098
Innovation + technology
Striving for a good
balance of expenses
A SYNONYM FOR
INNOVATION
SAF-HOLLAND has already recorded numerous successes in conceptualizing components and systems
that set the standard for years to
come. The company uses its leadership in technology and innovation
to create advantages for trucking
companies and fleet operators. It
strengthens SAF-HOLLAND’s position in the established commercial
vehicle markets and at the same
time accelerates expansion into new
sales regions worldwide.
Source: SAF-HOLLAND Annual Report 2013
Weight-reducing solutions for vehicle components
and improvements that lead to enhanced vehicle
availability are among the most important initiatives
at SAF-HOLLAND’s innovation center. Lighter vehicles can load more freight. And trucks and trailers with longer service intervals can do what they
were built to do: transport goods and earn money.
Both of these approaches are right in line with the
needs of end customers, especially when sustainability aspects are also taken into consideration –
as with the company fleet of NTB Inc., an American
truckload carrier.
002 Company
020 Management Report
106 Financial Statements
184 Additional Information
098 _A
sustainable
TRANSPORTEFFICIENCY
lightweight
»Our goal of consistent,
fuel-saving
high-quality
service fosters
lasting relationships with
environmentally
our customers and
friendly
partners.«
innovation +
technology
SAF-HOLLAND
NTB Inc.
products
Grand
Rapids,
USA
Source: SAF-HOLLAND Annual Report 2013
098_B
Innovation + technology
Striving for a good
balance of expenses
Henry Schwarz,
CEO/President NTB Inc.
A SYNONYM FOR
INNOVATION
SAF-HOLLAND has already recorded numerous successes in conceptualizing components and systems
that set the standard for years to
come. The company uses its leadership in technology and innovation
to create advantages for trucking
companies and fleet operators. It
strengthens SAF-HOLLAND’s position in the established commercial
vehicle markets and at the same
time accelerates expansion into new
sales regions worldwide.
Source: SAF-HOLLAND Annual Report 2013
Weight-reducing
Trucks
und Trailer
solutions
müssen for
permanent
vehicle
components
unterwegs
Advanced
technologies.
The
story of NTB
starts
back
in
the
year
1974.
Dan
Koster,
the
company‘s
had
sein.improvements
and
Minimierte Ausfallquoten,
that lead to verlängerte
enhancedfounder,
vehicle
Servicepicked up a passion for trucks from his dad and sat behind the steeintervalle, unkomplizierte
availability
are among the most
Wartungsabläufe
important initiatives
und
ring wheel of a truck for the first time when he was just 16 years old.
Ersatzteilverfügbarkeit
at
SAF-HOLLAND’s
innovation
sind dafür
center.
wichtige
Lighter
veToday,
NTB is one of the most
successful
truckload
carriers
inVorthe Midwestern
United
States,
and itfreight.
pays
particular
advanced
aussetzungen.
hicles
can load
Systeme
more
und
Komponenten
Andattention
trucks to
and
von
traitechnologies. The company is based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, in the
SAF-HOLLAND
lers
with longer gelten
serviceals
intervals
vorbildlich.
can do
Mit
what
ihrer
they
north of the USA. It has additional locations and drop lots in Illinois,
zuverlässigen
were
to do:
Qualität
transport
ermöglichen
goods
and
sieearn
Transportmoney.
Indiana,built
Kentucky,
Michigan,
Ohio
and
Wisconsin.
The
company‘s
goal
is to
theapproaches
Lord by Zuwachs
being the
best
truckload
carrier
in the
reunternehmen
Both
ofhonor
these
einen
are
an
right
Produktivität,
in line
with
the
gion through their service to customers, employees and shareholders.
helfen of
needs
dieend
Kosten
customers,
im Griffespecially
zu behalten
when
undsustainsorgen
darüberaspects
ability
hinaus are
für also
mehrtaken
Sicherheit.
into consideration
Für Flotten- –
kunden
as
with the
in aller
company
Welt sind
fleet dies
of NTB
die Inc.,
entscheidenden
an American
Vorteile – carrier.
truckload
auch für die Spedition Bode, ein norddeutsches Transportunternehmen, das mit erstklassigen Sicherheitsstandards überzeugt.
002 Company
020 Management Report
106 Financial Statements
184 Additional Information
098 _C
sustainable
TRANSPORTEFFICIENCY
lightweight
fuel-saving
environmentally
friendly
innovation +
technology
SAF-HOLLAND
products
Source: SAF-HOLLAND Annual Report 2013
098_D
Innovation + technology
Striving for a good
balance of expenses
NTB has its own fleet of around 235 trucks and over 830 trailers. In
order to quickly and flexibly adapt to changed customer needs, the
company relies on the integration of innovative solutions. One area of
focus is the wide-reaching automation of logistics, dispatch, communication, maintenance and accounting. The truckload carrier also places
great importance on sustainability and high environmental standards.
Among other initiatives, NTB is a member of the SmartWay Transport
Partnership, an environmental initiative of the US Environmental
Protection Agency and the transport industry.
A SYNONYM FOR
INNOVATION
SAF-HOLLAND has already recorded numerous successes in conceptualizing components and systems
that set the standard for years to
come. The company uses its leadership in technology and innovation
to create advantages for trucking
companies and fleet operators. It
strengthens SAF-HOLLAND’s position in the established commercial
vehicle markets and at the same
time accelerates expansion into new
sales regions worldwide.
Source: SAF-HOLLAND Annual Report 2013
Weight-reducing
Trucks
und Trailersolutions
müssen for
permanent
vehicle components
unterwegs
sein.improvements
and
Minimierte Ausfallquoten,
that lead to verlängerte
enhanced vehicle
Serviceintervalle, unkomplizierte
availability
are among the most
Wartungsabläufe
important initiatives
und
Ersatzteilverfügbarkeit
at
SAF-HOLLAND’s innovation
sind dafür
center.
wichtige
Lighter
Vor-veaussetzungen.
hicles
can loadSysteme
more freight.
und Komponenten
And trucks and
von
traiSAF-HOLLAND
lers
with longer gelten
serviceals
intervals
vorbildlich.
can do
Mit
what
ihrer
they
zuverlässigen
were
built to do:
Qualität
transport
ermöglichen
goods and
sieearn
Transportmoney.
unternehmen
Both
of these approaches
einen Zuwachs
are an
right
Produktivität,
in line with the
helfen of
needs
dieend
Kosten
customers,
im Griffespecially
zu behalten
when
undsustainsorgen
darüberaspects
ability
hinaus are
für also
mehrtaken
Sicherheit.
into consideration
Für Flotten- –
kunden
as
with the
in aller
company
Welt sind
fleet dies
of NTB
die Inc.,
entscheidenden
an American
Vorteile – carrier.
truckload
auch für die Spedition Bode, ein norddeutsches Transportunternehmen, das mit erstklassigen Sicherheitsstandards überzeugt.
002 Company
020 Management Report
106 Financial Statements
184 Additional Information
099
sustainable
TRANSPORTEFFICIENCY
lightweight
fuel-saving
environmentally
friendly
innovation +
technology
SAF-HOLLAND
Sustainable transport efficiency. SAF-HOLLAND
is known for products that are among the lightest
on the market. What pleases fleet customers also
helps the environment because reduced fuel consumption means reduced CO2 emissions. The
idea that cost and environmental advantages
make a perfect combination can also be seen in
the North American transport market. NTB President Henry Schwarz: “The effect of weight reduction is enormous. If the vehicle’s weight is reduced
it reduces the energy necessary to move the
goods or it allows increased commodity to be
moved for the same energy expenditure.”
products
Source: SAF-HOLLAND Annual Report 2013
100
Innovation + technology
»SAF-HOLLAND has produced
solutions that best
meet the needs
as I perceive them.«
Source: SAF-HOLLAND Annual Report 2013
002 Company
020 Management Report
106 Financial Statements
184 Additional Information
101
Solutions developed to meet needs
NTB Inc. has concentrated on high quality services for customers
in the USA for 40 years. Its partnership with SAF-HOLLAND has
also proved successful over many years. Henry Schwarz, President
of NTB, discusses the importance of innovative products and technical solutions.
NTB values advanced technologies. Does this also apply with regard to the components that are built into
trucks and trailers?
___________ A sub system not only needs to be a
functional, low cost solution. It is imperative that it
can be easily and harmoniously integrated into the
global solution. What that means from my perspective is that system design and integration into the
global function is of utmost importance. The reason
why SAF-HOLLAND is a great business partner is
that they seek to understand and quantify the mission and objectives of the customers they serve and
design business solutions that meet those needs.
Safety considerations are extremely important in
modern fleet management. Can innovative vehicle
components contribute to greater safety standards?
___________ Absolutely! Let me share a story. One
time there was a critical situation in which a motorist pulled in front of one of our vehicles. Under the
usual circumstances, there would have been no way
for our driver to avoid an accident. However, we
had chosen innovative disc brake technology that
reduces stopping distance. Because of that system,
the driver was able to avoid hitting the car with
multiple people in it. If the vehicle had had standard
brakes, it would not have been possible to avoid a
critical accident.
NTB is pushing for more sustainability in the transport of goods and is a member in the SmartWay
Transport Partnership. Do modern technologies
provide advantages for the environment?
___________ As we evaluate systems we are always
looking at ways to reduce environmental harm as
much as possible. Innovative air suspension systems contribute to lowering roll resistance and tire
wear, which also extends the component life of tires.
This also saves fuel. It conserves natural resources
and reduces emissions. And not least of all, modern
suspension systems reduce cargo damage. The area
that is seldom involved in discussions related to the
environment is improvements in ergonomics resulting from modern technologies, which improve the
drivers’ working conditions, reduce driver fatigue
and yield safety benefits.
NTB has established itself on the market with high reliability and supplier
loyalty. The US transport company
equips its fleet with fifth wheels as well
as axle and suspension systems from
SAF-HOLLAND.
Source: SAF-HOLLAND Annual Report 2013