SAF-HOLLAND looks back on 145 years of company history

• 145 years of company history: SAF’s roots date back to the invention of the ‘Zill reversible plough’ in a Bavarian village smithy in 1881.
• From product portfolio to system solution: Following the acquisitions of the past years, SAF-HOLLAND is integrating its expertise in the areas of axles, chassis, brakes and clutches more closely.
• Clear targets for 2030: With “drive2030”, SAF-HOLLAND aims to grow organically to more than 2.5 billion euros in turnover; including further acquisitions, the figure is expected to exceed 3 billion euros. The adjusted EBIT margin is expected to be between 10 and 12 per cent in 2030.

The acquisitions made in the past few years provided a significant boost to this development. In 2023, SAF-HOLLAND acquired Haldex, a leading manufacturer of braking and air suspension systems. This was followed in 2024 by Tecma, a specialist in axle systems and chassis, as well as the Italian axle and suspension systems manufacturer Assali Stefen. SAF-HOLLAND had already expanded its international portfolio through acquisitions including V.ORLANDI, York and KLL.

“145 years of company history represent the continuous development of SAF-HOLLAND. With the acquisitions of recent years, we have specifically expanded our product portfolio and our expertise,” explains Alexander Geis, CEO of SAF-HOLLAND. “ The focus now is on integrating these strengths even more closely and further positioning SAF-HOLLAND internationally as a systems supplier.”

The strategic focus is thus shifting from further expanding the product portfolio to integrating it. Expertise in axles and chassis, brake and control technology, and clutch systems is increasingly being incorporated into coordinated system solutions. For vehicle manufacturers and fleets, this means coordinated solutions and a single point of contact for a wide range of commercial vehicle-related requirements.

This is where the “drive2030” strategy comes into play: SAF-HOLLAND is strategically leveraging its broad portfolio of axle, brake, clutch, and suspension solutions to serve customers as a one-stop shop with additional products and integrated system solutions, while tapping into cross-selling opportunities within the Group.

At the same time, the aftermarket business is to be strengthened through digital services and the further expansion of the service network. The company also sees growth potential outside its traditional trailer and truck business, for example in agricultural, mining, and construction machinery, as well as industrial trucks.

The company’s history began in 1881 in a Bavarian village smithy with the design and manufacture of the ‘Zill plough’. In 1938, the company produced its first steel axles for agricultural vehicles; in 1950 it began the industrial production of axles for heavy-duty vehicles, and in 1964 the first air suspension unit for trailers followed. From its origins as a family business, Otto Sauer Achsenfabrik – SAF – developed into a leading European
manufacturer of trailer axles and chassis systems. 

At the same time, in 1910, the history of HOLLAND began in South Dakota with a safety quick-release coupling between a plough and a team of horses. From 1940, the company began to focus its activities on the lorry industry. In 2006, the German SAF Group and the North American Holland Group finally merged to form SAF-HOLLAND.

Today, SAF-HOLLAND holds strong market positions amongst the top three in the world’s key regions. Its international focus is a key component of “drive2030”. One of the five pillars of the strategy is entitled ‘Regional Strength’: customer requirements and market conditions are to be addressed as closely as possible to the respective market. Alongside regional strength, customer focus, technology as a key driver, a broad product portfolio and growth, as well as operational excellence, form the other pillars of the strategy.

Regional proximity also plays an important role in product development. SAF-HOLLAND takes into account differing requirements in, amongst others, EMEA, North and South America, China and India, and is represented there with development- and engineering expertise. Local market knowledge is thus to be directly incorporated into the adaptation of existing solutions and the development of new ones.

By 2030, SAF-HOLLAND is aiming for organic group turnover of more than 2.5 billion euros. Additional contributions of at least 500 million euros are expected to come from acquisitions, meaning that total group turnover in 2030 is set to rise to more than 3 billion euros. Furthermore, the company is targeting an adjusted EBIT margin of 10 to 12 per cent is targeted. Growth is expected to stem in particular from a stronger position as a system supplier, cross-selling, new areas of application, technology and innovation initiatives, and a strengthened aftermarket.

“SAF-HOLLAND’s history shows that long-term success always requires a willingness to change,” explains Frank Lorenz-Dietz, CFO of SAF-HOLLAND. “Our international presence and our expanded product portfolio now form a strong foundation for further growth. With drive2030, we have defined clear financial targets for this up to the end of the decade.”