The JOST Group, headquartered at Neu-Isenburg near Frankfurt am Main in Germany, is an enterprise which was founded in 1952 as a factory for ball bearing turntables. More than 50 years later JOST has achieved a leading position worldwide in the manufacture of components for commercial vehicles. Its products are amongst the most frequently used components in the truck & trailer segment today. Convinced by the excellence of its products, all the major manufacturers place their trust in JOST.
JOST has a tradition of success based on flexibility, technical know-how, entrepreneurial action and a close relationship with its employees. As the expectations of end users and vehicle manufacturers for supplier performance in terms of defect-free, reasonably priced products and services worldwide become increasingly demanding it is absolutely essential that the products and services offered are of high quality and reliability in order to maintain the competitiveness and a high brand recall.
In India
Since July 2008, JOST India has been in production at its own factory in Jamshedpur, on a 60,000 m2 site. The factory is located in close proximity to the largest Indian truck manufacturer, Tata Motors. In modern manufacturing facilities and assembly lines, the employees produce JOST fifth wheel couplings for the Indian market. JOST sets the same standards here as in all of its other global production sites. These standards involve not only quality, but also job safety and environmental protection.
As a result, JOST has been one of the first suppliers in India to set up a state-of-the-art plant for e-coating (EPD). This surface coating process, which is used to protect JOST products durably and reliably against corrosion, is completely free of any solvents and therefore particularly friendly to your health and the environment.
The process is currently considered the highest standard for reliable protection against corrosion in the automotive industry. In addition to coating its own products in Jamshedpur, JOST also acts as a service provider. Other companies from all over India can have their metal parts coated in the EPD bath.
Auto Expo visitors to learnt about the mode of action and advantages of this state-of-the-art coating process at the stand.
JOST India has been able to build a good brand image in the market with its pro-active approach in the OE, aftermarket and service segments. Today, all the Tata trucks are equipped with the JOST 20T and 28T couplings. A new 28T fabricated coupling has been developed as a platform product keeping the Indian price sensitive preference in mind.
Having said that, the design has been made robust enough to withstand the tough road conditions and overloading tendencies prevailing in these conditions. JOST India is quite upbeat about the fact that more tractor trailers would be seen in future what with improvement in highways and infrastructure being in place. There would be an obvious improvement in cost of operations and profitability for fleet owners once this happens.
Apart from Tata, JOST India is in talks with all the truck manufacturers in India and is quite confident of becoming their first choice.
Robust fifth wheel couplings
Fifth wheel couplings will be the focus of the trade show presentations. They have been steadily gaining importance in India over the past years thanks to the changing market tendency towards tractor units. JOST has designed the JSK 36 DV and JSK 38 DV especially for use in challenging conditions. The JSK 36 DV is a robust pressed steel coupling intended for single-handed operation. It combines user-friendly operation with a maximum level of safety and stability. The JSK 36 DV is configured for 2” kingpins and an imposed load of up to 20 tonnes. JOST India has been producing this standard coupling in its own plant in Jamshedpur since 2008.
The JSK 38 DV50 fifth wheel coupling has been designed for tougher conditions with imposed loads of up to 28 tonnes and also offers a specially designed integrated shock absorber unit made of pressure-absorbent rubber. The JSK 38 DV50 is thus particularly well suited for use with heavy loads in challenging road conditions.
Telescopic landing gears for trailers
The trailer segment holds a big promise as well, feels JOST India. Starting from the basic kingpin (which connects the trailer and tractor) to steering systems (a product which helps reduce the turning radius quite significantly), the Indian customers have reposed their faith in JOST world class products. Buoyed by this development, JOST India is offering all the products in the JOST range through their local operations. In short, an Indian customer has access to contemporary European products at affordable prices.
With the type A 400 T and D 200 T telescopic trailer landing gear, JOST proves that robustness and durability go hand in hand with convenience and safety. The premium A 400 telescopic landing gear in particular best meets the requirements of the Indian market with its extremely robust construction and excellent operability. The patented dual level gearing not only allows the landing gears to be raised easily whilst under load – the gearing is also integrated into the supporting leg, protecting it reliably from damage. And yet another advantage: the hermetically sealed gearbox is constantly filled with grease. This ensures that all movable parts move smoothly. At the same time, the grease filling prevents moisture from penetrating.
Operation is as simple as you would expect: the gears can be changed by simply pushing or pulling on the crank. The high gear then enables them to be retracted or extended especially quickly when turning the crank without a load, whereas the low gear enables the loaded trailer to be lifted. It is always ensured that a gear is engaged so as to prevent the legs from lowering of their own accord. Particularly stable inner legs and back plates offer added stability even during side loading.
The D 200 T telescopic landing gear stands out especially due to its compact construction, with a mounting height of only 835 millimetres and a stroke length of up to 480 millimetres. Thanks to the full length back plates, the D 200 T is well-suited for a wide variety of connections and types of assembly.
Multi-purpose safety-towing hitches
In addition to the JOST brand fifth wheel couplings, telescopic landing gears and kingpins, JOST India will also be presenting towing hitches from the traditional German brand ROCKINGER at Auto Expo 2010. With the RO*56 and the RO*50flex, ROCKINGER is offering two towing hitches that are, thanks to their construction, particularly well suited for use in India. Both are configured for drawbar eyes with a 50 millimetre diameter and feature safe, eas
ily manageable automatic bolt locking.
The RO*56 heavy duty hitch is designed for very heavy loads and features a vertical pivot, which permits the large up and down swivel angle common to uneven road conditions. The RO*50 flex is a towing hitch with an integrated shock absorber unit, lending itself particularly well to off-road use.
TRIDEC trailer axle steering
Amongst the JOST World quality products are also TRIDEC brand trailer rear axle steering and suspension systems. The specialists at TRIDEC develop and produce not only mechanically controlled steering systems for trailers; they also produce hydraulic and electronically controlled steering systems. The product range also features wheel suspension systems for single wheel axles or swinging axles as well as hydraulic suspension.
