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SAF-HOLLAND 26 >>
Management Report 60 >>
Financial Statements 144 >>
Additional Information
Our Strategy: Larger Markets,
More Innovation, Higher Productivity
12 Strategy >>
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SAF-HOLLAND S.A. has a clear business strategy geared at profiting from global markets,
while simultaneously bracing itself for economic volatility. The strengthening of our market
position, innovativeness, and productivity serves our paramount goal to be a valuable
and reliable partner for our customers over the long term.
SAF-HOLLAND is one of the worldwide leading manufacturers of premium systems and
components for trailers as well as trucks, buses, and recreational vehicles. The product
range encompasses axle and suspension systems, fifth wheels, couplers, kingpins, and land-
ing legs. The Company has 20 production sites in Europe, North America, Brazil, Australia,
China, and India as well as a well-developed service network. As such, SAF-HOLLAND is one
of the globally active manufacturers which provides an extensive, integrated range of
products as well as a worldwide service network.
SAF-HOLLAND's strategy is designed to take advantage of opportunities in all markets
around the world. At the same time, we can respond to the changed framework conditions
and keep the Company on course. Our strategy is founded on four main elements:
Tapping New Markets
Just one year after the integration of the German SAF and the American Holland Group,
during fiscal year 2008 we continued to lay the groundwork for rounding out our product
range. With the purchase of the landing leg business of Austin-Westran, SAF-HOLLAND
was not only able to expand its market position in this area but also to acquire a production
site in China. This site will serve both as a gateway to the Asian market and as a manufac-
turing facility for sales to other markets.
As one of the few system providers to the trailer and truck industry, SAF-HOLLAND is rep-
resented in all promising markets. Whether in Brazil, India, or China, we operate in markets
that offer us attractive opportunities. We have closed a strategic gap in Europe, too: in the
fall of 2008, SAF-HOLLAND acquired the second-leading producer of fifth wheels in Europe,