WOODRIDGE, Ill. — Hendrickson officials announce availability of the HAULMAAX®,
heavy-duty, walking-beam rear suspension, and the popular PRIMAAX®, vocational
air-ride rear suspension, on Western Star trucks.
HAULMAAX suspension emerged as the new standard for rubber vocational
suspensions in 40,000- and 46,000-pound capacities.
Drawing on Hendrickson’s more than 80 years of walking-beam experience, HAULMAAX
maintains the tradition of durability that the industry has come to expect. This
lightweight, heavy-duty suspension raised the bar for walking-beam style
suspensions.
With thousands of units sold, the rugged HAULMAAX walking beam remains the
centerpiece for this high performance suspension. Hendrickson takes great pride
in walking-beam technology and performs exhausting tests in severe applications
to help ensure dependable operation and driver satisfaction.
“Reducing our customers cost of ownership was a key driver in developing the
HAULMAAX suspension. Reduced weight and maintenance, along with improved ride
and equipment protection, all provide enhanced value,” reports Steve Kiefer,
director of marketing for Hendrickson Truck Suspension Systems.
Demand for HAULMAAX includes construction, mixer, refuse, logging and other
heavy-duty applications. Fleet owners and operators across North America
appreciate the high articulation, improved ride, low maintenance and reduced
weight that HAULMAAX delivers.
Right from the start, the reduced weight of HAULMAAX allowed truck owners and
operators to carry hundreds of additional pounds of payload on each run while
maximizing durability with high-strength materials and advanced manufacturing
methods.
“The weight savings with a HAULMAAX suspension can result in over 500 pounds of
additional payload in comparison to competitive steel spring suspensions,” adds
Gerry Remus, vocational marketing manager for Hendrickson Truck Suspension
Systems.
HAULMAAX utilizes an innovative spring geometry that couples natural rubber with
a high-density, thermo-set material for the preferred ride and handling
characteristics desired in heavy-duty applications.
This premium suspension system adjusts to the load providing excellent ride
quality and loaded stability for driver comfort and confidence on the job site.
The unique variable rate spring system helps protect the cab, chassis and body
equipment from vibration and harshness, which can extend equipment life while
reducing maintenance costs.
By eliminating the center bushings and providing easy access to all components,
HAULMAAX helps reduce maintenance costs for truck owners. The unique spring
system helps promote long service life and easy accessibility, while the
industry-proven bar pin axle connection extends bushing life and provides
alignment capability for better tire wear.
“HAULMAAX demonstrates our continued leadership in heavy-duty suspension
technology by delivering innovative ride solutions that improve traction, reduce
maintenance costs and, most importantly, help improve the operating efficiency
of our customers,” Remus continues.
PRIMAAX, first launched in 2003, quickly earned the trust of vocational
customers performing in a variety of applications. Currently availability
includes: single, tandem and tridem axle ratings of 23,000, 46,000 and 69,000
pounds respectively.
Customers operating a wide range of vehicles, from dump trucks to heavy-haul
tractors — from truck-mounted cranes to logging trucks, find that PRIMAAX
delivers the ride, handling, articulation, durability and stability needed for
demanding vocational applications.
“We have been very pleased with the growth of PRIMAAX in heavy-duty
applications. Our customers have found that this suspension provides an
excellent ride while maintaining the performance characteristics expected in the
heavy-duty vehicle industry,” reports Remus.
The suspension geometry in PRIMAAX results in greater stability, which is
crucial in vocational applications. Heavy-duty forged support beams, premium
outboard mounted torque rods and a highly engineered cross brace combine to
deliver up to twice the amount of roll stiffness as comparable air-ride
suspensions.
Fleet owners and owner operators confirm increased articulation as another
valuable benefit. PRIMAAX offers up to 12 inches of diagonal articulation and
eight inches of axle travel for improved traction, resulting in greater mobility
on job sites. Hendrickson also increased ground clearance to 10.75 inches in
order to avoid hanging-up while maneuvering over rough terrain.
The improved ride quality of PRIMAAX reduces noise, vibration and harshness (NVH),
which promotes longer life for body equipment, electronics and other truck
components.
Operators who leave the comfort of the paved road appreciate the performance
characteristics of the PRIMAAX suspension. In the past, truck owners sacrificed
ride and handling to obtain stability and off-road maneuverability.
PRIMAAX employs the best of both worlds offering vehicles that leave the paved
roads a smooth ride on the highway while traveling to a job site and confidence
when they arrive.
For more information on HAULMAAX and PRIMAAX, contact Hendrickson Truck
Suspension Systems, Woodridge, Ill., at 630-910-2800.
Hendrickson, a Boler company, is one of the largest global suppliers of truck
and tractor suspensions, trailer suspensions, truck and trailer lift axles,
bumpers and trim components and springs to the commercial transportation
industry. Headquartered in Itasca, Ill., Hendrickson has been meeting the needs
of the transportation industry for more than 90 years. Visit the Hendrickson Web
site at www.hendrickson-intl.com.
Western Star Trucks, headquartered in Willoughby, Ohio, produces heavy-duty
custom trucks for long haul and vocational applications. Western Star is a
member of the Freightliner LLC Group. Freightliner is a company of
DaimlerChrysler, the world's leading commercial vehicle manufacturer. |
HAULMAAX®
PRIMAAX®
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