9th
April 2008 - Bendix and Utility Trailer
Work Together to Advance Active Safety Technologies on Trailer Models
Growing Portfolio of Bendix(R) brand
components becoming standard on
Utility Trailer models
A
mutual
commitment to advance highway safety for the tractor trailer industry
has
resulted in a new multi-year relationship between industry-leaders, Bendix
Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC and Utility Trailer Manufacturing
Company.
The agreement with Utility Trailer, the third-largest trailer
manufacturer and the nation's largest producer of refrigerated vans,
further solidifies the growing Bendix position as a supplier to the
trailer
industry. It also establishes that Bendix products will be available
through Utility's aftermarket parts and extensive dealer network,
enabling
the two companies to offer and support high-quality, top-performing air
brake system solutions.
Integrated Drum Brake Solutions
Effective April 2008, Bendix(R) SB-4(TM) combination spring
brakes will
be standard position on all Utility Trailer models. The Bendix(R) SB-4
combination spring brake -- featuring a patent pending center seal --
contains a guided spring-pressure plate that significantly reduces
diaphragm and seal wear. Flexible, self-alignment of the center seal
during
installation -- along with lubricant retention during operation --
combine
to offer extended spring brake service life.
Already proven, and as standard on all Utility models, is the Bendix(R)
ASA-5(R) automatic slack adjuster. The ASA-5 slack adjuster exceeds the
Society of Automotive Engineers' 200,000-cycle durability test standard,
assuring long service life. Its seals and lubricants are proven to
resist
external moisture and contaminants that can cause premature wear.
Both the Bendix(R) SB-4(TM) combination spring brake and
Bendix(R)
ASA-5(R) slack adjuster are provided by Bendix Spicer Foundation Brake
LLC
-- a joint venture between Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC and
Dana
Commercial Vehicle Products, LLC.
Available Second Half of 2008
Beginning July 2008, Utility Trailer will offer as standard
position on
base model dual axle reefers and dry vans, the Bendix(R) SR-5(R) spring
brake relay valve, in combination with the Bendix(R) TABS-6 antilock
braking system. The SR-5 valve provides premium performance under
extreme
conditions. The valve's design offers the fastest spring brake release
and
is widely recognized as the leading spring brake valve available in the
market today.
The Bendix(R) TABS-6 ABS for trailers was chosen to allow
Utility
Trailer an easy upgrade into the next-generation trailer stability
system,
Bendix(R) TABS-6 Advanced. Both are built on a reliable single-channel,
2S/1M configuration -- the most popular ABS design for today's trailer
manufacturers and buyers.
Utility will also offer the Bendix(R) ADB22X(TM) air disc
brake, as a
databook option. This lightweight air disc brake package reduces total
wheel-end weight while providing fast and easy pad replacement, reduced
maintenance, and longer brake life.
Working Together to Advance Technology
Utility's introduction to Bendix began while operating a
manufacturing
facility in the United Kingdom.
"We came to recognize Knorr-Bremse, the European affiliate of
Bendix,
as a global leader in the heavy duty industry," said Craig Bennett,
senior
vice president for sales and marketing, Utility Trailer. "We recognize
those same qualities in Bendix through its development of North American
trailer products, many of those products offer great synergies to our
customer base running Bendix equipped trucks."
"Our relationship with Utility Trailer demonstrates our
permanent
commitment to the trailer market," said Joe McAleese, Bendix
president & CEO. "We've made an extensive investment in the
manufacturing and testing of our trailer technology that will enable us
to stay aligned with our long-term objective of becoming a provider of
superior solutions for the trailer market. Our customers demand the best
solutions and we are providing them."
Bendix offers a complete portfolio of trailer products and
solutions,
all designed for maximum performance and reliability. Bendix strives to
create long-term partnerships within the trailer market by going beyond
simply offering braking components for trailer applications, but instead
delivering a complete, integrated system and excellent customer service.
About Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems
LLC
Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems, a member of the
Knorr-Bremse Group,
develops and supplies leading-edge active safety technologies, air brake
charging, and control systems and components under the Bendix(R) brand
name
for medium- and heavy-duty trucks, tractors, trailers, buses and other
commercial vehicles throughout North America. An industry pioneer,
employing more than 2,000 people, we are driven to deliver solutions for
improved vehicle performance, safety and overall operating cost. Bendix
Commercial Vehicle Systems is headquartered in Elyria, Ohio, with
manufacturing plants in Acuna, Mexico; Bowling Green, Ky.; and
Huntington,
Ind. For more information, call 1-800-AIR-BRAKE (1-800-247-2725) or
visit
http://www.bendix.com
About Utility Trailer
Utility Trailer Manufacturing Company is America's oldest
privately
owned and operated trailer manufacturer. It was founded in 1914 by
brothers
E.W. and H.C. Bennett and is still family-owned to this day. Utility
Trailer is the largest producer of refrigerated vans and the
third-largest
trailer manufacturer in the United States.
The company designs and manufactures from five
fully-operational
trailer facilities across the United States products such as dry freight
vans, flatbeds, refrigerated vans and curtain-sided Tautliner(R)
trailers. The company features an extensive dealer network with more
than 100 independently-owned locations throughout the United States,
Canada, Mexico and South America.