JOST, celebrating its 60th anniversary this year, is presenting a wide range of new products and product details at the IAA commercial vehicle trade show.
Safety equipment like the SKS sensor coupling will share the spotlight with LubeTronic, the automatic lubrication system for fifth wheel couplings, which reduces the need for maintenance to a minimum. Further highlights at the JOST World booth in Hall 26, stand D34, include the new MODUL CA weight-optimized aluminum landing gear and the TRIDEC DLS single wheel suspension for low loaders and heavy-duty semi-trailers.
JOST China, a wholly owned subsidiary of JOST World, celebrated its 20th anniversary in July. It marked the occasion with the inauguration of a modern new production plant in close proximity to the existing site in Wuhan, located in the central Chinese province of Hubei. The plant has a new machine outfit. Around 200 employees work at the new production facility and the adjacent administrative building. The plant has a production capacity of 150,000 fifth wheel couplings per year.
"We have been active in China as a producer of fifth wheel couplings for 20 years, initially as part of a joint venture and since 1999 as our own company,” said Peter Ormond, President of JOST Asia. “JOST's proximity to the rapidly growing markets in China and other Asian countries has been characterised by considerable success. This new plant marks the foundation for continued growth and a successful future for JOST China."
In Wuhan, JOST produces fifth wheel couplings in steel sheet construction with king pin dimensions of 2 inches and 3.5 inches. Fifth wheel couplings made in China are primarily sold by JOST on the Chinese market, as well as in several other Asian markets such as Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia.
It was not until 2009 that JOST developed a new fifth wheel coupling, the JSK39DV30, specifically for the requirements of the Chinese market. Since its introduction, it has enjoyed considerable success in the local market. As well as the plants in Wuhan, JOST China also operates a plant in Shanghai in which the company produces telescopic landing gears for the Asian market. In 2006, the plant in Wuhan received certification as an international automotive supplier in accordance with the international quality standard ISO/TS 16949.
JOST India continues to grow and is expanding its plant to cope with the increasing demand for JOST fifth wheel couplings, telescopic landing gears and axle systems on the Indian market. The company recently put its new production hall and warehouse into operation, with a covered area of around 6,500 square meters.
JOST World GmbH, with its headquarters in Neu-Isenburg, Germany, is becoming involved more intensively in the Japanese market. The company founded its own site, JOST Japan, on June 1.