News Stories
Edbro have been leading the market with product developments ever since 1916 when the company’s founder Maurice Edwards developed the first hoist to be powered by a truck engine. Based on this long standing tradition of cutting-edge innovation, the new B series once again pushes the boundaries of tipping technology. The C Series has always been “Lighter, Faster & Stronger” and the new B Series which was on display at Hanover and in production from early 2009 moves the current product even further ahead of the field on all counts. The new B Series has been developed with the customer in mind and has succeeded in removing weight whilst increasing the cylinder strength, allowing even faster tipping cycles thus adding to operator profits. The new B Series is only possible because of Edbro’s commitment to continual capital investment in state of the art manufacturing equipment such as laser and friction welding which are core to the process. Now with plans for further capital investment in the UK-based production plant the company is confirming its commitment to future development and growth. In the R&D lab at Edbro’s UK site, extensive testing is carried out on products both old and new to further push the boundaries of the tipping industry. New cylinder designs are tipped continuously up to 10,000 cycles to ensure that Edbro products are built to with stand the toughest operating conditions. Side load testing applies a load to a fully extended, pressurised cylinder to test the capacity for strain and deflection, guaranteeing that the Edbro cylinder will remain stable and strong even when the trailer is at the point of falling. Further tests are also carried out to monitor the performance of Edbro equipment under intense operating conditions and ensure that the materials used are durable enough to deliver the Edbro “fit and forget” guarantee. With over 90 years of industry expertise behind them, Edbro products remain at the forefront of the tipping market, increasing payloads, reducing tipping times and providing “fit and forget” solutions. With new projects in the pipeline, the future promises more great things in the months and years to come. Watch this space for the exciting new product developments coming soon from Edbro.
Andrew has clocked a million km in the 2003 Scania truck and trailer and has not replaced a thing, and now with EBS brakes being available and the only difference on his other two Scania and trailer units, which are 2006 and 2007 models respectively, Andrew is looking forward to more of the same. Andrew operates AMP Trucking Limited in Palmerston North. The business contracts to Foodstuffs, carrying dry goods twice a day to Hawkes Bay, Wellington and Taranaki. The three trucks and trailer units are driven around the clock. “A million kilometres is a fairly high mileage but we haven’t changed any of the SAF Intradisc brake pads on the 2003 trailer yet,” Andrew says. Transpecs Lower North Island Regional Manager “Shane Ward” called into Palmerston North to perform some on the spot training and he was amazed when he pulled the disc apart, as there was still quite a bit of pad on it even after at that stage the trailer having travelled 950,000 km. Andrew says the extended life of the brake pads is probably due to a number of reasons, including the way the truck has been driven. Drivers have all been trained on the correct way to drive the trucks, with Transpecs undertaking a training day on ABS and EBS braking systems at Mansfield race track in Fielding late 2006. “At the end of the day it’s how anybody drives a vehicle, but the Scanias that are in front of the trailers all have a Retarder braking system on them,” Andrew says. “With the Retarder you don’t have to use the foot pedal at all – it slows the truck down through five stages. There are disc brakes on the truck as well, so it makes it quite compatible with the truck and trailer being on Disc brakes all round. “One of the benefits of that type of braking system is the increased braking comfort for the driver, as well as However, as great as the ABS system is, Andrew says it does not compare to the EBS systems that were available & installed when his two newer trucks & trailers were built. “We thought ABS was the best thing out, but EBS just blows it out of the water. When you put your foot on brake you’re going to stop within metres.” EBS utilises electronics for the control side of the vehicle’s braking system, improving stopping distances and braking performance. EBS also provides the platform for the advanced safety systems of the future. “EBS is the best thing, Andrew says. “I don’t know where they can go after this, because it’s fantastic.” To find out more about SAF Intradisc and WABCO braking systems contact your local Transpecs’ regional sales manager.
Drum brakes can be limited in their application: limited braking performance or brake fade can be dangerous. As with all brake systems poor truck and trailer compatibility can prove costly: and the high service costs of most drum brake axles make the whole-life service costs far out weigh the initial extra Disc brakes have their drawbacks too: rotor cracking caused by the umbrella affect for example and poor maintenance regimens. But even these problems look set to be eliminated with SAF Holland launching their Integral brake technology into the New Zealand market. Transpecs braking expert, Lincoln Dagnall says the system is hugely popular in Europe and has been specifically designed to address rotor distortion. “It is a very clever system that ultimately makes rigs safer and more efficient,” says Dagnall. “They have used a compound casting process to mechanically join two different materials with unique physical properties into one engineered component. “Once cast, the rotor and hub adaptor redirect and control the effects of high temperatures in ways that conventional disc brake systems cannot. Under heated conditions conventional rotors experience uncontrolled deformation, commonly referred to as the umbrella affect. “The umbrella affect leads to heat cracks which reduces the lives of both the pad and the rotor. In contrast Integral’s unique design expands and contracts only in a radial direction. With Integral there is no umbrella affect. Brakes wear more evenly and last longer. “The Integral system also dissipates heat more effectively than competitive models and reduces heat transfer to the bearing hub assembly.” The heat dissipation and transfer reduction is achieved through a uniquely designed spoke and hub adaptor that provides ventilation and reduces the surface area between the hub adaptor and bearing hub. As a result bearings run cool, even in the most extreme conditions. The Integral disc brake technology comes standard with an integrated compact bearing assembly that virtually eliminates the need for wheel bearing maintenance. This integrated full bearing system is fully guaranteed for five years. “In the long run Integral technology protects your rig and drivers with shorter stopping distances. It also saves money by dramatically reducing down time,” says Lincoln Dagnall. SAF Integral technology is available now. To find out more contact your local Transpecs’ regional sales manager.
Transpecs national manager, Jason Ritchie, says the huge uptake of EBS in this country is testament to the commitment of the industry to continually self improve. “We have seen a massive growth in EBS in this country: people were quick on the uptake compared with many other countries like Australia and the US. It shows that the industry is serious about safety and the need to keep pace with global best practice.” Tony Cheyne agrees. WABCO’s application engineering manager for Australasia, Tony knows the EBS market in New Zealand and Australia better than anyone. He says Australia is 4-5 years behind New Zealand in terms of understanding and uptake of the technology – such has been the phenomenal growth in the New Zealand market. “The impressive thing about the response in New Zealand is that it was completely self-initiated. In other words no one was forced to upgrade their fleets; there were no mandatory rules or regulations that forced people to invest in this new technology. The industry recognised that there was a new technology available and people quickly understood the benefits and improved safety it provides. “So in a market with an average yearly build of just 1200 trailers, this achievement is quite noteworthy. Starting in 2003 with sales of 50 units for that year, the sales growth has been quite spectacular, with almost 400 systems delivered in 2007. “Electronic activation of the EBS braking components clearly reduces response and build-up times in brake cylinders. This in turn reduces braking distance by several metres, which can be decisive in some situations. The integrated ABS function ensures driving stability and controllability throughout the braking procedure.” EBS benefits include: Increased braking comfort, superior vehicle safety, optimised brake wear and ease of maintenance. WABCO Vehicle Control Systems is one of the world’s leading providers of electronic braking, stability, suspension and transmission automation systems for heavy duty commercial vehicles. Customers include the world’s leading commercial truck, trailer, and bus manufacturers. Founded in the U.S. in 1869 as Westinghouse Air Brake Company, WABCO was acquired by American Standard in 1968 and spun off in 2007. Headquartered in Brussels, Belgium, WABCO employs more than 7,700 people in 31 countries worldwide. In 2007, WABCO’s total sales were $2.4 billion. WABCO is a publicly traded company and is listed on the New York Stock Exchange with the stock symbol WBC. To find out more about EBS braking technology contact your local Transpecs Brake Specialist.
“A quality wheel provides a smoother ride, cooler running and lower maintenance. One of the best on the market today is the Alcoa,” said Scahill. “The wheels are forged into a single piece of aluminium which provides unrivalled strength, by eliminating the welds that concentrate stress and where fatigue cracks can start. “Forging also aligns the metal grain in a uniform direction along the countours of the wheel – increasing strength. “Aluminium weighs less than steel – lowering the suspension’s unsprung weight, which allows a faster suspension response, a smoother ride and improved traction when cornering. “The wheels are precision machined to ensure a smoother ride for you and your cargo and they look great.” This August, Alcoa are launching their new Dura-Bright range in New Zealand. Dura-Bright wheels are the only wheels on the market with a patented surface treatment that cleans with soap and water. The new Alcoa Dura-Bright® Wheel with XBR™ Technology is now 53% more reflective than the first generation and image clarity has improved 74%. Even after hundreds of washes and thousands of miles, Dura-Bright® wheels maintain their shine. “Because Alcoa Dura-Bright® is a surface treatment not a coating, it won’t chip, crack, peel or corrode. And never needs polishing,” he said. To find out more about Alcoa wheels and Alcoa Dura-Bright® contact your local Transpecs regional sales manager. |
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The globally celebrated IAA exhibition is the perfect stage for Edbro to reach its international customer base with details of the new B Series of hoists.
The use of Wabco ABS brakes on one of Andrew Winiata’s truck and trailer units has helped the trailer cover a million kilometers on its original Scania truck and trailer fitted with SAF Intradisc axle’s & other components.
Despite better performance, disc brakes have earned a reputation in some quarters as being high priced, heavy and expensive to maintain. However, disc brakes are simply a better option than drum brakes in most operations.
New Zealand’s 1000th WABCO EBS unit is currently being installed by Roadmaster trailers, representing an impressive milestone for the New Zealand Road Transport industry.
A quality wheel is important to safe and reliable road transport, says Transpecs Product Manager, Chris Scahill.