ADR Axles has announced a major leap in domestic trailer technologies with the launch of their Casted Steel Suspension system; an innovation tailored for Indian road conditions and engineered to European standards of durability and performance. Rajesh Rajgor sat down with Colangelo Rocco, Road Engineering Manager, and Frenk, Senior R&D Engineer at ADR Axles to know more about their new products.
ADR Axles India, in collaboration with BDTPL, has unveiled its flagship casted steel suspension models, Rhino Evo and Rhino Pro. This innovation marks the first time a fully casted steel suspension, comparable to European benchmarks, is commercially available for the Indian market.
“We think this is a breakthrough for the Indian market due to its high operational stability, long service life and ease of maintenance,” says Colangelo Rocco, Road Engineering Manager at ADR Axles.
Motivations Behind the Innovation
The driving force behind the new suspension system was to address the complex realities of Indian roadways and transport loads. Unpredictable surfaces, frequent overloading, and heavy mining operations created unique challenges.
Rocco recalls, “The main challenge was understanding the operational conditions of trailers in India, especially in the mining sector. It was essential to observe real on-ground usage, on the road and at mining sites, to adapt the design to local needs.”
\Frenk, Senior R&D Engineer, adds: “Our process started from the very basic sketching, 3D designing, structural simulation, and then real-world testing. Collaboration with BDTPL gave us constant feedback, ensuring the solution wasn’t simply exported from Europe but crafted for India’s specific requirements.”
Technical Superiority: Casted vs. Fabricated
Casted steel suspension offers significantly higher structural strength than fabricated solutions. The casting process allows precise material distribution, reducing system weight while increasing durability.
Two variants were designed to address different fleet needs:
Rhino Evo – (Multi leaf spring) built for heavy-duty, mining and off-road applications, where ruggedness and uptime are critical.
Rhino Pro – (Parabolic leaf spring) designed with lighter construction for long-haul and regulated payload transport, offering higher efficiency, better fuel economy and tyre life.
“The parabolic spring is a high-tech solution inspired by European markets. While multi-leaf springs are widely used and comfortable, the parabolic variant helps fleet operators reduce vehicle weight, stay within payload limits, and improve mileage,” explains Rocco.
Rigorous Testing and Certification
To guarantee performance across Indian terrains, the suspension underwent robust validation. Rocco shares: “Our suspension systems have gone through comprehensive tests on all critical components in dedicated centers in Italy and China; not just for static loads but also fatigue cycles, reflecting how Indian trucks operate daily.”
Virtual validation using finite element simulations supported the lab and field trials. Pairing ADR’s Gold Series mono-block axles with the Rhino suspensions further enhances resilience by eliminating weld points and reducing wear.
Frenk highlights another differentiator: “We offer certifications like ECE R13 and TÜV, which aren’t commonly available from competitors in the Indian market. These standards cover not only static load but also braking distances and road safety performance.”
Operational Benefits
The casted steel system stands out for its ride quality, tyre life, and low maintenance. “Cast suspension has practically no extraordinary maintenance. Fleet operators need only perform basic checks; there’s no long list of components to replace every few thousand kilometers,” Rocco notes.
Frenk underlines their benchmark for success: “For us, validation is when customers don’t need to call us for support; the product simply runs smoothly, matches expectations, and keeps fleets on the road.”
Field Validation and Customer Voices
Early adopters like Raminder Singh Bhatia (BDTPL) and Rahul Pandey (Pandey Roadlines) played a vital role in testing and feedback. BDTPL not only provided customer input but also acted as a strategic partner across development phases, helping industrialize the suspension for launch. Customer pilots demonstrated reduced downtime, extended tyre life, and stronger performance, particularly in mining operations.
Team Raminder Singh Bhatia Group (BDTPL)
Manuel Micheline, General Manager, ADR India, shares, “Our strategic roadmap is shaped by market trends and customer requirements – enhancing existing products while guiding new developments. The Indian market demands solutions built for challenging road and operational conditions, and ADR’s mission is to deliver technologies engineered for high reliability and performance under heavy-duty use.
With our fully cast suspension now in the market after an intense development phase, we’re proud to offer a product that sets new benchmark – combining top-notch European engineering with Made-in-India manufacturing to meet customer expectations. Our partnership with BDTPL has been instrumental, blending their deep market understanding with our engineering expertise to create customer-centric solutions aligned perfectly with local needs.”
What Sets ADR Apart
Mono-block axles – Complete forged tube without welding eliminate weak points, resist bending and cracking, and ensure flexibility and longevity.
Dual suspension variants – multi-leaf for proven ruggedness, parabolic for lighter weight and efficiency.
End-to-end validation – lab, virtual, and real-road testing aligned with Indian conditions.
European certifications – ECE R13 brake homologation certification from TÜV approvals for globally benchmarked safety and reliability.
“Having this level of certification and engineering prowess means ADR sets the new standard for Indian trailer suspensions. Our customers can ‘sleep well, relaxed,’ knowing their equipment won’t let them down,” says Rocco.
ADR’s Casted Steel Suspension is poised to redefine operational efficiency and safety benchmarks in India. With Rhino Evo and Rhino Pro, ADR bridges the gap between European technology and Indian road realities, ensuring sustainability, durability, and innovation for fleets nationwide. As Frenk aptly sums up: “At the end of the day, our success is defined by our customer’s success; the harmony between our product and their needs makes all the difference.”
