Customised innovation Schwarzmueller

CUSTOMISED INNOvATION

Schwarzmueller is Europe’s largest manufacturer of trailers, semi-trailers and bodies for a broad range of industrial applications. The company continues to see strong growth in the EU markets thanks to its innovative solutions and ability to provide ‘optimal-fit’ for any upcoming transportation challenge. Philip Yorke reports.

With a major presence in 21 countries across Europe, Schwarzmueller is one of the leading and most respected utility vehicle manufacturers for bodies, trailers and semitrailers in the world. The company’s extensive range of products, along with its decades of experience, and unrivalled quality makes it an internationally approved manufacturer for standard and specialised commercial vehicles. Its dedication to providing innovative, cost-effective solutions has boosted production to more than 9000 vehicles this year. In addition, its comprehensive network is also unrivalled for its fast and efficient repair and spare part replacement services.

Today Schwarzmueller operates in 21 countries, mostly in Central, Eastern and South Eastern Europe. The company develops, produces and services premium vehicles for bespoke, value-added transport solutions, and sets the benchmark as an innovative technological leader with over 150 years of experience. The Schwarzmueller Group currently employs around 2300 people and in 2017 recorded sales of approximately €350 million.

meeting strategic goals

At Schwarzmueller’s headquarters in Freinberg, Austria, last year, Roland Hartwig, Group CEO, confirmed that the company’s strategic goals noted in its 2020 plan were very much on track.

Now in its 150th year, the Austrian premium commercial vehicle manufacturer aims to generate revenues of €450 million and to sell over 10,000 vehicles this year. Hartwig also stated that the priority was establishing flow-production, which entailed building totally new production lines in all of the company’s European plants.

The reduction in process times brought about by this development is designed to increase efficiency and meet changing customer expectations. Delivery times have also become a hot topic during the current boom market conditions. Since mid-year 2018 resources have been concentrated on accelerating the conversion process. “Starting in the autumn of 2018, our increased efficiency will enable us to offer all of our customers shorter delivery times,” said Hartwig.

In its key sales markets, Germany remains the current leader with a boom in the sales of construction vehicles. Elsewhere, the group has been able to defend its market dominance in Austria and Switzerland, and sales in Europe. Furthermore, Hungary and Poland remain stable markets. Once the new ‘flow production’ process is introduced, the plants will begin with sequencing. This computer-optimised production control method is intended to enable the company to achieve significant improvements in overall manufacturing efficiency.

The majority of the latest €8 million investment is being used for this purpose, however funding is also being provided for the construction of an in-house training workshop, designed to advance the company’s internal training practices.

New partnership

Recently Schwartzmueller gained an important partner in an interesting growth market that compliments the company’s product portfolio and volumes. Nooteboom Trading BV is a Dutch company that is

Schwarzmueller Group and NEXA AUTOCOLOR®

Nexa Autocolor, premium refinish brand and part of the global PPG Industries group, has been Schwarzmueller’s preferred coating partner for over 10 years. The supplier’s continued focus on commercial transportation coatings research goes beyond aesthetics and durability with the aim to develop innovative products that help vehicle builders to increase productivity and, ultimately, customer satisfaction.

This has led to the introduction of the TuRBo VISIoN® product line, a flexible paint system using a new generation of patented technologies and advanced colour tools which enables painters to make fine adjustments to allow for paint shop conditions, colour and gloss variation. enhanced opacity and the need to do less rework also saves on material and energy costs. Finally, fast drying properties reduce bake time by up 25% and, because the coatings are very hard after bake, parts can be installed almost immediately rather than waiting for painted surfaces to cure overnight.

famous for its ‘Rino Trailer’ brand that has been in family ownership since its foundation. With its Rino Brand trailer, the company is clearly focused on heavy goods transport for the construction industry, as well as providing used vehicles for international markets.

The progressive Dutch company is located in Zeewolde, and has an extensive network that is especially active in the construction industry and has now enhanced its distribution network for Schwarzmueller vehicles. Schwarzmueller also brings much to the table with its eight product groups, and 135 different types of vehicles. It is also able to offer everything from a wide variety of vehicles to special constructions tailored to suit any unique market requirements. These may include platform and tipper vehicles, tank vehicles, low-loader vehicles, timber stanchion vehicles, and walking floor and swap-body vehicles, in addition to specialised refrigerated-box vehicles.

long-haul sector growth

During the last two years it has been the long-haul sector that has been driving growth. As Europe’s only international full-service supplier of commercial vehicles, it benefits from the strong, on-going

growth in long distance platform vehicles. This is an area in which the company scores points for its lightweight designs, broad range of fittings and robust construction technology.

However, at the same time, more vehicles have also been produced for the construction industry, which involves mainly tippers and low-loaders, including the box-body tipper semi-trailer that was developed especially for this market. “We are the acknowledged specialist for custom-configured vehicles. These do not appear on our price list, however, this ability is particularly beneficial for our customers in the construction industry,” said Hartwig.

“Today we are switching to a very modern, but very complex production method that will allow us to produce customised vehicles in considerably shorter throughput times. This project requires massive changes to our manufacturing and assembly processes. What’s more, the so-called ‘sequencing’ of the entire process chain is rare in our industry and is only used by premium manufacturers such as Schwartzmueller.” n

For further details of Schwarzmueller’s latest innovative products and services visit: www.schwartzmueller.com