The Tyrolean vehicle body builder Empl recently received an order from Ireland. Managing Director Joe Empl tells us whether this is the company’s first order from this region, how the training of the Irish crews is going and which Empl vehicles can currently be seen at IDEX 2025 in Abu Dhabi.
Mr. Empl, how did the order from Ireland come about? Has your company previously delivered vehicles there or to neighboring Great Britain?
Many years ago, we supplied several torsion-free platform bodies to Ireland and a series of almost 300 storage boxes as kits for on-site assembly for recovery vehicles to the UK. We were once again successful in the Irish Army’s latest tender for four recovery vehicles. After we supplied the Irish Army our EH/W200 heavy-duty recovery vehicle for the Luxembourg army and we met all the specifications of the tender, they were convinced that the Empl Bison was also the ideal vehicle for their requirements. As a result, we received the order for the four recovery vehicles via the main contractor Scania.
You recently delivered the first vehicle to Ireland. Are the Irish operators trained locally or in Austria?
Final acceptance took place in October last year at our factory in Kaltenbach and, as you rightly say, the first vehicle has now been officially handed over to the troops. The second Bison has also already been delivered to Ireland. Our people are training the troops on site. This allows situations to be simulated that correspond to a possible deployment scenario. The recovery and towing of all possible vehicles used by the Irish army is trained in detail. We follow the “train the trainer” principle. This means that we train the local command personnel, who then independently instruct the other personnel on the vehicles.
What are the special features of these vehicles?
As always, our high Tyrolean quality (laughs). The special thing about the Bison is that it can efficiently recover and tow away all defective wheeled vehicles thanks to the extra-flat lower lift. Thanks to winches and additional equipment, a high degree of flexibility is guaranteed for all recovery and rescue operations. Another special feature of this special vehicle for the Irish Army is the newly developed 27-ton main recovery winch with constant pulling force, which was installed by Swedish winch manufacturer Sepson. A second 12-ton recovery winch, which can also be used as a self-recovery winch, is also installed.
Apart from the Ireland contract, what else is going on at Empl at the moment?
We have delivered a lot in the past quarters. 2025 will also be a busy year in terms of deliveries. In addition to large quantities of torsion-free container frames for the German Bundeswehrfor the German Armed Forces, for example, several series for the Austrian Armed Forces other products are entering the prototype phase. A project for Singapore will also enter series production in 2025. This involves container transport vehicles in different variants – with and without a crane, with and without a winch. We have another current order in the Abu Dhabi region. This involves more than 110 truck bodies in various designs – such as semi-trailers and radio shelters. The vehicles are intended for an operator and manufacturer of drones in the United Arab Emirates and some of them can also be seen at IDEX 2025 in Abu Dhabi.
Which vehicles will Empl be exhibiting at IDEX?
As in previous years, we will also be represented with a stand at the Austrian Pavilion this year. We will not be exhibiting any vehicles there ourselves. However, as our long-standing customers, partners and importers are always present at IDEX with large exhibition stands including exhibits, Empl bodies can usually be seen there, which of course fills us with pride. This year, a tractor unit with Empl double winch system on TG – 3 8×8 will definitely be on display. Perhaps there will be other positive surprises – we’ll see. In any case, we are already looking forward to a successful trade fair with lots of interesting discussions.
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