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The BPW Group is instrumental in driving forward the digital transformation in transport industry
The BPW Group is instrumental in driving forward the digital transformation in transport industry

Press release -

Digitalisation: BPW takes the lead in automotive and commercial vehicle suppliers - Transport industry ahead of transformation

  • Deutschland Test: BPW with the best rating as "Digital Champion"
  • Digital breakthrough: Trailer manufacturers switching to online configuration
  • Doubling the users on the telematics platform cargofleet 3
  • RFID revolutionises the spare parts supply: Workshops capitalise on highly automated storage

Wiehl, 28.5.2020 --- The transport and logistics industry is on the brink of a radical transformation. The surprise: It is not the towing vehicle but, of all the things, the trailer that is driving the digital transformation – from vehicle design to transport management to maintenance. A family enterprise from North-Rhine Westphalia, which is resolutely strengthening its lead as "Digital Champion" in 2020, is providing the key technologies.

BPW BergischeAchsen KG was featured as "Digital Champion" in the great "Deutschland Test" conducted by Focus Money under the scientific guidance of the Hamburg Institute of International Economics (HWWI) – and took the lead for the first time in the "Automotive supplier" category. Over 10,000 companies were evaluated for the study. The fact that commercial vehicle technologies and not automobile technologies are at the top of innovation makes not just the staff of BPW Group (7,360 employees worldwide, 1.52 billion euro revenue in 2018) proud:

Prof. Dr Dirk Engelhardt, board spokesman of the Bundesverband Güterkraftverkehr Logistik und Entsorgung (German Freight transport, logistics and disposal association, BGL) e.V.: "The current Corona crisis has once again particularly shown the significance of digitalisation for all industries. The innovation dynamics of transport and logistics industry in this field was underestimated by the media and the public for a long time. The distinction for BPW as the Digital Champion marks a turning point: Commercial vehicle industry, freight carriers and logistics companies are now shifting to the fast lane."

No stone remains unturned even in the construction of trailers: Approximately 200 developers of trailer manufacturers are already logging in an Online-Configuration tool of BPW, which creates the entire trailer running gear as a "digital twin" from a billion possible combinations. The "digital DNA" resulting from this supports the running gear lifelong with innovative services. Thus, the Smartphone is becoming an important tool in more and more workshops: The BPW Aftermarket Group has reduced the once tedious identification and ordering of spare parts to a few seconds using the RFID technology. There is a whiff of the future blowing even in the spare parts storage now: An intelligent system identifies the mechanic, records the part he/she takes, takes care of replenishment and besides, completes the accounting and inventory. More and more commercial vehicle workshops in Europe are already using the "upBox" system of BPW Aftermarket Group, which can be placed as a self-sufficient container in the courtyard or permanently installed in the building.

European market leader in trailer telematics: Number of telematics platform cargofleet 3 users doubled in a year

In the telematics networking of vehicles, freight and drivers also, BPW has established itself as the market leader for trailer telematics with its subsidiary in Munich, idem telematics, and has rapidly strengthened its lead: The Nagel-Group, one of the leading providers in Europe for food logistics, uses the most modern telematics solutions by idem telematics for conserving resources and economic deliveries. Apart from this, leasing companies, rental companies, freight carriers and logistic companies of all size classes are increasingly moving to the open system and user friendly telematics platform cargofleet 3 of idem telematics: The number of the online telematics platformhas doubled in just the last year.

Michael Pfeiffer, personally liable managing partner of BPW: "BPW has successfully anchored the spirit of innovation and digitalisation in the company's identity - for a family enterprise with over 120 year history, this also means a change of culture and mentality and that requires a lot of courage. Now we clearly notice that more and more of our customers are not only recognising the role of BPW as a pioneer, but are also following our example. We are proud to be a driver of the transformation in transport."

More information about this can be found in the BPW's annual report and on motionist.com:

Digital logistics seen in in images

IT: How do you link the network?

Spare parts data: More than the sum of all parts

Aftermarket: Standstill is not an option!

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About BPW Bergische Achsen Kommanditgesellschaft
BPW Bergische Achsen Kommanditgesellschaft is the parent company of the BPW Group. With over 1,600 employees, including around 120 trainees, the family-owned company has been developing and producing complete running gear systems for truck trailers and semi-trailers at its headquarters in Wiehl since 1898. BPW’s technologies include axle systems, brake technology, suspension and bearings. BPW’s trailer axles and running gear systems are in use in millions of vehicles around the world. An extensive range of services also offers vehicle manufacturers and operators the ability to increase the efficiency of their production and transport processes. www.bpw.de/en

About the BPW Group
The BPW Group researches, develops and manufactures everything needed to ensure that transport keeps moving and is safe, illuminated, intelligent and digitally connected. With its brands BPW, Ermax, HBN, HESTAL and idem telematics, the company group is a preferred system partner of the commercial vehicle industry around the globe for running gear, brakes, lighting, fasteners and superstructure technology, telematics and other key components for trucks, trailers and buses. The BPW Group offers comprehensive mobility services for transport businesses, ranging from a global service network to spare parts supply and intelligent networking of vehicles, drivers and freight. The owner-operated company group currently employs 7,350 staff in more than 50 countries and achieved consolidated sales of 1.52 billion euros in 2018. www.bpw.de/en

Contacts

Nadine Simon

Nadine Simon

Press contact Press Officer/Public Relations focus on: special axles; agricultural running gears; telematics; human ressources/training +49 (0) 2262 78-1909 Nadine Simon on LinkedIn
Robin Becker

Robin Becker

Press contact Press Officer/Public Relations focus on: 9t running gears; trailer components; e-solutions; digital solutions +49 (0) 2262 78-1905 Robin Becker on LinkedIn

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Welcome to BPW Bergische Achsen KG!

About BPW Bergische Achsen Kommanditgesellschaft
BPW Bergische Achsen KG is the parent company of the BPW Group. With around 1,500 employees, including around 100 trainees, the family-run company has been developing and producing complete running gear systems for truck trailers and semi-trailers at its headquarters in Wiehl since 1898. BPW’s technologies include axle systems, brake technology, suspension and bearings. BPW’s trailer axles and running gear systems are in use in millions of vehicles around the world. An extensive range of services also provides vehicle manufacturers and vehicle operators with the opportunity to increase economic efficiency in their production and transport processes. www.bpw.de/en

About the BPW Group
The BPW Group researches, develops and manufactures everything needed to ensure that transport keeps moving and is safe, illuminated, intelligent and digitally connected. With its brands BPW, Ermax, HBN, HESTAL and idem telematics, the company group is a preferred system partner of the commercial vehicle industry around the globe for running gear, brakes, lighting, fasteners and superstructure technology, telematics and other key components for trucks, trailers and buses. The BPW Group offers comprehensive mobility services for transport businesses, ranging from a global service network to spare parts supply and intelligent networking of vehicles, drivers and freight. The owner-operated company group currently employs around 6,830 staff in 27 countries and achieved consolidated sales of 1.745 billion euros in 2023. www.bpw.de/en

BPW Bergische Achsen KG