Maxion Wheels Debuts Light Wheel, Aerodynamic Cover
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ATLANTA — An optimized design feature led to the production of a wheel weighing in at 64 pounds, one of the new products Maxion Wheels debuted at the North American Commercial Vehicle Show.
The wheel, dubbed Tough and Light, is a standard commercial vehicle steel wheel. Features include a 7,400-pound wheel load rating. Its new circular hand-hole shape deviates from the company’s D-shape model.
The changes to the hand hole and design optimization analysis led to a 10% reduction in wheel structural stresses, according to the company.
“All of the current industry standards for fatigue performance are the ones that we’re testing, too,” Donald Polk, president of Maxion Wheels in the Americas, told reporters at NACV on Oct. 29. “It’s a really robust design to meet the current fatigue and fuel standards that are currently in place in the industry.”
Tough and Light wheel by Maxion Wheels
Tough and Light will be available next year, the company said.
At the trucking show, Maxion Wheels also debuted a wheel connectivity feature, which is a partnership with ZF Openmatics. It entails wheel sensor technology combined with ZF Openmatics’ telematics capabilities. A bluetooth tag mounted to the truck wheel rim tracks in real time vehicle load, tire humidity, temperature, air pressure, wheel position, speed and vibration across nine axes, the company indicated.
Additionally, the company showcased a last-mile delivery light commercial vehicle steel wheel, which it explained was a repurposed model designed for urban transport vehicles.
And a commercial vehicle concept wheel cover billed as Aerowheel, also debuted at NACV. The wheel cover is a drag-reducing, patent-pending aerodynamic concept for the steer axle. Significant reductions in drag led to fuel-efficiency improvements.
“Dramatic changes in mobility and alternative powertrains is the inspiration behind Maxion Wheels’ latest truck wheel innovations,” Polk said, in a prepared statement. “Our showcased products demonstrate our commitment to creating the industry’s most cost-effective, robust wheel solutions, for today and tomorrow.”
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