Bendix Reaches Stability Control Technology Sales Milestone
Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems reported it has sold 600,000 units of its electronic stability control program technology in North America since introducing the feature in 2005, and said demand is surging as new regulations take hold.
About 100,000 units were sold in the past year, which equaled how many were sold in the first six years of the system’s existence, according to the Elyria, Ohio-based company.
As of last Aug. 1, full stability became mandatory on new Classes 7-8 6 × 4 tractors with a gross vehicle weight rating of greater 26,000 pounds, as stipulated by federal regulations. If the regulation and scheduled dates remain unchanged, Phase 2 will take effect June 24, impacting Class 8 buses; and Phase 3, encompassing most remaining Classes 7-8 highway tractor and motorcoach applications, will go into effect Aug. 1, 2019.
Electronic stability control technology includes more sensors than stand-alone anti-lock braking systems or roll stability control. Full-stability systems also can use automatic brake interventions involving the steer, drive and trailer axles. Roll-only systems typically apply the brakes on only the drive and trailer axles.
The Bendix system complies with the new requirements and is offered as standard equipment on Class 8 trucks at most major North American truck manufacturers, including Kenworth, Peterbilt, Mack, Volvo and International — which together typically account for about 60% of U.S. Class 8 retail sales.
Kenworth Truck Co. and Peterbilt Motors Co. are brands of Paccar Inc., Mack Trucks and Volvo Trucks North America are units of Volvo Group and International Trucks is a brand of Navistar International Corp.
Bendix’s ESC feature also comes standard on all 2018 model year Ford Motor Co. F-650 and F-750 tractors, and is an option on certain F-750 straight truck configurations.
As field experience grows, fleets can quantify safety benefits of the technology, said Jack Legler, technical director of American Trucking Associations’ Technology & Maintenance Council.
“The strategy of the full-stability system provides the fundamental approach to the automated and autonomous vehicle braking capabilities of these advanced driver assistance systems,” Fred Andersky, heads of the controls business and government and industry affairs at Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems, said in a company release. “Because it’s connected to all tractor and trailer axles, the system can, by varying the pressure at each wheel end, help reduce the impact of the forces that can lead to rollovers and loss-of-control situations, plus optimize the performance of collision-mitigation technologies.”
The ESC technology and its Wingman collision-mitigation systems are designed to assist drivers, not replace them, according to the company.
Wabco Holdings Inc. and the Bosch Group also offer stability control and advanced driver-assistance systems for commercial vehicles.
Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems, a member of the Knorr-Bremse Group, develops and supplies active safety technologies, energy management solutions, and air brake charging and control systems and components under the Bendix brand.
