Haldex Reports Positive 2021 Outlook, Taps New CEO
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Haldex said in its recently released annual report that the outlook for 2021 is positive as it continues its role as a global supplier of brake products and air suspension systems for heavy-duty trucks and trailers.
Haldex forecast in its 2020 annual report, released earlier this month, that its electro-mechanical braking system, as well as parts of its electronic brake control system, will eventually become a part of technology for both electrical and autonomous vehicles.
In related news, Haldex reported company CEO Helene Svahn will step down by July 1, when Jean-Luc Desire assumes the role.
Haldex-2020 by Transport Topics
Currently, Desire is general manager of ride and performance for EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) at Tenneco Automotive Belgium.
“The company has developed new products under Helene’s leadership and she has also managed to lead Haldex through rough times, for both the industry and the company, not the least due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” Haldex Chairman Stefan Charette said in a release. “Haldex is now in a new phase with the next-generation products and with a lower cost base. The board has therefore, in agreement with Helene, decided that Haldex needs a CEO with a different industrial profile moving forward.”
The Landskrona, Sweden-based company identified in its annual report the continued transition from drum brakes to air disc brakes. Haldex provides both a truck and trailer air disc brake and said it is positioned to serve the market with a lower weight and lifetime cost benefits.
Haldex competes in a global market with two powerful players, Knorr-Bremse and ZF Friedrichshafen AG, the owner of Wabco, both offering a wide range of products and systems used in heavy vehicles.
In the global market, Haldex noted it is the third-largest player and described itself as having a more specialized offering focusing on selected products for brake solutions and air suspension systems adapted to heavy vehicles. Due to that focus and smaller size, Haldex said it can offer a high degree of specialization, fast decision-making processes, a high level of customer service and flexible solutions.
Svahn
In North America, air disc brake introduction is well underway with about 35% of new trucks equipped with this product and 12% of new trailers, the report found.
The aftermarket remains a key focus area for Haldex.
The Americas region remains its largest single market and accounts for about 52% of the company’s sales and a majority of the profit.
“Overall, we are anticipating a strong recovery of the aftermarket in the entire Americas region and to organically growing our aftermarket penetration through targeted activities with the fleets, distributors as well as OEMs in the region,” the report stated.
One industry executive said Haldex has revitalized its market philosophy by focusing on the aftermarket, value creation and building customer relationships with its key customer groups.
“The transformation work has put Haldex into a growth mode after a period when lack of focus jeopardized the business relationship,” said HDA Truck Pride CEO Tina Hubbard.
HDA TruckPride is North America’s largest independent provider of parts and services to repair facilities, fleet maintenance managers, and service operations on the commercial vehicle aftermarket — with 700 distribution locations and 400 service facilities.
“HDA Truck Pride spans back to 1982, and one of our first supplier partnerships was with Haldex,” Hubbard said. “We have struggled together and grown together.”
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