WOODRIDGE, ILL. — Hendrickson officials announced Sterling Trucks now
offers AIRTEK® (Front Airliner), an integrated front steer
axle and air suspension; HAULMAAX™, a lightweight rear suspension, and
PRIMAAX™, a state-of-the-art rear air suspension, on numerous Sterling
models.
Steadily increasing market acceptance for AIRTEK, HAULMAAX and PRIMAAX
prompted Sterling to broaden the availability of these advanced
suspension systems.
The industry’s first integrated front steer axle and air suspension,
AIRTEK provides significant improvement in ride and handling. Its
superior design and engineering delivers outstanding benefits to
drivers, mechanics and fleet owners.
AIRTEK helps protect drivers from bumps and potholes, providing a
premium ride while reducing noise, vibration and harshness. The
axle-section and leaf-spring geometry produce improvements of up to 30
percent in ride and 64 percent in roll stability, in addition to a
90-pound weight savings compared to traditional steel spring suspensions
and I-beam axles.
The AIRTEK establishes a quantum leap in technology. Its premium rubber
suspension bushings eliminate lubrication requirements, while the
innovative two-piece knuckle design simplifies serviceability. The
patented axle clamp group eliminates U-bolts and provides four-sided
clamping pressure for a secure axle connection.
Sterling and Hendrickson have worked together to address the increased
demand for AIRTEK by expanding availability over Sterling’s product line
to include Sterling’s A /AT 9500, L /LT 9500 and on L /LT 8500.
HAULMAAX represents a cutting edge, new walking beam suspension that
allows truck owners and operators to carry hundreds of pounds of
additional payload on each run while providing superior ride and
handling.
A unique, innovative spring geometry that couples natural rubber with a
high-density thermoset material gives HAULMAAX the preferred ride and
handling characteristics desired in construction, refuse, logging and
other heavy-duty applications.
“Lightweight design and superior ride characteristics are certainly key
features of the HAULMAAX system and provide customer value when used on
Sterling trucks, but also key is the maintenance savings that can be
realized,” reports Steve Andrews, general manager of Hendrickson Truck
Suspension Systems.
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 and rugged bar pin axle
connection extends bushing life and provides alignment capability for
better tire wear. Sterling offers HAULMAAX on its LT7500, LT8500 and
LT9500.
Designed specifically for the rigorous demands of the vocational and
heavy haul truck and tractor market, the new PRIMAAX air suspension
focuses on improving ride and handling for on- and off-road
applications. PRIMAAX features large volume air springs and heavy-duty
shock absorbers. The improved ride quality also reduces noise, vibration
and harshness for longer life of truck components and body equipment.
“PRIMAAX has been field tested in a variety of vocational and heavy-haul
applications, with drivers reporting exceptional ride and handling
improvements in comparison to other air suspensions available today,”
notes John Stuart, engineering manager and program manager for PRIMAAX.
PRIMAAX features a unique parallelogram design that reduces suspension
induced driveline vibration, a phenomenon often found in trailing arm
air suspensions. Field testing has also included applications with peak
engine torques as high as 2,250 ft-lbs., resulting in significant
reduction of frame rise during peak driveline torque often found in
trailing arm air suspensions.
PRIMAAX’s suspension geometry also results in greater stability. Heavy
duty forged support beams, outboard mounted torque rods and a highly
engineered crossbeam combine to deliver up to twice the amount of roll
stiffness as other air ride suspensions.
This greater stability benefits vocational and heavy-haul applications,
such as redi-mix, dump, refuse and logging applications.
“PRIMAAX was designed from the ground up as a heavy-duty vocational
suspension with greater versatility,” adds Andrews. “This is not an
up-rated on-highway air suspension.”
With a 46,000-pound tandem rating, PRIMAAX is available for use with
multiple lift axles and GCWR of 180,000 pounds. PRIMAAX also offers up
to eight inches of axle travel for improved suspension articulation,
resulting in greater mobility on job sites. Sterling offers PRIMAAX on
its L/LT7500, L/LT8500, L/LT9500 and A/AT9500 models.
"Sterling and Hendrickson have worked together to upgrade suspension and
axle offerings in Sterling’s product line. AIRTEK, HAULMAAX and PRIMAAX
emphasize improved ride and handling for driver comfort, without
compromising stability, maintenance or durability,” reports Andrews.
For more information on AIRTEK, PRIMAAX and HAULMAAX, 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; lift, trailer and
steer axles; springs, and bumpers to the commercial transportation
industry. Headquartered in Woodridge, Ill., Hendrickson has been meeting
the needs of the transportation industry for 90 years.
Steve Kiefer
Hendrickson Truck Suspension Systems
(630) 910-2800
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AIRTEK®
HAULMAAX™
PRIMAAX™ |
