Equipment

Hendrickson & Wabco debut optimized trailer air disc brake system

March 30, 2015

LOUISVILLE, KY. Hendrickson Trailer Commercial Vehicle Systems chose the Mid-America Trucking Show here in Kentucky this past week to announce the expansion of its brake offerings with the launch of Hendrickson MAXX22T. According to the company, it is the first and only air disc brake system optimized for North American trailer applications. MAXX22T combines Hendrickson technology with WABCO’s air disc brake system to address the industry’s increased demand for trailer air disc brakes.

“One size does not fit all when it comes to air disc brakes,” Perry Bahr, vice president and general manager of Hendrickson Trailer Commercial Vehicle Systems told the audience during the press conference here. “The forces that dictate a brake system’s design differ between the tractor and trailer. Hendrickson’s extensive expertise in understanding trailer dynamics culminates in the launch of the first air disc brake system that aligns with the braking requirements of North American tractor-trailer combinations.”

“Air disc brake technology continues to gain in popularity, although it is different here than in Europe…” Bahr said. “We set out to create an air disc brake system suited specifically for the NAFTA trailer market. We have seen about a 1% growth in air disc brakes per year, concentrated especially in Canada.”

Available on most INTRAAX & VANTRAAX integrated suspension systems, MAXX22T combines WABCO’s bi-directional single piston design with Hendrickson-designed wheel end and brake components for higher reliability, reduced weight and installation efficiency. When MAXX22T is paired with the leading lightweight advantages of Hendrickson’s INTRAAX or VANTRAAX systems, fleets experience unparalleled weight savings.

The MAXX22T system features a bolt-on splash guard for easier installation and maintenance that is also e-coated for superior corrosion protection. In addition, this new design allows for simplified rotor inspection. MAXX22T is available with TIREMAAX PRO and any of Hendrickson’s READY-TO-ROLL wheel-end packages to maximize uptime and provide the convenience and reliability of a single-source supplier. MAXX22T air disc brakes are currently rated up to a 20,000 lbs. gross-axle weight with tires as large as 20.8 in. tire static loaded radius (SLR).

About the Author

Wendy Leavitt

Wendy Leavitt joined Fleet Owner in 1998 after serving as editor-in-chief of Trucking Technology magazine for four years.

She began her career in the trucking industry at Kenworth Truck Company in Kirkland, WA where she spent 16 years—the first five years as safety and compliance manager in the engineering department and more than a decade as the company’s manager of advertising and public relations. She has also worked as a book editor, guided authors through the self-publishing process and operated her own marketing and public relations business.

Wendy has a Masters Degree in English and Art History from Western Washington University, where, as a graduate student, she also taught writing.