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<strong>Haldex</strong> Magazine - Spring 2007<br />
08<br />
Gigant<br />
High standards<br />
In the past, Gigant was more reputed for being an axle<br />
manufacturer for niche markets. Since the acquisition of the<br />
French axle manufacturer SMB (formerly part of General Trailers),<br />
the Gigant group has also gained a foothold in the volume market<br />
for semi-trailer nine-ton axles. It is in this very market that Gigant<br />
aims to set new standards by offering technical highlights. At the<br />
IAA in 2006, the company presented a much acclaimed singlewheel<br />
suspension system. At the the CV Show in Birmingham and<br />
Solutrans exhibition in Lyon, Gigant will, as the first manufacturer<br />
in the world, feature trailer axles with the <strong>Haldex</strong> ModulD fixed<br />
calliper brake. Serial production is expected to begin by the end of<br />
2007. <strong>Haldex</strong> Magazine spoke with Gigant’s Sales and Marketing<br />
Director Walter Wildeshaus.<br />
In the area of trailer axles,<br />
your goal is to become one<br />
of the leading European<br />
producers. What progress<br />
have you made so far?<br />
Wildeshaus: In recent<br />
years, the increase in<br />
turnover has reached<br />
double figures. In this<br />
regard, we are on the right<br />
track. However, we do not<br />
consider market share and<br />
turnover as the only yardsticks.<br />
If I may draw parallels<br />
with the automotive industry, it<br />
is not necessarily the largest<br />
companies that are doing the best,<br />
Walte Wildeshaus,<br />
Sales and Marketing Director<br />
Profile:<br />
On 1st September 2006, Walter<br />
Wildeshaus (43) took over sales<br />
leadership of the axle manufacturer<br />
Gigant, located in the northern<br />
German town of Dinklage. Prior to<br />
joining Gigant, Wildeshaus occupied<br />
several positions of responsibility<br />
with leading European automobile<br />
manufacturers and suppliers.<br />
World premiere: First axle with<br />
fixed calliper disc brakes<br />
quite on the contrary. Although Porsche,<br />
for example, is not the biggest company, it<br />
is a technology leader, completely sound<br />
and practically independent.<br />
Preserving our independence while staking<br />
our claim as a leader in technology is also<br />
a main objective for us. In this respect, we<br />
are on the right track.<br />
The acquisition of SMB in France laid<br />
the foundations for this strategy.<br />
Since then, what changes have taken<br />
place at the SMB plant in Troyes?<br />
What was the impact of this on the<br />
South European and other markets?<br />
Wildeshaus: Since 1993, Gigant have<br />
owned the SAE plant located in<br />
Charleville, France, which produces the<br />
entire product range of special axles, such<br />
as those used on low-bed trailers. We are<br />
dominant in this market.<br />
However, growth in this smaller market is<br />
limited. The acquisition of the SMB plant<br />
was a stroke of luck. We were thus able to<br />
close our strategic gap in the standard<br />
nine-ton axle market, while at the same<br />
time being able to fall back on an<br />
outstanding product which is produced at<br />
a state-of-the-art facility. In France, we can<br />
still claim far more than fifty percent of<br />
market share.<br />
SMB is a cornerstone of our “axle system<br />
skills centre”, along with the SAE plant and<br />
Trenkamp & Gehle suspension manufacturing<br />
facility. We are in the black in<br />
this highly competitive market; so far, we<br />
are entirely satisfied with the acquisition.<br />
What technical changes have been<br />
made to the original SMB product?<br />
Wildeshaus: It is no coincidence that the<br />
product has such a high market share; that<br />
is why there was basically nothing to<br />
change. The upgraded version of the SMB<br />
axle is now called EuroAxle and<br />
essentially distinguishes itself through<br />
a lighter and sturdier suspension unit<br />
(FB70) and low-maintenance<br />
compact bearings.<br />
Today, the EuroAxle forms the<br />
basis of our business in Western<br />
Europe and has opened doors to<br />
leading manufacturers such as<br />
Krone and Kögel, for whom we<br />
fully equip their foxx model. In<br />
addition, the EuroAxle is the<br />
flagship for our most significant<br />
product innovations.<br />
With the EuroAxle, you opted<br />
for <strong>Haldex</strong> technology. What<br />
was the deciding factor and what<br />
are the advantages?<br />
Wildeshaus: As we are still a small axle<br />
manufacturer, we are forced to compensate<br />
for the scaling advantages of large<br />
companies by coming up with intelligent<br />
designs, in order to remain competitive in<br />
terms of price, although price is not<br />
everything.<br />
At the end of the day, you have to develop<br />
and produce something that is technically<br />
convincing. However, we will not be<br />
better than our competitors by using the<br />
same components than they do. That is<br />
why we have chosen technological<br />
leaders to be our partners. Market leaders<br />
cannot be overtaken if others are content<br />
to follow in their footsteps. The advantage<br />
for customers is quite obvious: better<br />
value.<br />
Starting in the autumn, you will be<br />
the first European axle manufacturer<br />
to offer the <strong>Haldex</strong> fixed<br />
calliper brake. How much does this<br />
add to the purchase price paid by the<br />
end customer, and how does the<br />
latter benefit in terms of life-cycle<br />
cost?<br />
Wildeshaus: With the <strong>Haldex</strong> fixed<br />
calliper brake, our main goal is to reduce<br />
operating costs, while it is also clearly
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