History of DAF Trucks

DAF Trucks NV is a Dutch truck manufacturer company, a division of PACCAR. Its headquarters and main plant are in Eindhoven. Cab and chassis are produced in Westerlo, Belgium. Some of the truck models sold under the brand DAF developed Leyland Trucks in the factories in the UK. Start a story about DAF is just the beginning, but rather directly to the foundation date. Surprising and comical at the same time include the fact that the company, which in Europe believe the youngest truck manufacturer, was born in the far and have all forgotten 1928. But there was born the name, but just might, full of extravagance and coarseness rapid form the company began to acquire in 1949. Such desynchronization and really pushes the company DAF on the bench of the young. But believe me, this is the name of no one even try to ignore the will not. Note that the name of a little family company DAF trucks purchased in the simplest of production - semi-trailers, trailers and bodies - that these were the first steps of a heavy weight. However, the joke is just to say that the principal place of business - or rather the main building - the first unit of the company, could be the next Dutch brewery. Well, be that as it may, in the spring of 1928 in the city of Eindhoven in the building of the proposed pub, owned by Arnold Hyungesu, the owner of the plant, "De Valk" a born engineer and designer Huub van Doorne, who worked for the owner of the plant and is equipped with unique equipment brewery opened the same machine shop to assemble trailers. A couple of months, he was joined by a brother, and the tandem earned four hands. Thanks for going bad, Van Doorne brothers decided to move, and in 1932, in a new place machine shop got its official name is now recognizable and sounds like a DAF. But then, without any reductions name looked to as "Factory Trailer Van Doorn» (Van Doorne's Aanhangwagen Fabriek). The product range of the company had already surprised latitude. DAF released trailers of freight and passenger, to tanks and special attachments for standard chassis, body, army, equipment for waste collection. In 1933, the company received deserved applause for his revolutionary design in the transport sector: a unique trailer chassis with independent suspension equipped with leaf springs, and a mechanism known as accumulator. The device allows you to automatically brake the trailer, after any break. Since 1934, the company has specialized in automobile trailers with four rear wheels mounted in pairs on transverse springs. And in 1936 for railway companies in Holland and Belgium DAF released a special trailer-trucks. The originality of the design was the ability to retrieve the containers directly from the platform the train, carrying, so delivery of cargo "door to door". Also in 1936 the company began the modernization of DAF cars and two-axle trucks from carrying on with the wheelbase by 6? 4, replacing conventional biaxial leading rear axle truck Trado (Trado), got its name from the combination of the first letters of names of the design engineer - Colonel von der Trapp (Von der Trappen) and Van Doorne brothers. This dolly is equipped with all-wheel drive easily turns an ordinary truck into a car off-road. And in that same 1936 came the first car brand DAF - Army amphibious MS139 with a fully symmetrical shape of the front and rear, mid-mounted engine and all the leading steer. The rapid take-off was to be suspended. The Second World War brought its unexpected adjustments. However, immediately after the war, the demand for freight transport in the Netherlands has increased dramatically, allowing us DAF try their hand in this difficult field. And in 1948, DAF produces just two test models: five-ton truck, and the tithes DT5 DT10. To save the permissible length of the wheelbase, the cabin, it was decided to place on the engine, moving all of its maneuvering part of the front axle. Cars rightly recognized and in 1949 the prototypes were put into mass production, with only one change - a reduced capacity. The first production model A30 lightweight capacity up to 3 tons, behind a five-ton has caused the need to build models of the A50. Transmission and engine models were borrowed from American companies. Diesel came from Perkins, and small gasoline engines from the company Hercules. In a single assembly with the transmission of the Borg & Beck and drive axles company Timken, has one year left in a series of 150 copies. In 1950, the company expanded production and a new plant, called DAF II, designed exclusively for the production of trucks. Following the expansion of the company also changed its official name to the new - "Automobile Factory Van Doorn," but remained the same acronym - DAF. In 1950, the release of the company's vehicles was 1036 pieces. Since 1951 po1954 years in the production program of the company, a number of new models. And in May 1955 was marked by release 10000th truck brand DAF. Since 1956, the firm DAF rejected the policy of borrowing of imported engines and released their first, albeit under license DAF Leyland diesel engine capacity of 105 liters. with. The model was successfully tested on the 1500 trucks. After passing the annual test, it was decided to install the motor and other models. And since 1959, the company began production of cars with new petrol and diesel engines own assembly, gaining full independence, going to a new level by full truck manufacturing. In the same year, the company has fully developed in the walls, the bonnet truck series A12 and A15 In 1958 DAF started producing small car with the original automatic transmission Variomatic. This model has received the nickname "the car with braces", because of pulley-belt drive, is a system of long straps, tie each of the rear wheels. Based on them also produced small pickup and delivery van. In 1957, there was only one series bonnet trucks DAF. Initially, it consisted of two basic models, the A12 and A15 capacity from 4.5 to 7.0 tonnes with engines Hercules, Perkins or Leyland. Later in the series, to be issued until 1970, joined new variants A13, A16 and A18. It is believed that these models are identified characteristic appearance early DAF truck with a rounded hood and a unique canopy over the radiator in the shape of an irregular octagon. This signature design element moved and cabover series A2000 and A3000 (6 No. 2) 8 -11 ton capacity long-haul trucks in the total weight of 28-32 tons with engines of 120-165 hp and 6-speed transmission. Since 1961, the truck tractor was used AS2000DO extended sleeper cab and fashionable at the time, front fascia with four phases .. These models are also produced in versions 2200, 2300, 2400 and 3200 with wheel 4? 2 to 6 No. 4 and was originally equipped with its own engine DD575 120 hp Great importance in the formation of DAF played army polnoprivodniki on gasoline engines from Hercules. This program consists of five basic models of light jeeps YA054 and monochrome tactical truck DAF YA126 (4 × 4) to a three-ton all-terrain vehicle - YA328 (6? 6), which has received recognition and status - the military vehicle with the original airborne transmission in the future, this car became a base for fire trucks and armored personnel carriers. These cars were equipped with the new welded frame, leaf spring suspension with front telescopic hydraulic shock absorbers dual action, dual pneumatic brakes and power steering gear. They once brought us worldwide recognition, qualities such as: design excellence, safety and beauty. Another important point in the history of DAF was the acquisition in 1968, the license to produce in-line 6-cylinder diesel Leyland 0.680, became the basis of the most famous motor DAF, DK1160 series with a capacity of 11 100 to 11 627 cm3, with capacity of 165 - 230 hp parallel was established, and another, this time a 6-cylinder diesel engine of 68 cm3 and a power of 156 hp first established by the last bonnet model A18. In the early 70's a DAF truck range to unify the series «F», assembled from standardized parts and assemblies, and equipped with several types of cabins on the engine, made in a modular fashion. The previous series were replaced with new, apparently is not very different from each other models with different specifications. At the same time introduced a new indexing model, there are still: FA - Flatbed truck; FT - tractor; FAG, FAT and FAD - chassis 6? 2, 6, No. 4 and 8, No. 4, respectively, and FAZ-driven 6? 6 . In 1971, DAF attached to so-called "Club of Four", which already includes firms Magirus-Deutz, SAVIEM and Volvo. As part of the environmental porgramma cooperation since 1975 in a program with mild DAF Series F500, F700, F900 and F1100. The first two with a diesel engine Perkins (80 hp), and the rest - with its own engine DD575 (105 hp). By the order they were completed with an automatic transmission. On all cars are created jointly by four companies new cab Club (Club) attractive appearance. C the same period, the company produced its own series of light trucks DAF F1200/1400 cab F198 - a miniature version of the F1600, which was replaced by created "Club of Four" series, consisting of models F1300 and F1500 full weight of 12-14 tons and turbo diesel 153 liters DF615 . and with a 5-speed synchronized transmission. Since 1973 he began to produce a series of heavy trucks F2800 cab F241 and diesel engines tisilnymi 216-DU825, as well as engines DK1160, including new versions of DKT1160 with turbo 255 - 304 hp from 6 - 13-tistupenchatymi checkpoint. The introduction in the year of aftercooling on diesel DKS1160 enhancing its power to 330 hp To expand the program and enter new markets in November 1971, DAF has signed an agreement with International Harvester (International Harvester). As a result, in 1973, the program appeared bonnet heavy construction truck NAT2505 (6? 4), is an American Peystar-5000 (Paystar) with Dutch DKA1160 diesel engine capacity of 230 hp In 1979, it was replaced with an engine truck NAT2800 DKS1160 (310 hp), cabin Magirus-Deutz, 16 sgupenchatoy transmission and axles ZF Steyr (Steyr). "Drive your bussiness" - so sounds slogan of DAF, and it applies not only to products, but also to the unique style of company management. 1980s. began with the modernization of all the previously created cars. Severe range added F2305 series and F2505, complete with the most powerful version of the family of diesel engines DH825 (220-250 hp), 6 -, or 16-step-chatymi transmissions. F2805 series has received two engines - DKTD1160 and DKSE1160 (255-280 hp), 12 - and 16-speed transmissions. S1982 was released gamma DKX1160 F3300 with a diesel turbo. In 1981, all the cabins of heavy machinery were enhanced sound insulation, to lower the level of internal noise by 4-5 dB. Since 1986, new series, F1700 and F1900 Power 158 - 212 hp and mass 14,0-17,5 tons appeared upgraded cabin with a simplified front fascia. With the additional soundproofing interior by the end of the decade, was the first company in Europe that has managed to reduce the interior noise to 79 DtsB. Later - in 1985 it was introduced the second generation of the intermediate cooling "ATi" (Advanced Turbo Interceding), which allowed to increase power while reducing fuel consumption and reduction of toxic contaminants in the exhaust emissions. Since the mid 80's. launched a new flagship series with 365-F3600 tisilnym diesel DKZ 1160ATi. In the same period, DAF to the challenge of the famous race in extreme conditions, "Paris-Dakar" by creating a unique four-wheel drive truck. In races in 1984 participated nicknamed "Monster" version FAV 3300DKX2 with two engines of 340 and 420 hp and two cabins - front and rear. With the full weight of 13 tons, he developed a speed of 160 km / h A year later, this version appeared in a lightweight design with a shower. It weighed 11.5 tons and a top speed of 165 km / h In 1986, at the starting line went FAV 3600DKX2 Turbo Twin II with two engines from 495 hp, which allowed for the first time in the world to surpass the heavy truck serial line speed of 200 km / h The second half of the 80 DAF marked for major acquisitions: in 1987, entered into force on the contract to purchase krupnevshego British manufacturer of trucks of Leyland, and along with a small firm Freight Rover from Birmingham. Thus was founded the British branch DAF-Leyland, and in December was presented 1986goda series delivery van V400 Capacity 2.8 - 3.5 tonnes, is a copy of an English model. After three years, there was light model V200 GVW 2.5 tons and with a diesel V-Jinse 60 hp Between1988 year branded DAF-Leyland was arranged assembly of trucks DAF F1900. Despite extensive achievements in the late 80's the situation of DAF began to deteriorate. In 1993, the British branch DAF-Leyland collapsed. In autumn 1996, an American engineering company Paccar acquired 100% stake in DAF, becoming its rightful owner. In addition, in 2000 and renamed the Paccar English department in Teyme in DAF. A year later renamed division was transferred to production models of the "LF". For almost 20 years, DAF has been producing their cars in the UK, the Group has Paccar. About a quarter of the total production, which is about 40,000 units per year, falls on a nominal Britain. And to this day, the company DAF, producing an average of 25 thousand vehicles per year and continues to be one of the largest Manufacturer of medium and heavy trucks in the world.