Trade Fair Review - DOLL at bauma 2025
Wind blades, tanks, construction machinery – DOLL gets heavyweights rolling
DOLL Fahrzeugbau GmbH presented its latest vehicle solutions for heavy transport at bauma in Munich. As part of the world's largest trade fair for construction machinery and special vehicles, the company showcased a 3-axle low-bed -trailer with DOLL tera® pendular axle, a three-unit wind blade transport system and a semi-trailer engineered for military operations in challenging terrain.
“Robust, lightweight, manoeuvrable and yet capable of carrying loads – we combine these often contradictory qualities in our vehicles,” emphasizes Mathias Neumayer, Product Manager for Heavy Haulage at DOLL®. “Our goal is not just to build vehicles, but to solve specific transport challenges. At bauma, we demonstrated how we consistently implement this approach.”
Low-Bed with pendular axle “DOLL tera®”: More ground clearance, better control
The 3-axle low-bed with the “DOLL tera®” pendular axle is particularly suitable for applications that require maximum ground clearance. With an axle stroke of up to 600 millimeters, the driver can raise the loading platform to compensate for uneven terrain and different heights. At the same time, the pendular axle balances out uneven ground and keeps the vehicle level. Additionally, the loading height can be precisely adjusted to the cargo to ensure compliance with the vehicle’s total permissible height. A steering angle of up to 60 degrees facilitates manoeuvring in the tightest spaces. “When transporting heavy and oversized components or machines, every centimeter counts,” says Neumayer. “For example, when loading an excavator, it is crucial that the arm can be set down completely and as low as possible on the loading area. For this purpose, our rear axle chassis accommodates an excavator recess with a width of 900 millimeters and a depth of 550 millimeters."
DOLL® Assistance Systems: Smart steering, even via remote control
The DOLL tera® pendular axle can be operated via digital assistance systems, namely DOLL tronic®, DOLL connect® and DOLL control®. With DOLL tronic®, the driver can call up all the trailer's central functions via a keypad on the gooseneck. In the DOLL control® variant, the keypad is replaced by a 7-inch colour display that serves as a digital trailer control center. With the DOLL connect® radio remote control, the driver can control the trailer’s steering, adjust the ride height, or select pre-set driving levels from the cab. To realign the vehicle after manual steering, the driver activates the automatic track adjustment DOLL® EEP via remote control: The system automatically calculates the optimal steering angle and adjusts the track of your vehicle, even during slow manoeuvring around bends.
Agile 4-axle Trailer for Wind Blades up to 120 Metres
The wind blade transport system is also designed for maximum manoeuvrability: It consists of a jeep jeep dolly, a lifting adapter and 4-axle self steering jeep dolly trailer. The hydraulic levers on the lifting adapter have been re-arranged to enable more ergonomic operation. The trailer features the hydraulic steering system developed by DOLL® and is equipped with a concrete bolster that allows tilt adjustment of up to 85 degrees to the left and right. The axles also improve manoeuvrability with a steering angle of up to 55 degrees. The vehicle remains fully controllable, even in the tightest spaces. Even driving offset to the side (known as “crab steering”) is possible. A new intelligent sensor system precisely monitors the steering angle and issues an early warning before the steering reaches its maximum limit. This prevents excessive lateral forces from acting on the wind blade and reduces the risk of damage. Another new feature: A smart battery charging system ensures that the trailing unit remains operational and steerable, even in emergency situations. The driver can monitor the battery’s charging status in real time via an app. The system keeps the operating voltage stable – even during longer downtimes.
Despite its low weight, the trailing device is designed for rotor blades with a length of up to 120 metres and a weight of up to 32 tonnes. It is approved for use with all common wind blade manufacturers. Thanks to the high ground clearance, the blade can be manoeuvred over obstacles –without the need for a low-hanging telescopic frame beneath it. “The rotor blade can hover over potential obstacles such as fences, crash barriers or traffic signs in tight bends and confined spaces,” explains Neumayer. “This eliminates the need for time-consuming pre-dismantling, significantly reduces the workload for transport operators, simplifies planning and saves time and money.”
The “DOLL panther®“-Axle for Military Transport: Off-road capable and heavy-duty
The 4-axle semi-trailer with the ‘DOLL panther®’ independent wheel suspension is designed for the military transport of tracked and wheeled vehicles. With a payload of up to 40 tonnes, it enables the safe transportation of heavy equipment – even in rough terrain and on unpaved forest and field roads. DOLL® constructs its trailers using particularly robust, torsion-resistant fine-grain steel, ensuring they withstand even the harshest climatic and topographical conditions. The panther® axle technology allows for low loading heights and its low centre of gravity prevents the vehicle from tipping. Additionally, the low loading height provides sufficient clearance for passing under bridges.
"Thanks to its well-engineered axle and suspension system, the semi-trailer performs flawlessly on any terrain – whether on challenging off-road surfaces or conventional roads," says Neumayer. "It can also be individually customized – with a rigid, hinged, or compensating gooseneck, as well as hydraulically or mechanically operated single or split ramps. Even the length of the loading bed can also be customised to accommodate different cargo.” The DOLL tronic® and DOLL connect® assistance systems come as standard, allowing full control of all trailer functions – including manual steering for the tightest cornering radii.
Refurbishment: Extending the vehicle’s service life, reducing costs
At bauma, DOLL® also showcased its range of services, including refurbishment: DOLL® professionally refurbishes used vehicles for its customers, restoring both their appearance and technical functionality. By completely overhauling the frame and replacing wear parts, electrical systems, control units and lighting components, the vehicle’s life span can be extended by up to ten years. Compared to buying a new vehicle, customers can save up to 50% in costs.