BPW innovation at BAUMA: maximum efficiency for low-loader trailers with new 7t swing axle

• New axle system for low-loader trailers raises efficiency to a new level
• Minimum installation space, maximum design freedom for vehicle manufacturers
• Intelligent use of large-scale production technology and state-of-the-art manufacturing
• Ziya Albayrak: "More efficiency with uncompromising BPW quality"

Wiehl, 12 March 2025 --- Whether wind turbine blades, concrete bridges or even complete drilling rigs: for the engineers at axle and running gear specialist BPW, making the impossible transportable is part of their everyday work. They have now set themselves a special challenge: to make the construction of low-loaders even more efficient. The result will celebrate its premiere at BAUMA in Munich: a new 7t swing axle – more economical, more compact and more versatile than ever.

As the world's leading trade fair for construction machinery, Bauma in Munich is regarded as a festival of fascinating engineering achievements that not only enthralls trade visitors. Challenges such as the energy transition, the renovation backlog for bridges and motorways, cost pressures in the construction industry and the increasing global demand for raw materials are demanding a spirit of innovation from the commercial vehicle industry.

As a system partner of leading special vehicle manufacturers, BPW Bergische Achsen KG ensures that special transport goods can be transported reliably and economically. A key element is the swinging running gear: independently guided wheels on the swing axle individually swing up and down with a large displacement, thus mastering uneven terrain and ensuring optimum ground contact and load balancing. This is why swing axles from BPW are the first choice of vehicle manufacturers when it comes to unusual transportation tasks - such as wind turbine blades and tower segments or prefabricated bridge elements. But not all vehicles are built for extreme applications: low loader trailers with swing axles that are as reliable as they are economical are needed to transport excavators, cranes and other construction machinery to the site – cost pressures in the construction industry are also increasingly being felt in the commercial vehicle sector.

In order to support vehicle manufacturers in meeting these market requirements, BPW has further developed its 7t swing axle: the new universal swing axle, which will be presented to a broad range of trade visitors for the first time at Bauma (Stand FN 821/9), combines maximum versatility, maximum load capacity and compact design at an attractive market price. State-of-the-art production technologies, clever design principles and targeted use of proven mass production technology make this possible.

Thanks to variable application options, the new swing axle can be used with 17.5-inch or 19.5-inch single wheels. Depending on national and licensing regulations, the universal swing axle can be used flexibly as a 6 or 7t axle, which corresponds to an axle line of 12 or 14 tonnes. The compact design fully meets the increasing design requirements for low-loader vehicles and ensures optimum utilisation of installation space.

The BPW ECO Drum drum brake with its large lining volume for long service life is used here, offering the best maintenance characteristics thanks to its proven C-clamp technology. Adapted to the requirements of the swing axle market, the brake is combined with the drum in front of the hub principle.The wheel bearing requires no maintenance. The use of state-of-the-art large-scale production technology results in weight savings of up to 15 kilos per axle beam. This means more payload – and therefore more efficiency.

"With the new 7t swing axle, BPW is once again setting standards in terms of load capacity, ease of maintenance and efficiency - and at an extremely competitive price", explains BPW product manager Ziya Albayrak. "Customers benefit from a very compact design, a higher payload, lower maintenance costs and a long service life. Market launch of the new 7t swing axle is planned for the end of November 2025."