Born digital: BPW is revolutionising the configuration, ordering and production of running gears

• Configure and order BPW running gears online with the click of a mouse
• Individual configuration steps reproducible as 3D representation
• The configurator enables more efficient collaboration between design and purchasing

Wiehl, 22/08/2018 --- No other type of vehicle is as highly individual as the trailer – every transport task requires a specific running gear. BPW, one of the market leaders for complete running gear systems for truck-trailers and semi-trailers, has now considerably simplified the configuration of running gears: by utilising a "digital DNA" for all components, running gears can be configured and ordered online with the click of a mouse. The digital DNA simultaneously opens up new possibilities starting from production through to the maintenance and servicing of the vehicle.

Be it liquefied gas, milk, building rubble or medical products – every type of transport good creates differential requirements for the trailer running gear. Consequently, hardly any running gear that leaves BPW's factories is the same as the previous one. As a pioneer for Industry 4.0, BPW has already comprehensively digitalised the production for its running gear solutions and is now setting the next step in motion: vehicle manufacturers will be able to configure running gears online in the future.

The digitalisation of all components and their system properties enables the new system to intuitively support the designer (and purchaser), to define, request and order the correct configuration rapidly and accurately. Once a component has been selected, it immediately appears on the screen in a 3D representation, precisely positioned and exactly to scale in relation to the components already selected; the system automatically excludes sources of error. The representation can be rotated at will and viewed from every angle. The configurator also makes the CAD data available for the designing of the complete running gear. All configurations and orders can be saved for later projects and also stored for each customer. The vehicle manufacturer's designer and purchaser can be created as user groups. This allows the designer to store the running gear in the system in such a way that the company purchaser can order it with the click of a mouse. They will also automatically receive direct notification of the delivery date.

Ordering online automatically creates a "Digital DNA" for the BPW running gear: it controls production and streamlines all processes throughout the entire life cycle, from delivery to the vehicle manufacturer up to and including subsequent servicing and spare parts ordering.

Dr. Dirk Nötzke, Head of Product Data Management at BPW in Wiehl: "With this simple application, BPW has now made the ordering process for functional groups such as the running gear considerably quicker, less complicated and also less dependent on the know-how of individual members of staff. We can thereby considerably reduce the risk of incorrect orders, so that new members of staff are also able to configure the running gears more quickly. The system enables a completely new interaction between vehicle manufacturers and forwarding agent and reduces the previous bureaucratic effort to just a few mouse clicks. We will continue to develop the system in close partnership with leading vehicle manufacturers to ensure maximum practicability."

BPW will initially demonstrate the configurator at the IAA Commercial Vehicle (20 – 27 September in Hanover, Hall 26, Stand C31). At the same time, vehicle manufacturers can register to utilise the system. During the start-up phase, it enables configuration of the two most important BPW running gear systems ECO Air Compact and ECO Air Compact HD for standard on and off-road applications. With the introduction of a new generation of digital running gears, the service will be gradually expanded to BPW's entire running gear portfolio. 

Video: Configure and order BPW running gears online with the click of a mouse