Sisu Axles

Sisu Axles is specialised on highly customised heavy vehicle axles in niché markets. The axles are designated to be used in rough conditions.[4]

The company produces and supplies axles and components for heavy-duty vehicle producers in Finland and other countries. After market services include customer support, advisory and spare parts.[2] The factory is equipped with laboratory for testing of axles at load for engineering purposes.[5]

Sisu Axles' core business are planetary reduction axles but also non-driven steering axles are produced. Both the front and rear axles are for single and multi axle applications. The main segments are heavy-duty trucks for on- and off-road use and also industrial and military applications.[2]

Examples of present and recent applications.

• 
  Sisu Polar by Sisu Auto.
• 
  Sisu E13TP by Sisu Auto.
• 
  Sisu terminal tractor by Sisu Terminal Systems.
• 
  GINAF earthmover.
• 
  Western Star.
• 
  Patria AMV 8×8 with independent suspension system.
• 
  KamAZ Master in 2011 Dakar Rally.

Oy Suomen Autoteollisuus Ab (SAT), the producer of Sisu vehicles, started its own axle production[9] in Fleming Street factory, Helsinki[10] in 1942 due to war-time poor availability of components. The initial design was borrowed from Timken axles which had previously been commonly used in Sisu vehicles.[9]

The line-type manufacturing process was replaced by team-based production in 1960s. Production of heavier axles required investments; major part of machinery was renewed.[10]

Due to lack of space in the old factory[11] and the company’s decision to sell its property in Fleming Street, Helsinki as a part of its restructuring programme,[10] the production was transferred to the Hämeenlinna factory in 1985. Start of the production in the new, modern facilities with state-of-the-art machinery relied on some twenty white collar and fifteen blue collar workers who had moved from Helsinki and trained the new personnel. Many of the new employees were young people, newly graduated from professional school and with very little work experience.[11]

The production grew steadily by end of 1980s and in 1989 a decision about enlarging of the facilities was made. An extension part was opened in the following year.[11]

The axle business unit was separated to a different company Sisu Akselit Oy at the end of 1995. Following the acquisition of Sisu Corporation, the owner of Sisu Axles became Partek which sold the majority of it to the management and private investors in 1999. As a consequence the company became an independent axle producer.[11] Since December 2011 Sisu Axles has been a part of Marmon-Herrington Company.[2]

• Blomberg, Olli. Yhteissisusta Vanajan ja Sisun kautta Patriaan [From Yhteissisu via Vanaja and Sisu to Patria] (in Finnish). Hämeenlinna: Patria Vehicles Oy. ISBN 952-91-5613-8.
• Blomberg, Olli (2006). Suomalaista Sisua vuodesta 1931 – Monialaosaajasta kuorma-autotehtaaksi [Finnish Sisu since 1931 – From multi-industrial expert to lorry factory] (in Finnish). Karis: Oy Sisu Auto Ab. ISBN 952-91-4918-2.