INDUSTRY UPDATE

VALX A P P O I N T S A X L E D I S T R I B U T O R

IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA

DUTCH MANUFACTURING SPECIALIST, VALX, HAS APPOINTED TSE BIG MAX AS AN OFFICIAL DISTRIBUTOR OF ITS AXLES FOR SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA. D utch manufacturing specialist, VALX, has appointed TSE Big Max as an official distributor of its axles for sub-Saharan Africa.

VALX Sales Director, Martin van Willigen, confirms that this is the next step in expanding the manufacturer’s sales and service network in the EMEA region, following the establishment of a subsidiary in Dubai to serve the MENA region.

Omar Essop, TSE Big Max founding member, says the South African trailer axle market is relatively polarised.

TSE Big Max, established in 1985, has its facility in Johannesburg (launched in 1993) as well as a support network, including 15 nationwide distributors along with distributors in several countries north of the Netherlands.

“Our experience in truck trailer axle manufacture, coupled with our extensive support network, make TSE Big Max the ideal partner for fleet operators and trailer manufacturers hungry for innovative and cost-friendly axle alternatives,” Essop says.

VALX axles are internationally recognised for ground-breaking design concepts that facilitate greater levels of trailer customisation, payload productivity and resource efficiency.

TSE Big Max Sales Director and VALX Product Specialist, Jo du Toit, says: “VALX is a member company of The Fuwa Group, the largest axle manufacturer in the world and pioneer of the ‘one-piece axle beam with heatformed spindles’, a ‘no weld, no U-bolt’ axle beam design and manufacturing methodology with exemplary anti-deforming, anti-fatigue and anti-bending advantages. VALX axles are designed by top engineers to stringent EU quality specifications with all componentry sourced from leading suppliers such as Wabco (braking systems), Weweler (air suspension systems), Timken (wheel bearings), SKF (seals) and Textar (brake friction material).”

The VALX axle range includes disc and drum bake derivatives, based on modular design principles to allow for maximum trailer design customisation.

“A host of innovative design concepts deliver unprecedented versatility, performance and ease-of-maintenance to trailer owners, including the nonwelded, seamless axle beam with a unique ‘VALX groove’ that allows the builder to tailor-fit the spring centre of the mechanical suspension using a unique clamping system,” du Toit says.

“VALX hubs offer a choice of offsets for various wheel sizes and a two-shock absorber/two-airbag design standard that reduces weight while minimising maintenance time and costs,” he says.

According to du Toit, the VALX E2! Energy Axle is a testament to VALX’s innovative capabilities. “This axle incorporates an integrated brushless highefficiency generator that converts kinetic energy from the trailer wheels into direct current (DC) that powers auxiliary components such like tail lifts to reduce draw on the truck battery while making an effective contribution to fuel saving.”

The VALX philosophy of ‘light weight, low component count and minimal maintenance’ underpins a quality ethos that brings solid engineering prowess to trailer axle products that meet the needs of transport operators.

“In a business environment that sees operating costs constantly soaring while transport rates remain static, TSE Big Max is committed to giving its VALX axle customers full sales and aftersales support, including comprehensive parts availability and technical back-up and training,” Essop says.

“Most importantly, we are fully geared to offer the truck transport industry in the region a proven, cost-effective, high-quality alternative to existing axle systems currently available in South Africa.” www.valx.eu