Safim Spa

What Safim Spa does

Safim S.r.l. (Safim Spa), founded in 1977 and headquartered in Modena, Italy, designs and manufactures hydraulic braking systems and components for off-highway vehicles serving agricultural machinery, earth-moving equipment, material handling, and specialized sectors such as airport ground support and sweeping machinery. The product portfolio spans S6 hydraulic power brake valves, master cylinders, single- and dual-line trailer brake valves (EU 2015/68 compliant), SAHR brake cylinders, park brake levers, master priority valves, and mechatronic Smart Braking/Brake-by-Wire systems, complemented by Fluid-Press cartridge valves, solenoid directional cartridges, hydraulic integrated circuits, manifold blocks, and Part-in-Body components. Safim operates a vertically integrated manufacturing model that includes in-house turning, milling, grinding, assembly, ISO 4405/16232 cleanliness testing, and proprietary brake performance calculation software, and it holds patents on the Plug & Brake device and Master Priority Valve.\n\nThe company sells primarily on a B2B, quote-based pricing model through direct enterprise sales to OEMs and through specialized distributors, supported by technical assistance, brake performance calculations, and homologation services. Its go-to-market combines wholly-owned commercial branches in the USA (Burnsville, MN), France (Dourdan), and Germany (Wiebelsheim), a manufacturing subsidiary in Pune, India, and channel partners such as Inmasa in Spain, with marketing driven by major industry trade shows (CONEXPO, Bauma, EIMA, Agritechnica, FIMA). Safim has been a wholly-owned subsidiary of US-based DexKo Global Inc., coordinated through AL-KO Vehicle Technology Group, since September 2019; the parent subsequently acquired Fluid-Press (2022) and Cerma Srl (December 2024) and unified all three hydraulics businesses under the SAFIM brand in 2025, with Giovanni Pedrinoni serving as Managing Director across the platform.

Name

Safim Spa

Legal name

Safim S.r.l.

Website

https://safim.it

Company type

Private

Founded year

1977

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Safim designs and manufactures hydraulic braking systems, valves, cylinders, and mechatronic Smart Braking components for off-highway OEMs in agricultural, earth-moving, and material handling markets, operating from Italy with plants and sales branches globally under DexKo Global.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Hydraulic brake systems for off-highway vehicles

NAICS

Motor Vehicle Brake System Manufacturing (336340), Fluid Power Pump and Motor Manufacturing (333996)

SIC

Pumps & Pumping Equipment (3561)

akta.pro primary industry

Hydraulic Brake Systems (Master Cylinders/Calipers/Lines/Boosters) (IMACAIAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Brake Control & Modulation Systems (ABS/ESC/EBD Modules & Hydraulics) (IMACAIAF)

Keywords

• Hydraulic brake systems
• Off-highway braking
• Trailer braking components
• Agricultural machinery valves
• Material handling hydraulics

Headquarters

HQ city

Modena

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Hydraulic Brake Components: Manufacture and sale of hydraulic braking system components including valves, cylinders, brake systems for trailers, and accessories for off-highway vehicles. Revenue generated through direct sales to OEMs and through distribution channels.
2. Hydraulic Valves and Manifolds: Production of cartridge valves, directional control valves, pressure control valves, integrated manifold blocks, and related hydraulic components for mobile and industrial applications.
3. Technical Support and Homologation Services: Brake performance calculations, homologation support, and technical assistance for customers during vehicle certification processes.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Safim Spa manufactures and supplies hydraulic braking systems, components, and motion control valves for off-highway vehicles, including agricultural machinery, earth-moving equipment, material handling vehicles, and trailers. Its product portfolio covers power brake valves, master cylinders, trailer brake valves in single-line and dual-line configurations, brake cylinders, priority valves, cartridge valves, manifold blocks, and patented devices such as Plug & Brake, Master Priority Valve, H1L-H2L, and Smart Braking / Brake-by-Wire systems. Safim also offers in-house brake performance calculation software and homologation support to OEM customers.

Product overview

Safim Spa offers a comprehensive portfolio of hydraulic braking systems and components for off-highway vehicles, agricultural machinery, and trailers. The product range includes S6 Hydraulic Power Brake Valves, Master Priority Valves, Master Cylinders, Trailer Brake Valves (single and dual-line configurations), Park Brake Levers, Brake Cylinders (including SAHR cylinders), and Oleo-dynamic Valves. Through the Fluid-Press brand, the company provides cartridge valves (mechanical and solenoid directional), hydraulic integrated circuits, manifold blocks, and Part-in-Body products. Key innovations include the H1L-H2L device (Eima Technical Innovation Award winner), Smart Braking/Break-by-Wire technology, and EU2015/68 compliant braking solutions (AS, CTS, ECS systems). The portfolio serves agricultural equipment, earth-moving, material handling, and specialized sectors including airport ground support and sweeping machinery. The unified SAFIM brand now encompasses the integrated competencies of Safim, Fluid-Press, and Cerma.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• S6 Hydraulic Power Brake Valves Stackable hydraulic power brake valves for service, parking, and emergency brake control in off-highway vehicles.
• Master Priority Valves Hydraulic valves that optimize hydraulic circuit feed for braking systems, available in open centre and closed centre (load sensing) configurations. Patented for energy-saving features.
• Master Cylinders Master brake cylinders, available with or without booster, for hydraulic braking systems in agricultural and earth-moving equipment.
• Trailer Brake Valves (Single-line and Dual-line) Trailer brake valves available in single-line (Italian/French types) and dual-line (European type) configurations compliant with EU2015/68 regulation.
• Park Brake Levers Parking brake control levers, available in standard versions and with unlocking hydraulic device for automated operation.
• Brake Cylinders (including SAHR) Simple effect cylinders and SAHR (Spring Applied Hydraulic Release) cylinders for trailer braking systems.
• Trailer Components / Plug & Brake System Complete trailer braking systems including joints, valves, and cables for single and dual-line configurations. Patented Plug & Brake devices integrate energy-saving features.
• Oleo-dynamic Valves Hydraulic valves for motion control, pressure control, flow control, and load holding in mobile and industrial applications.
• Cartridge Valves Mechanical cartridges (pressure control, flow control, load holding, motion control) and solenoid directional cartridges (2/2, 3/2, 4/2, 4/3 valves) for hydraulic systems.
• Hydraulic Integrated Circuits / Manifold Blocks Custom hydraulic integrated circuits and manifold blocks allowing high variety of cartridge configurations for optimized system design.
• Part-in-Body Products (PiB) Directional control valves, in-line relief valves, pressure control valves, and anti-shock/anti-cavitation blocks for common motor mounting flanges.
• H1L-H2L Device Device allowing single-line tractors to tow trailers equipped with dual-line braking systems, preserving all performance and safety features of the dual-line system. Awarded the Technical Innovation Award at Eima International 20-21.
• Smart Braking System (Brake-by-Wire) Mechatronic solution combining mechanics and hydraulics with electronics for intelligent braking systems, allowing agricultural and off-highway braking systems to incorporate vehicle dynamics control.

Quantifiable outcome

• Dual-line braking homologation valid across all countries adopting EU2013/167 and EU2015/68 regulations
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature9 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Cerma SrlcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 December 2024Cerma Srl, founded in 1966 and based in Vezzano sul Crostolo, Emilia Romagna, Italy, develops and manufactures high-precision components including hydraulic valves and manifolds for off-highway and industrial end markets. Acquired by DexKo in December 2024 and integrated under SAFIM brand.
• Fluid-Press GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 June 2022Fluid-Press, founded in 1971 and located in Albinea, Reggio Emilia, Italy, develops and manufactures hydraulic valves and manifold blocks for agricultural machinery, industrial equipment, cranes, aerial platforms, and earth-moving machines. Acquired by DexKo in 2022 and now integrated under unified SAFIM brand.
• AL-KO Vehicle Technology GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2019AL-KO Vehicle Technology Group coordinates operations of Safim, Fluid-Press, and Cerma within the DexKo Global group, ensuring strategic alignment, operational synergies, and shared industrial vision at global level.
• Inmasa-Industrias Manrique SAminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLocal distributor in Spain for trailer braking systems. Safim participated in FIMA trade show through Inmasa's exhibition space and collaborated on organizing a conference dedicated to dual-line braking under new European legislation.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Haldex: Haldex is a specialist in trailer and commercial vehicle braking systems, with a portfolio of actuators, valves and electronic braking products directly comparable to Safim's trailer braking offerings. Both companies target OEM and aftermarket channels in the same regulatory environment (e.g., EU trailer braking standards).
• Parker Hannifin: Parker Hannifin, particularly through its Motion & Control Technologies group, is one of the world's largest manufacturers of hydraulic valves, cylinders, pumps, and components for mobile and industrial equipment. Its mobile hydraulics product range competes with both Safim brake components and Fluid-Press valves/manifolds.
• Eaton: Eaton's Vehicle and Industrial eMobility plus hydraulics businesses produce valves, pumps, cylinders and integrated motion control solutions for trucks, agricultural, construction, and material handling equipment. Its hydraulic valve and cartridge product lines directly compete with Safim/Fluid-Press.
• Danfoss Power Solutions: Danfoss Power Solutions (including the former Danfoss High-Pressure and Sauer-Danfoss) manufactures hydraulic components, electronic controls, and integrated systems for off-highway and agricultural machinery. Its mobile hydraulics portfolio overlaps heavily with Safim's hydraulic valves and manifold offerings.
• Walvoil: Walvoil, an Italian manufacturer of directional control valves and integrated hydraulic solutions for mobile and agricultural machinery, is one of the closest direct competitors to Fluid-Press in Europe. It targets overlapping OEM customers in tractors, telehandlers, and construction equipment.
• Bucher Hydraulics: Bucher Hydraulics supplies hydraulic valves, pumps, cylinders, and power units for mobile and industrial applications, including agricultural and construction machinery. Its product portfolio is highly comparable to the unified SAFIM offering across valves, manifolds, and motion control.
• HAWE Hydraulik: HAWE Hydraulik SE is a German manufacturer of hydraulic components and systems for mobile and stationary applications, including directional valves, brake valves, and pressure-compensated systems. Several of its products mirror Safim's braking valves and Fluid-Press's cartridge portfolio.

Broad incumbents

• ZF (WABCO): ZF, after acquiring WABCO, supplies braking, stability, and air management systems for commercial vehicles and trailers globally. ZF/WABCO overlaps directly with Safim's trailer braking products but operates at far greater scale across a much broader product portfolio.
• Knorr-Bremse: Knorr-Bremse is a global leader in braking and other systems for commercial vehicles and rail. Its commercial vehicle braking portfolio, including for trailers, competes directly with Safim's hydraulic braking components while also serving much larger adjacent markets.
• Bosch Rexroth: Bosch Rexroth is a global leader in hydraulic and motion control components for mobile equipment, off-highway machines, and industrial applications. Its mobile hydraulics portfolio (valves, manifolds, integrated circuits) overlaps directly with Safim/Fluid-Press products.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/safim-spa

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Safim Spa