Commercial & Off-Road Vehicles

ENGINEERING SOLUTIONS FOR OFF-ROAD AND COMMERCIAL VEHICLES

EDAG – YOUR FULL-SERVICE PROVIDER

Commercial vehicles are expected to meet special requirements such as reliability, maximum customer benefit, flexibility and economic viability. As we specialise in this area, we have in-depth knowledge of the specific conditions that apply.
As well as developing components, modules and complete vehicles, we also manufacture prototype parts and vehicles, which we subsequently validate, either using our own test systems or in test mode at test centres.
You benefit from the years of experience we have accumulated as an engineering partner, regardless of whether we are talking about goods vehicles, buses, rail vehicles, agricultural, construction or work machinery.
With our dedicated know-how of the megatrends in the industry such as autonomous driving, active safety, driver assistance systems, lightweight design, hydrogen and eMobility but also of the complex requirements inherent in cab development - we can always come up with a suitable, efficient solution for you.

ALL-ROUND UNDERSTANDING
OF SUSTAINABLE VEHICLES

The expertise we have acquired in the course of more than 50 years' vehicle development coupled with the great innovative strength in our competence centres creates long-term benefits for your product development. So in cooperation with our customers, we develop innovative commercial vehicles that set new standards. Our portfolio covers every aspect of complete commercial vehicle development:

TASKS IN THE TECHNICAL DEPARTMENT

Chassis

Variant diversity made easy - innovative production methods and modular chassis concepts enable the challenges of the future to be overcome.

We want to work out our own ideas and solution proposals and, with our customers, further develop these for specific applications.

 

Our chassis development skills:

  • Weight- and cost-optimised chassis concepts
  • Topologically optimised chassis structures
  • Knowledge of various manufacturing methods
  • Modular assembly of the chassis components
  • Integration of innovative drive technologies and modern chassis components, for instance independent wheel suspension
  • Assembly, joining technologies
    • Benchmark analyses
    • Preparation of technical documents
    • Consideration of new legal requirements in the international environment
    • Package and concept development
    • Function-integrated lightweight structures
    • Weight- and cost-optimised design
    • Integration of the aggregates and und superstructure components
    • Function validation by means of simulation and testing
    • High level of integration in customers' manufacturing processes
    • Documentation through to approval process

BODY IN WHITE

Function fulfilment and cost efficiency are the challenge, lightweight construction and hybrid technologies are our tools.

We take responsibility for the development of complete bodies and act as a system integrator at all relevant interfaces. Our goal: production-optimised development with optimum product features at minimum cost and weight.

 

Architecture – definition

Modular / monocoque / hybrid design and spaceframe
NVH acoustic measures
Seam sealing
Corrosion protection concepts
Joining technology

    • Innovative and flexible development tailored to your requirements
    • Needs-based use of materials according to function, joining technology, corrosion and production requirements in the context of quality
    • Function validation by means of simulation and testing

DOORS, COVERS

We specialise in design methodology, and have have a profound understanding of materials, component features and function integration.

We rise to the challenge of developing complex module functions and using sustainable material concepts.

 

What we ensure with our functional design services:

  • Innovative and flexible development tailored to your requirements
  • Challenging module development connected by kinematic systems
  • Function validation by means of simulation and testing
  • Supplier integration and management
    • Innovative and flexible development tailored to your requirements
    • Challenging module development connected by kinematic systems and sealing concept design
    • Function validation by means of simulation and testing
    • Integration from new legal requirements e.g. London view
    • Supplier management

INTERIOR

Perceived value and quality play a significant role here. Finding the balance between look, feel, usability, function and cost is what guides us in interior development.

Involved in the early project phases of concept selection and material definition, we work to achieve an ideal solution to the conflict between quality and cost.

 

Our vehicle interior skills

Preliminary development, concept and series development in the following areas:

  • Instrument panel
  • Centre console, front console
  • Door trims
  • Inside roof lining and pillar trims
  • Seats, beds and luggage compartment
  • Innovative use of space - multi-purpose shelves and interior components
    • Styling feasibility, concept development and product design
    • Function integration and validation – ambient lighting, functional surfaces
    • Comfort design, passenger safety and user friendliness
    • Adaptation to new mobility concepts and autonomous driving (HMI)
    • International project coordination with our own processes and systems, and adaptations to suit our customers
    • Validation of homologation (e.g. ECE, FMVSS, CCC, ...)
    • Prototype construction and start of production support

EXTERIOR

Our understanding of emotional styling along with our expertise in the development of adaptive systems in the exterior of the commercial vehicle enable us to implement an OEM-brand DNA.

The external appearance of the vehicle must be in line with the signature values of the brand. The same also applies to the development of all add-on parts, e.g.

  • Bumper systems
  • Side panel
  • Front grille
  • Door extension
  • Spoilers, trim parts
  • Windows
  • Roof systems and complete modules
    • Styling feasibility, concept development and product design
    • Integration and validation of functions - aerodynamic and aeroacoustic optimisation
    • Development of pedestrian protection, insurance class rating
    • Adaptation to new mobility concepts and autonomous driving (ADAS)
    • Solutions for lightweight design and kinematic systems
    • International project coordination with our own processes and systems, and adaptations to suit our customers
    • Validation of homologation (e.g. ECE, FMVSS, CCC, ...)
    • Prototype construction and start of production support

Our development highlights include last mile delivery solutions (cargo bikes) and swap body container movers for large goods distribution centres. In the areas of special customer requirements, firefighting and emergency vehicles, we support our customers in numerous projects.
One of our core skills is the  complete vehicle package for battery and fuel cell vehicles including completion of the prototypes. 

With our broad portfolio, we offer you a service specially tailored to the commercial vehicle industry, which is then reflected as added value in the products.

Highlights FROM THE TECHNICAL DEPARTMENT

Our lightweight know-how for your heavyweight

Especially in commercial vehicle development, our expertise in lightweight construction comes into its own. Here, every kilo counts! 

In addition to weight, different construction methods and application profiles of commercial vehicles are challenging. How is it possible to ensure that production is flexible, cost-optimised and weight-saving at the same time?

  • As early as 2016, we demonstrated our technological vision using the example of a modular front-end concept. Our bridge technology, consisting of large cast nodes and roll-profiled longitudinal and transverse beams, makes it possible. Another highlight is our weight and cost-optimised multi-material system for commercial vehicle cabs, with its single-step joining and painting process.

  • "3D printing" can possibly provide a solution to these difficult questions: Particularly topologically designed, complex geometries could be produced in series from data records without restrictions, without tools and in one production step in a highly variant-intensive manner. This would pave the way to be technically able to manufacture customised trucks economically for all operating requirements. "Complexity for free" and "Variants on demand" are attractive advantages of generative processing. 


    With our generatively processed demonstrator of a truck cab and the respective chassis, we have shown some years ago how this trend could be implemented in the future. Not only does the enclosed cage structure make better use of the available space toward the road, its topological design also means that it leads the way in terms of weight-saving. Along with additive manufacturing, autonomous driving is another subject that is far from being restricted to passenger car development only. EDAG is expecting the "self-driving commercial vehicle" to become a megatrend in the commercial vehicle industry, and is developing an extra security-sensitive software capable of enabling several commercial vehicles to carry out a wide variety of manoeuvres in formation.

    Our EDAG Light Cab is proof of the fact that, apart from our visionary concepts, we also have affordable lightweight design solutions up our sleeve. Due to variable profiles, the cab is scalable, and can be used for vehicles weighing anything from 16 to 40 tonnes. With the Light Cab, we have managed to develop a cab which, at no extra cost and while retaining structural properties, is up to 24% lighter than today's conventional bodies. 
    We are also offering a further thought-provoking impulse, this time along the lines of urban goods traffic, in cooperation with the Technical University of Kaiserslautern. The 4-in-1 truck is a ground-breaking concept designed to provide a cost and time-saving means to avoid inner city access restrictions.
    Special vehicles call for special know-how. Regardless of whether they are for public transport, construction, heavy goods transfer or emergency vehicles. With their aim to make commercial vehicle development of tomorrow even better, more lightweight and flexible, our EDAG experts are the right people for you to contact.

    Multi-material system for commercial vehicle body outer skin parts

     

Insights into the project and working world of our experts for commercial & off-road vehicles

Dr. Andreas Quanz

Vice President Commercial and off-road Vehicles


 

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