SAF-HOLLAND S.A. SAF-HOLLAND wins a pioneering order for disc brake technology in North America
SAF-HOLLAND wins a pioneering order for disc brake technology in North America
Luxembourg, July 19, 2016 - SAF-HOLLAND received a trendsetting contract in the US market from U.S. Xpress for complete axle and suspension systems equipped with the latest generation of disk brakes.
U.S. Xpress, one of the largest US truckload carriers, for the first time has decided to equip around 1,800 of its newly purchased trailers with disc brakes using SAF-HOLLAND's P89 disc brake technology. This is the first time U.S. Xpress has decided in favor of the advantages offered by disc brake technology - an area SAF-HOLLAND has pioneered in Europe for years and for which it has extensive expertise - also signaling a change from the wide use of drum brakes in the US market to disc brakes.
This generation of SAF-HOLLAND disc brakes, introduced in the North American market in June 2016, not only offers significantly better brake performance but also high running performance, ease of maintenance, and a longer life for a lower total cost of ownership for end customers. Whereas the large majority of trailers in Europe are already equipped with disc brakes offering superior performance over drum brakes, the share of disc brakes in the US market has ranged at around 10%. These new, more cost-efficient solutions, combined with the weight advantages offered by disc brake technology, are receiving increasing attention in North America from the major fleet operators. Groundbreaking concepts such as platooning should also support demand for disc brake technology, which allows shorter braking distances.
"By using disc brake technology in our axle systems, we can significantly expand our "value sold in" a vehicle and at the same time reduce the vehicle's weight and operating costs. As a pioneer in this technology in Europe, we since 1998 possess the know-how and experience in this segment to meet the high-quality and safety demands also of our North American customers. We see significant opportunities for added sales in this structurally growing segment in the important US market in the years ahead," CEO Detlef Borghardt is convinced.