SAF Holland Offers Lighter Trailer Suspension, Fifth-Wheel Lighting
ST. LOUIS — SAF Holland announced two products designed, respectively, to help fleets reduce greenhouse-gas emissions with a lighter suspension for van trailers and also new sensor technology to assist drivers as they inspect a fifth wheel to ensure it is locked.
The CBX40 AeroBeam sliding tandem axle air suspension, with a nearly 10% reduction in weight — compared with the previous model — is designed to offset the added weight of separate aerodynamic devices and improve fuel efficiency, which reduces GHG emissions, the company said.
The company made the announcement here Oct. 27.
“Clearly for most companies, innovation is key, and is key for everything we do for our future business. We cannot stand still. The industry won’t let us; it’s too dynamic,” said Bill Hicks, director of product planning for Americas at SAF Holland. “And that’s the fun side. To come out with new products is fun.”
Six products are in the 2017 pipeline, including more with sensor technology, according to the company.
The suspension has a base weight of 1,267 pounds, 85 pounds lighter overall than the previous generation CBX40 and 27 pounds lighter than the nearest competitive slider suspension, SAF Holland said. The weight includes slider, suspension, taper spindle axles with 16.5-inch x 7.0-inch foundation brakes for a 48-inch wide slider box.
The weight savings translates into a reduction in GHG emissions by 1,250 pounds over 10 years, it said, citing the Environmental Protection Agency’s SmartWay document “Weight Reduction — A Glance at Clean Freight Strategies.”
Also, the shock absorbers were relocated to provide more room on the subframe to install air tanks, brake valves, tire inflation systems, ABS modules and improve under chassis airflow, SAF Holland said.
At the same time, its 5.75-inch diameter friction-welded axles are 12% thicker than competitive axles, according to the company, and minimize axle deflection to improve inside tire tread wear. The suspension and axle beam assembly is covered by a 10-year warranty.
Sixteen strategically placed reinforcements improve resistance to damage caused by curb strikes, slider repositioning, and drag turns. The slider subframe is backed by a seven-year warranty.
Options include manual or air assisted slide pin release, dock walk solution, auto-sensing lift axles, P89 Series air disc brakes or drum brakes, parallel or taper spindles and conventional or extended warranty wheel end packages, SAF Holland said.
Meanwhile, its new fifth-wheel product is a coupling assistant — with its own electronic control module — and available as an integrated option on the popular Holland FW35 Series fifth wheels, the company said.
The ELI-te — or electronic lock indicator technology enhanced — has the ECM mounted directly to the fifth wheel top plate and features 12-volt electrical output capability to support connection with remote indicators, SAF Holland said.
When a trailer kingpin is properly coupled to an ELI-te equipped fifth wheel, four high-intensity white LED lights mounted within the fifth wheel automatically illuminate the lock jaws, according to the company.
If a coupling problem is detected, daytime-visible red LED lights will begin flashing from both sides of the fifth wheel to alert drivers that the vehicle is not ready for motion.
Industry-proven sensors and shatter-proof lamp modules are combined with the system’s sealed, one-piece electrical harness, which is one-connector assembly that requires only a low-current connection to the vehicle electrical power.
For converter dolly applications, the electrical connection is designed to be compatible with ABS status signals.
SAF Holland’s North American unit is based in Muskegon, Michigan. The parent company is headquartered in Luxembourg.
