AL-KO vehicle technology
| AL-KO VT Holdings GmbH
|
|
|---|---|
 |
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| legal form | GmbH |
| founding | 1931 |
| Seat |
Kötz , Germany
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| management | Harald Hiller, CEO |
| Number of employees | approx. 2650 (average 2018) |
| sales | 520 million euros (2018) |
| Branch | Vehicle technology |
| Website | www.alko-tech.com |
| Status: 2018 | |
AL-KO Fahrzeugtechnik , headquartered in Kötz, is an international developer and manufacturer of components and accessories in the fields of leisure vehicles, commercial vehicles and utility trailers.
The company is combined with the American axle manufacturer Dexter Axle under the umbrella of DexKo Global . AL-KO vehicle technology is represented at around 30 international locations and employs around 2,650 people. In 2018, the company generated sales of around 520 million euros.
history
Alois Kober (1908–1996) laid the foundation stone for AL-KO vehicle technology when he founded Alois Kober GmbH in 1931. The company began as a small forge in Großkötz. In 1952 the production of handbrake levers started. In the following years the production of axles and frame chassis for caravans started. The first subsidiary was founded as early as 1958 and the sons Kurt (1936–2015), Willy and Herbert Kober, all of whom were apprenticed to their father, took on joint responsibility. The first foreign branch was founded in Austria in 1961, further branches in England, France, Italy and Switzerland followed in 1970. The development of the AKS track protection systems in 1975 and the market launch of today's AL-KO chassis were important steps for the success of the AL- KO vehicle technology. After the opening of the USA in 1983 and Australia in 1986, AL-KO Kunststofftechnik was founded one year later. In 1987 Alois Kober GmbH was transferred to AL-KO Kober AG. All three Kober brothers acted there as board members. In addition, the AL-KO Damping Technology Hartha division was added in 1994. In 2012 Sawiko Vehicle Accessories GmbH was taken over and operated as an independent brand. In the same year, another milestone took place with the inauguration of the customer center at the headquarters in Kleinkötz.
In May 2013, the stock corporation was converted under German law into a stock corporation under European law with the name AL-KO Kober SE . A year later, AL-KO acquired Bradley Doubledock from England.
At the beginning of 2016, AL-KO Kober SE sold the vehicle technology division, which merged with Dexter Axle to form DexKo Global Inc. Since then, AL-KO Fahrzeugtechnik has been operating as an independent brand under the umbrella of DexKo Global and is responsible for the markets outside the United States within the group. The American investment company KPS Capital Partners acts as the majority shareholder of DexKo Global. KPS secured the majority of the shares in 2017 from the also US-American Sterling Group , which still owns shares in the company.
After the merger to form DexKo Global and the resulting international expansion strategy, the takeovers of Winterhoff GmbH and Melbourne Trailer and Caravan Supplies Australia followed. Most recently, AL-KO completed the full integration of BPW Vehicle Technology in 2017.
Business areas
The core business of AL-KO vehicle technology is the components for trailers, caravans, motorhomes and commercial vehicles. These areas account for around 80 percent of the sales of 520 million euros achieved in 2018.
RV components
In the field of motorhomes, AL-KO offers, among other things, lightweight chassis, comfort spring struts, air suspension systems as well as dampers and various accessories. This includes, for example, the HY4 support system. Carrier systems and trailer hitches for recreational vehicles are also offered via the Sawiko brand.
Commercial vehicle components
AL-KO Fahrzeugtechnik also produces lightweight chassis and air suspension systems for commercial vehicles. The product portfolio also includes a low-floor chassis, various axle and support systems and accessories.
Caravan components
As a supplier, AL-KO is the market leader in the manufacture of caravan chassis and axles. In the caravan segment, the company also offers shock absorbers, anti-skid systems and brakes. In recent years, innovative solutions such as the 2Link app and the fully electric Mammut maneuvering system were also presented.
Utility trailer components
As the market leader, AL-KO offers a broad portfolio of premium products in the utility trailer sector. The company focuses on ergonomics and safety. The product range for utility trailers includes axles, couplings, overrun devices as well as winches and brakes.
Damping technology
AL-KO damping technology is dedicated to the design and production of solutions in the field of suspension systems. Shock absorbers and gas springs are manufactured for a wide variety of motor vehicle types such as trucks, buses and passenger cars, as well as for solar modules and for the railway industry. The company is the market leader in Europe for pneumatic suspension systems and has a market share of 50% in the commercial vehicle sector. Production takes place at the three locations in Abadiano (Spain), Feng Hua (China) and Rossau (Germany).
production
In addition to 26 million axles, around 5 million chassis and 270,000 motor chassis for motorhomes and commercial vehicles had been manufactured by the end of 2016.
Brands of AL-KO vehicle technology
Sawiko
Sawiko is a 100 percent subsidiary of AL-KO Fahrzeugtechnik. The product brand produces rear carrier systems for motorhomes as well as frame extensions and trailer hitches.
Winterhoff
Winterhoff GmbH is a manufacturer of safety components for trailers and caravans. The Winterhoff brand will be continued in its existing form by AL-KO Fahrzeugtechnik after the takeover in 2016.
Bradley
Bradley Doublelock is a British manufacturer of premium trailer components. The company, founded in the 1920s, has been a brand of AL-KO vehicle technology since 2014.
E&P
E&P is a leading manufacturer of professional level system solutions for mobile homes, caravans and commercial vehicles. Since it was founded over 10 years ago, E&P has developed into an extremely dynamic and innovative company and has made a significant contribution to the success of jack systems in the leisure vehicle market. With the takeover in 2017, AL-KO bundles all competencies in the support area.
Locations
The main location and company headquarters are in Kötz in Bavaria . The AL-KO customer center in Kleinkötz shows the company's brand world. It functions as a visitor center and showroom, and factory installations and repairs are also carried out there. The customer center in Kleinkötz is called Customer Center South. Other customer centers operated by Al-KO are the customer center north in Neuenkirchen-Vörden and the customer centers Italy in Vintl and France in Louhans , where mainly chassis and suspension accessories are installed. In total, AL-KO Vehicle Technology is represented at around 30 locations worldwide, including several countries in Europe and various branches overseas, for example Australia, Brazil and South Africa. In terms of sales figures by region, the main business is in Germany (40 percent share of sales) and the rest of Europe (48 percent share of sales).
literature
- AL-KO Kober AG (Ed.): AL-KO 1931–2006: A company makes history. Self-published, Kötz 2006.
Individual evidence
- ↑ http://www.alko-tech.com/de/news/2016/harald-hiller-zum-ceo-der-al-ko-fahrzeugtechnik-ernannt
- ↑ a b Consolidated financial statements for the financial year from 01/01/2016 to 12/31/2016 of AL-KO VT Holdings GmbH on Unternehmensregister.de, October 26, 2017
- ↑ AL-KO Fahrzeugtechnik and Dexter Axle enter into a strategic partnership. In: alko-tech.com. October 26, 2015, accessed August 25, 2020 .
- ↑ Harthaer location establishes itself: TriMas becomes Horizon Global. In: lvz.de. March 7, 2017, accessed August 25, 2020 .
- ↑ AL-KO KOBER AG becomes AL-KO KOBER SE. In: al-ko.com. June 1, 2013, accessed August 25, 2020 .
- ^ Till Hofmann: Alko Fahrzeugtechnik: The investor changes. In: augsburger-allgemeine.de. May 30, 2017, accessed August 25, 2020 .
- ↑ DexKo Global takes over BPW Vehicle Technology. In: profi.de. March 8, 2017, accessed August 25, 2020 .
- ↑ AL-KO vehicle technology ( Memento from December 22, 2017 in the Internet Archive )