WOODRIDGE, Ill. — Hendrickson officials announced the launch of HTB™ rear air
suspension for Class 8 trucks.
The lightweight, non-torque reactive suspension offers additional advantages of
a smooth ride and low maintenance. It will be available for sale in 2005 as a
premium, improved-riding alternative to industry standard suspensions.
The lightest suspension in class at 570 pounds including axle brackets, HTB
saves up to 257 pounds of weight over industry-standard 40,000-pound
suspensions.
For comparison, HTB saves 250 pounds compared to the Hendrickson HAS 400. The
weight savings is attributed to HTB’s optimized design featuring parallelogram
geometry that eliminates leaf springs and reduces components.
“HTB’s parallelogram geometry eliminates the frame rise that is characteristic
of trailing arm suspensions,” says Michael Brannigan, program manager.
“Driveline angles are maintained throughout axle travel, thereby minimizing
suspension induced driveline vibration.”
Reduction in torsional vibration contributes to the longevity of driveline
components like the transmission, differential and U-joints; reduces noise and
vibration, and provides a better ride,” Brannigan adds. “Moreover, HTB has been
tested under rigorous conditions in the field, lab and on proving grounds and
has proved extremely durable. Most components require zero maintenance and are
designed to last the life of the truck.”
HTB’s unique technology and componentry makes it best in class in terms of
weight savings, ride and maintenance. The innovative torque box system improves
multi-axial stability and control.
Dual support structure, frame hangers and torque rods are efficiently designed
to reduce weight while improving durability. Large, direct-acting air springs
carry 100 percent of the vertical load compared to trailing-arm suspensions
where vertical load is shared between air springs and leaf springs. This key
difference provides up to a 34 percent ride improvement and reduces vibration
and harshness, compared to industry standard suspensions.
An extremely efficient design with a centrally placed frame hanger eliminates
the dual hangers found in trailing-arm suspensions. Innovations like shock
absorber mountings integrated with the torque rod further reduce complexity and
part count.
“A key driver in the design of HTB was reducing vehicle cost of ownership and
optimizing the life cycle cost of our customers,” says Steve Kiefer, director of
marketing and program management, Hendrickson Truck Suspension Systems.
This has been achieved by providing increased payload, eliminating suspension
induced driveline vibration and doing away with greasing and re-torquing,”
Kiefer continues.
Ed Kaufman, managing director of Domino Trucking, concurs. “I have used a HTB
test unit for almost two years,” he says. “The suspension provides smoother ride
and eliminates driveline vibration, the main reason for wear and tear in trucks.
HTB has increased the life of my truck and has allowed me to haul more payload
per trip. I strongly recommend HTB to all truckers.”
Indeed, fleets in weight sensitive applications will derive great benefit from
HTB. “While providing best-in-class ride and reduced maintenance that fleets and
drivers demand, HTB is ideal for all weight-sensitive applications including
bulk haul, tankers and refrigerated trucks, where a pound saved is an additional
pound of payload hauled” notes Sri Chakravarty, segment marketing manager,
Hendrickson Truck Suspension Systems.
“HTB represents a key advancement in suspension technology that is comparable to
the progression from four-spring suspensions to trailing-arm suspensions twenty
years ago,” says Steve Andrews, general manager, Hendrickson Truck Suspension
Systems.
Hendrickson is excited about advancing the state of suspension technology and
remains firmly committed to reducing the cost-of-ownership for fleet customers
while providing the lightest weight, best riding and most durable systems,”
Andrews adds.
For additional information contact Hendrickson Truck Suspension Systems,
Woodridge, Ill., at 630-910-2800.
Hendrickson International is one of the largest global suppliers of truck and
tractor suspensions, trailer suspensions, truck and trailer lift axles, springs
and bumpers to the commercial transportation industry. Headquartered in
Woodridge, Ill., Hendrickson has been meeting the needs of the transportation
industry for more than 90 years. |
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