LOUISVILLE. Hendrickson Truck Systems Group announced at the Mid-America Trucking Show that several of its key suspension and axle offerings are now available on specific vocational and highway truck models producing by several OEMs, including its new Parasteer HD front air suspension designed for twin- and tri-steer specialty applications at Autocar.
Parasteer HD will be offered as a 14,600- and 20,000- lb per axle rating option on the Autocar ACX chassis. The system is targeted for use by a variety of vocational and construction applications, including concrete, crane, tank and other specialty trucks, noted Hendrickson.
According to Hendrickson, Parasteer HD has no fixed steer-axle spacing constraints to provide excellent axle spacing flexibility. This allows the end-user, chassis manufacturer and body manufacturer to work together to obtain the optimum weight distribution for the application, said the company, which noted that competitive walking beam and mechanical spring systems are constrained to fixed lengths, while the Parasteer HD is composed of individual, stand-alone steer-axle suspensions. In addition, the weight of the system remains constant as steer axle spacing increases, offering an increased weight advantage over competitive systems that require longer or larger components at higher axle spacings, said Hendrickson.
Hendrickson also announced that its Primaax EX heavy-duty vocational rear air suspension will be available in tridem configurations for Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA) chassis, including Freightliner and Western Star, as of thismonth.
The new Primaax EX will be available in capacities of 23,000, 46,000 and 52,000 lbs for Freightliner Century Class, Cascadia, Columbia, FLD SD and Business Class M2 truck models; and the Western Star 4900 and 6900 models. Primaax EX will also be available in tridem configurations rated at 69,000 lbs for all Western Star models as well as Business Class M2 112 and FLD SD chassis.
By expanding its product offerings to include tridems at DTNA, Hendrickson said it will be “able to expand its presence in core specialty markets such as concrete, logging and oilfield, where durability and roll stability are crucial.”
Hendrickson also announced that its weight- saving Softek integrated front suspension and steer axle system now comes standard on International LoneStar Class 8 models and will be available optionally on the International ProStar series. The company noted that Softek combines Hendrickson's monoleaf steel springs and the rigid, box-shaped Steertek axle “for outstanding ride and stability and provides a substantial weight savings of up to 92 lbs, compared to a two-leaf configuration with an I-beam axle.”
In addition, Hendrickson said its Steertek axle is now on International’s LoneStar and ProStar Multilink front suspension systems. The company said the International proprietary 12,350-lb capacity front air suspension with the fabricated Steertek axle begins rolling off production lines this month. Described as a premium suspension and axle system, Multilink “delivers outstanding ride quality in addition to a weight savings of up 25 lbs compared to International’s standard parabolic leaf-spring suspension,” said Hendrickson.
Hendrickson Auxiliary Axle Systems announced its Shipping on Demand (SOD) program, which allows customers to order selected lift axles and have them shipped straight from the factory in 48 hours or less. The company said it is currently stocking quantities of two popular product offerings under the program: Composite ST and HLM-2. As interest in the program grows, additional lift axle models will be added, noted Hendrickson.
