans. Through our collected experience, we can provide the global vehicle industry with individual and innovative solutions not only for innovative leD lighting, but also for wiring and plug systems.

since the trailers are usually purchased by smaller farmers who only use them for a couple of weeks a year. Large trailers are bought by big farmers and agricultural enterprises, for whom the quality of the trailer is much more important than its price,” explains Mr Luczak.

Zaslaw develops innovative production solutions, thus broadening its market offer. Recently, it launched the production of an aluminium tipper with cubature of 24m³, low loading height and weight of under 4900kg. Its newly designed 13-metre frame for semitrailers to transport timber with sliding or removable stakes has allowed it to achieve a greatly reduced semitrailer weight.

The company makes truck upper structures with cranes dedicated to wood transport. Their technical parameters are adjusted to meet individual customer requirements. It has also developed numerous accessory solutions to meet specific customer demands, such as an extension to the side boards. These increase the trailer’s capacity by 100 per cent and can be mounted to all braked and non-braked trailers.

Zaslaw’s sales are focused on the local, Polish market. However, recently the company has also been making forays into foreign markets. “Our products are already present and popular in such countries as the Czech Republic, Austria, Slovakia, Romania, Ukraine, Hungary, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. Our brand is more and more recognisable in Germany. It is worth adding that more than 500,000 of our vehicles have been produced and sold on the European markets since 1953,” says Mr Luczak.

Cutting-edge producer

Zaslaw employs approximately 300 people, with young and innovative employees supported by experienced technicians and engineers with the latest manufacturing processes at their disposal. The company’s production hall with a surface area of 18,500m² is situated on a large plot of land covering an area of 17 ha. The most cuttingedge production equipment ensures consistently high production efficiency (one vehicle per hour).

Zaslaw cooperates with many partners, which translates into success and new business opportunities for all companies taking part in this cooperation. Its business partners are selected very carefully, as the quality of the final product is extremely important. “We greatly value companies that respond to the needs of our customers as flexibly as we do. From our partners we require the highest quality, quick response, and excellent service. If they are interested in joint development, we usually become partners for a long time,” concludes Mr Luczak.