Meritor Announces European Debut of Blue Horizon Advanced Technologies Brand
HANOVER, Germany — Commercial vehicle supplier Meritor Inc. announced the European debut of Blue Horizon, its new brand representing the company’s emerging platform of advanced technologies centered on electrification, efficiency and connectivity solutions for heavy- and medium-duty commercial vehicles. The North American version was introduced earlier this year.
More From IAA 2018
Also at the IAA Commercial Vehicles Show here, Meritor announced axle and brake developments.
The company is conducting real-world testing of its electrification solutions with various applications such as school bus, drayage and refuse for several customers. These efforts are on track to deliver about 30 all-electric drivetrains in 2018, according to the Troy, Mich.-based company.
Blue Horizon products also include:
• A “disengageable” tandem drive axle that delivers the efficiency of a 6x2 with the traction of 6x4.
• A composite driveline, built with advanced materials to reduce weight while increasing cargo capacity.
• An advanced lubrication management system using electronics and pneumatics to manage critical axle components and increase axle efficiency significantly.
“Blue Horizon will offer a product pipeline that meets accelerating global demand for efficiency, connectivity and electric solutions across multiple applications,” Krista Sohm, Meritor’s vice president of marketing, said in a statement.
Meritor's Craig at the press conference. (Joe Howard/Transport Topics)
Axle developments included Meritor’s new MX-610 front-drive and MZ-610 tridem rear axle for multiple severe-duty applications. Built to operate in extreme conditions, the MZ-610 tridem offers wide-ranging axle ratings and high ground clearance as well gross axle weight rating of 60 tons and gross combination weight of 210 tons.
Meanwhile, optional hydraulic actuation is available on all ELSA disc brakes for applications requiring hydraulic disc brake variants.
“The hydraulic variant supports current applications and specialty applications as well as eMobility vehicles where the industry’s dependence on pneumatic systems has been reduced to a point where it becomes advantageous to work with hydraulic systems,” Tony Nicol, Meritor’s vice president for Europe of front and rear drivetrains, said in a statement.
Meritor Inc. is a global supplier of drivetrain, mobility, braking and aftermarket solutions for commercial vehicle and industrial markets.
