A Wheel System is an integrated solution around the interface between vehicle and road: rim or wheel, tyre, hub, bearing, axle or suspension and, where relevant, brake components. Vlukon does not need to make every part itself, the core is system engineering, assembly and one point of contact.
What is in a wheel system
Rim or wheel
Rolled, deep-drawn or turned steel, 1-piece or 2-piece, with welded hub or PCD stud holes. Made in Vaals.
Tyre
Solid rubber, pneumatic or foam-filled, from established tyre partners per segment. Fitted and balanced by us.
Hub and bearing
Keyway, flange or PCD hub with sealed bearings from selected European component partners.
Axle and suspension
Stub axles, torsion axles and spring blocks from our own expertise where it is distinctive.
Brake interface
Disc and drum interfaces with certified brake suppliers. The customer remains responsible for the brake system.
One drawing, one contact
One bill of materials and one engineer who owns the whole assembly.
What you get
- One partner and one drawing for the complete wheel system, instead of five suppliers to coordinate
- Tyres from established tyre partners per segment; bearings from selected European component partners
- Axles and suspension from our own expertise where it is distinctive, from partners where scale matters
- Certified brake suppliers; Vlukon guards the system integration, the customer remains responsible for the brake system
- Warranty and product liability defined contractually per component and per system
- Small and medium series from Vaals; scale-up within the group at LIV Systems (Slovenia) when volumes grow
Typical projects
- Field robots and autonomous machines: driven wheels with keyway or flange hub, solid or pneumatic tyre, sealed bearings
- Light electric vehicles and urban mobility: 8" to 16" PCD rims with matched tyre, hub and brake interface
- Agricultural implements: rolled heavy-duty rims with custom offset, hub, stub axle and tyre as one assembly
Proof: projects we delivered
Four examples of wheel systems engineered with customers. More on the success stories page.
MOTIC GmbH: reinforced rim with integrated braking for e-cargo bikes
An urban-logistics company needed a wheel that carries heavy cargo and houses the brake system in very little space.
Read the case
2KERR Mobility: custom rims for a balance wheelchair
A premium two-wheel balance wheelchair needed a fully customised, good-looking rim, on time for an international trade fair.
Read the case
Nijland Cycling: reinforced rims for a 550 kg cargo bike
A family-owned bicycle manufacturer needed stiffer rims for its heaviest cargo bike after curb impacts during deliveries.
Read the case
Matglow: customised wheel module in e-mobility
An e-mobility start-up needed a heavy-duty wheel module; off-the-shelf parts failed at the interface between wheel, knuckle and suspension.
Read the caseHow a project runs
Six steps from concept to series production, with a decision point after each. See the engineering process and OEM design-in.