The IAA Transportation exhibition staged in Hanover, Germany, in September, was as usual dominated by van and truck manufacturers highlighting an array of shiny new vehicles, with a stress on battery-electric technology. Their exhibits formed only a fraction of what the show had to offer, however.
There were umpteen stands featuring products which, while lacking in glamour, are essential to the smooth running of the road transport industry. They may not always be visible – but transport fleets cannot function efficiently and safely without them.
FONTAINE FIFTH WHEEL was busy promoting its latest range of fifth wheel couplings with the accent on safety. Designed to minimise the risk of mis-coupling, its TechLock system’s jaw height sensor will not allow the fifth wheel to close if the kingpin enters at the incorrect height or position.
TechLock is a feature of Fontaine’s 3000 cast fifth wheel with a single safety-clip sensor which displays a green LED light once the clip has been attached to show that the fifth wheel is correctly coupled with the kingpin in place, and is visible from beside the trailer.
If it is not lit up then the driver has failed to carry out the necessary safety check and the clip has not been put on. Whoever is manning the gatehouse should look out for the green light before the truck leaves the depot, and prevent it from departing if it is not illuminated.
The sensor and LED are housed in an extended handle designed to make it easier for the driver to reach and operate the fifth wheel. Fontaine also supplies the 3000LM (Low Maintenance) fifth wheel, which does away with the need for a clip by integrating the safety mechanism into an interlock handle.
Also worthy of note is the 150SP2 fifth wheel with a three-sensor safety system which triggers warning lights and a buzzer inside the cab if the coupling has gone wrong. It, too, comes with TechLock.
KNORR-BREMSE was exhibiting the latest iteration of its SYNACT double-piston truck disc brake. Said to be from 4kg to 10kg lighter than its predecessors, and applying over 30kNm of braking torque, it is available with ACR; Active Caliper Release.
After the braking process is complete, ACR separates the pads from the disc using a spring system and quickly centres the caliper at the same time, minimising pad wear and brake drag, and cutting fuel consumption, says Knorr-Bremse.
Present, too, was the company’s NexTT single-piston disc brake for trailers. Delivering up to 20kNm of braking torque, and offering a 3kg-plus weight saving compared with the previous model, it has a new pad guidance system. That should make changing pads in the workshop easier, Knorr-Bremse contends.
NexTT can be combined with iTEBS X, a new electronic trailer braking platform which combines an ECU, sensor technology and a pneumatic brake control system in a single assembly together with ABS and load-dependent braking.
Other products Knorr-Bremse was discussing included a rotary vane compressor with a new e-motor for electric commercial vehicles with low to medium air requirements.
MANN+HUMMEL was highlighting the virtues of a variety of filtration and related products designed to ensure that hydrogen fuel cells work efficiently.
Airborne particles and gases such as NOx can damage the fuel cell stack, so it has developed a filter to protect it against such contaminants. It removes them from the air intake. It has also come up with a particle filter for the fuel cell’s coolant circuit. Particles can block narrow channels in the circuit and cause the coolant pump to wear out more quickly.
Available from Mann & Hummel too is a humidifier designed to prevent the fuel cell’s membranes from drying out. It does so by transferring water vapour from the exhaust air to the intake air.
Unfortunately, airborne water droplets and a water wall film generated by the humidifier can lead to the stack flooding. Mann & Hummel can supply a water separator which should prevent this from happening.
Worried that your fuel cell might be a bit noisy? Never fear – the company also lists a silencer which should dampen the intake noise caused by the compressor as well as any noise from the stack and the humidifier.
PALFINGER was extolling the virtues of its redesigned PK 1350 TEC truck-mounted loader crane. With a maximum manual outreach of 38.7m, including a fly jib, and a maximum lifting moment of 109.3 tonne/metre, it can hoist up to 30 tonnes.
New was the HT 20 TEC hookloader. It features an in-cab monitoring and control system with an interactive display and three cameras so the driver can keep tabs on how the hookloader and any auxiliary functions are operating, which should lead to better safety.
BPW was talking about how trailer running gear can be made more intelligent through the use of its iC Plus package in conjunction with its Cargofleet 3 telematics platform. Embracing AI as well as telematics, the advantages of this approach include more effective brake performance analysis and maintenance management says the company.
Included is what BPW describes as an intelligent algorithm which provides information about braking behaviour, plus sensors which monitor when brake pads are approaching their wear limits. It can be used to manage drum brakes as well. Included, too, is tyre pressure monitoring, with a refill system which can top up the air if the pressure starts to fall. The weight shouldered by each axle is monitored in a bid to prevent overloading.
TYRE technology was also in abundance and IAA played host to many new truck tyre launches. Among those was Michelin with X Line Energy 3 and X Multi Energy 2.
Designed for steer and drive axles, the former is Michelin’s first 60 series long-haul tyre to win an A-rating for fuel efficiency, with substantial annual savings promised as a consequence. It is being produced in 315/60 R22.5 and 295/60 R22.5 sizes.
Its stablemate – for regional drive and steer applications – will also deliver fuel cuts, said the manufacturer, and can be specified as either a 315/70 R22.5 or a 315/80 R 22.5.
Continental was presenting its Conti EfficientPro 5. Rolling resistance has been reduced by 10% compared with its predecessor, it stated. In steer-axle guise it is the first long-haul 315/70 fitting to allow an 8.5-tonne axle loading, Continental says, which makes it useful for electric trucks.
Also promoted was the Conti EcoPlus HT3+, which is intended for semi-trailers with electric axles designed to harvest energy that would otherwise be dissipated. Tyre load capacity has been boosted by 500kg per axle to offset the extra weight imposed by the regeneration system’s battery.
Continental further introduced the Conti Urban NXT with electric city buses especially in mind.
Goodyear unveiled its Eqmax and Eqmax Ultra truck tyres, which it says are made from up to 55% sustainable material. They deliver up to 6% better rolling resistance and up to 20% better mileage compared with predecessors.
Prometeon’s new offering for coaches is the first with an A fuel efficiency rating. CO2 Coach Multiaxle and CO2 Coach Drive are both 295/80 R22.5.
