Video -
eTransport, the electric axle drive developed by BPW, is thought to have won more innovation prizes this year than any other concept in its category. BPW has now added the European Transport Prize for Sustainability to its trophy cabinet. The company ranks among the heavyweights in the true sense of the word, not only in view of its multiple awards.
BPW Bergische Achsen KG of Wiehl in the west of Germany is not only an innovation leader in the transport and logistics sector, but also ranks among the pioneers as regards sustainability. The company switched to procuring all of its electricity from renewables in the summer and has now published its first sustainability report in compliance with the UN Global Compact.
The panel of experts were clearly impressed by the zero-emission electric axle drive eTransport presented by BPW Bergische Achsen. Following their appraisal, the trade journal VerkehrsRundschau awarded BPW its Green Truck Innovation 2017 prize for this intelligent electric solution to inner city traffic problems.
Competition in the commercial vehicle industry is tough, and there are no stricter judges than the professionals who work with its manufacturers, products and solutions every day. It was by no means to be taken for granted that these industry experts would recognise BPW as the best brand for the 11th time in succession.
Best brand, best employer, best training company, GreenTec Award, and now a top-100 innovator among SMEs – the transport specialist BPW has certainly been scooping up accolades recently. These prizes are the outcome not of good fortune, but of a rigorous innovation strategy, as the company’s managers outline below.
Managers of municipal commercial vehicle fleets are some of the regular visitors to bauma, the world’s leading trade fair for construction vehicles and machinery (8–14 April). BPW is bringing a very special vehicle to Munich on their behalf: a Mercedes-Benz Vario of Cologne’s municipal waste management company AWB, which has been converted from diesel to an electric drive.
The electrification of municipal and commercial utility vehicles is now gathering pace following today’s announcement by the Paul Group, a European leader in special-purpose vehicle construction, of a standard conversion package for the Mercedes-Benz Vario in collaboration with BPW Bergische Achsen KG. The company revealed its plans at a preview for local authorities in Vilshofen in Bavaria.
eTransport, the electric axle drive developed by BPW, has grabbed first prize for mobility in the finals of the Energy Awards. The accolade recognises the drive as one of the most innovative ideas in the drive towards renewable energy sources. The Energy Awards serve the purpose of highlighting progress and changes being made in the sector, and acknowledging outstanding projects and ideas.
Minister-President Armin Laschet sees North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) as a leading centre of innovation in e-mobility and of Industry 4.0 in Germany. On the recommendation of the state parliamentary representative Bodo Löttgen of the CDU party, he visited BPW in Wiehl to familiarise himself with novel drive concepts and production methods, and the digitally interconnected world of logistics.
As part of an innovation cooperation, the globally operating logistics service provider, Hellmann Worldwide Logistics, and one of the world’s largest manufacturer of trailer running gears, BPW Bergische Achsen KG, are starting a joint practical trial: they are bringing the eTransport, an electric motor axle recently developed by BPW, onto the roads.
In the Bavarian city of Vilshofen, the vehicle manufacturer Paul Nutzfahrzeuge is currently preparing for the standard conversion of municipal commercial vehicles on the production line to turn them into electric vehicles. The city of Wiehl is BPW's home town. It was there that Mayor Ulrich Stücker accepted the first Mercedes Benz Vario equipped with BPW’s electric motor axle eTransport.
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 7,000 staff in 27 countries and achieved consolidated sales of 1.731 billion euros in 2022. www.bpw.de/en
