Issue No. 27
Autumn/Winter 2013
Magazine
Innovative Vehicle Solutions
T h e C u s t o m e r M A G A Z I N e o f H A L D E X EURO P E
ModulT Repair couldn’t be easier
Trailer OEM Wielton S.A. in Poland
NTK Transport always on the move
Air pre-treatment Consep in dump trucks
Soft Docking Soft Docking ns 2013
Solutra
ts
Highligh
The Next Generation www.haldex.com
Editorial
There's something in the air
I
t’s everywhere but you still can't see it. That’s what’s special about air. For chemists, air is easy to describe – simply a mixture of gases. But if you add discharge from a compressor air can be hazardous. Haldex Magazine uses dump trucks at work at a prominent construction site for the new European rail connection between Paris and Hungary via Munich to illustrate how the Consep air pretreatment system can work wonders in critical situations. Looking eastward, there are always new things to discover. Through creative thinking and lots of hard work, Wielton S.A., a trailer manufacturer in Poland, has transformed itself into a major player from almost nothing.
This issue of Haldex Magazine looks at the unusual strategy Wielton S.A. is pursuing all the way to Russia. In addition, we present the diverse activities of the Bremerhaven transport company NTK whose operations also extend well into eastern Europe. In southern Europe, focus is on the Solutrans exhibition, which takes place this autumn. Haldex innovations range from the next generation of Soft Docking ramp approach assistance to EB+ Load Transfer, which automatically optimises axle loads, and the ModulT brake, which is especially easy to service. For more information, open this issue of Haldex Magazine. Or why not visit us at the Haldex stand (No. 123 in Hall 5) at Solutrans in Lyon? We look forward to talking with you. And we hope you enjoy this issue of Haldex Magazine.
Andreas Richter Senior Vice President Europe & ROW Sales
Contents
03 Current Interest 04 NTK from Bremerhaven 06 Product Offensive News and dates Containers and more Lots of product news 10 Air Treatment 12 Wielton 14 ModulT Service 16 Star Client Consep Young brand, It couldn‘t be Haldex man for to the rescue extensive programme easier Daimler
Editorial information Haldex Magazine No. 27, Autumn/Winter 2013 PUBLISHER: Haldex Europe S.A.S., 30 rue du Ried, Weyersheim, 67728 Hoerdt Cedex, France, info.eur@haldex.com, www.haldex.com RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PUBLISHER: Diana Spieler EDITORIAL SERVICES: Pressebüro Michael Kern, Gassenäckerstr. 5, 70736 Fellbach, Germany LAYOUT: Frank Majer PRINTER: Kehler Druck GmbH & Co. KG, Weststr. 26, 77694 Kehl, Deutschland PHOTOS: Archiv Haldex, H.Essers, Kern, MAN, NTK, Volvo COPYRIGHT: No part of the publication may be reproduced without the prior written permission of the publisher. FREE SUBSCRIPTION/ADDRESS CHANGE: info.eur@haldex.com or the postal address of the publisher. PRINT: 12,500 copies. LANGUAGES: English, German and French.
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Current Interest EU Directives
Biofuel
New dimensions and weights
Reduced percentage
Is the bonnet experiencing a renaissance? The EU, at least, is seriously discussing revision of applicable dimensions and weights for trucks and buses. Brussels is pursuing three goals: increased road safety, improved vehicle utilisation and reduced environmental impact (primarily from CO2). For better overall fuel efficiency, total vehicle length is being discussed, which could facilitate the use of slightly longer but aerodynamically optimised short-bonnet cabs with better crash performance as well as short wing-like extensions at the back of the trailer, which significantly improve vehicle air flow. The EU is considering a one tonne increase in load for electric and hybrid vehicles, which may compensate for payload deficiencies due to construction. Trucks with 45-foot containers will receive 15 additional centimetres of length, which is currently missing in easy freight transport. Because the average weight of bus and passengers has increased since the current directive was passed in 1996, the EU wants to grant buses a general one tonne increase in total authorised weight.
The European Parliament has reduced the proportion of biofuel allowed in fuel: by 2020, fuel can be comprised of six instead of ten percent biofuel. The change is due to current EU calculations that show that the climatic effect of plantbased fuel is worse than that of conventional fuel derived from crude oil.
Safety
Dentressangle counts on Soft Docking Less damage and increased safety for vehicles: These are the aims of the Norbert Dentressangle transport company whose six-figure investment in the Hal-
dex Soft Docking ramp approach aid promises the company a significant reduction in repair costs. The investment is expected to be amortised within twelve months.
Aftermarket
All inclusive Haldex has published a new version of its extensive catalogue for the European aftermarket. Sorted clearly by product group, the entire range of Haldex replacement parts is presented in approximately 240 pages. Easy-to-understand explanations of each group and full technical details help users identify the desired item. Products range from brake adjusters and actuators to air suspension and lift axles to air treatment and air disc brakes: the new edition of the comprehensive Haldex catalogue leaves nothing to be desired. The catalogue can be downloaded at www.haldex.com/findex. For a hard copy of the catalogue, please contact your Haldex sales representative.
Fleets
Essers chooses EB+
Global market
OECD: Outlook positive Exhaust gas standards
Euro 5 in China Effective 1 January 2018, Euro 5 will be compulsory for light commercial vehicles in China. Introduction of the exhaust gas standard has been delayed due to insufficient fuel of necessary quality. China intends to reduce the sulphur content of petrol and diesel to 10 ppm by this time.
The truck industry is poised for long-term growth. The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) estimates an increase in global transport volume from 4.8 billion to approximately 6 billion tonne-kilometres between 2012 and 2020. The number of medium-weight and heavy trucks sold is likely to increase from 2.5 million at present to approximately 3.7 million units by the end of the decade.
The Belgian transport company H. Essers is ordering all its new trailers from LAG/ Van Hool – with EB+ from Haldex as standard equipment. ‘Our focus is reliability’, explains site manager Lambert Lenaerts. H. Essers, with more than 2,600 trailers, ranks among the big fleets in Europe. The company has just opened a new logistic centre in Romania’s capital, Bucharest.
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Transport
The secret is the Mix!
Family ties Founded 30 years ago, ABG Autohof is experiencing a generational shift. Patriarch Wilhelm Prott is slowly pulling back from day-to-day operations as his son, Christian, takes on a growing role. Christian is assisted by his younger brother, Sebastian, who has been with the company for six years and is in charge of scheduling.
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Versatility is everything for NTK in Bremerhaven in northern Germany. With its initial success in containers, the company today operates numerous lines of business.
F
or Christian Prott, growth of the family business is a highly personal matter. The family’s pursuit of indepen-dence was reflected even in the choice of company name: NTK, which is part of the Prott Group, stands for ‘Neutrales Transport Kontor GmbH’, or Neutral Transport Company.
Founder Wilhelm Prott did not want close ties with the powerful shipping lines that operated in the port or with any other major players in the transport industry. And in 1983, the year of Christian Prott’s birth, ABG Autohof GmbH & Co. KG was founded to complement the technical side of the family business.
Transport
To this day, NTK has preserved this independence and division of labour without undue reliance on its core expertise in container traffic. ‘This market’, says business economist Christian Prott, ‘is highly competitive and characterised by cut-throat competition’. That NTK can still assert itself in this difficult environment with its own fleet of about 120 towing and 250 towed units is due mainly to two things: ‘A lot of experience and long-term relationships’, according to Christian Prott. And, he continues, systematic cost savings and the company’s versatile service package played a large role in making NTK an ‘all-round container transport operator’ through the years. ABG Autohof GmbH & Co. KG owns not only a service area that offers restaurant and hotel amenities, but also a workshop, a leasing company and even three truck agencies. Volvo, Iveco and Renault are the agency brands, their emblems visible in front of the premises. Business owners can get a complete package here, from hire to insurance and charter. Industrial gas sales complement the mix.
Autohof has worked closely with Haldex for many years, and when it comes to its own vehicle fleet, it relies on components such as EB+, TrCM+ Safe Parking, Info Center and Soft Docking. The container business has to contend with frequent trailer changes, and Christian Prott knows the associated risks only too well: ‘Visions of semi-trailers rolling away or especially of towing vehicle air tanks punctured by kingpins are no longer an issue’, he says, thanks to Safe Parking. ‘No news is good news’, Prott explains,
The container business is the historic backbone of NTK.
as he describes the calming effect Haldex equipment and service have on him. ‘Excellent cooperation’ is how he sums up Haldex sales engineer Oliver Struck, who is always available for advice and ready to lend a helping hand if questions arise or adjustments are needed. NTK has been diversifying its transport business since the economic crisis. As one of the new large centres for transshipment of wind turbines, Bremerhaven presented opportunities for this type of special transport, and NTK leapt at the chance to become involved. This heavy transport is now its own unit. Tarp trailer and refrigerated transport are other business areas where the company has stepped up activity since the economic crisis. Disposal and recycling have been part of NTK’s product offering for more than
The Prott Group’s workshop handles trucks and trailers and, for good reason, is also a certified Haldex service centre. ABG
The NTK fleet with 120 towing units is state-of-the-art. Christian Prott and Haldex sales engineer Oliver Struck (left to right): ‘Excellent cooperation’.
10 years. Yet container transport, over a remarkable radius, remains the backbone of NTK activities. NTK has branches from Holland to Poland. For an NTK-owned vehicle, the radius is usually limited to approximately 300-400 kilometres (180–250 miles). NTK uses railways, a more favourable option, for longer distances, But for journeys to eastern Europe in particular, which the Bremerhaven-based company often undertakes through subcontractors, there is almost no limit. Journeys to Ukraine, for example, are part of the company’s daily operations. It makes these journeys from the North Sea coast to the very eastern edge of Europe, right up to the Urals.
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New products
Would you like a little more? Strong customer benefits: New products from Haldex range from the amazingly simple dirt blocker for palm couplings to intelligent axle load management solutions. The products debut at Solutrans in Lyon.
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New products
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New products
S
mall cause, large effect: The pneumatic palm couplings of an uncoupled trailer are usually left open, even though they can be capped. This allows dust to enter the coupling. Insects, too, cannot resist such a seemingly secure space. This is what happens: Pneumatic functioning may be hindered by such impurities, which have no place in the pneumatic system. The patented Protect-O palm coupling by Haldex solves this problem. As simple as it is effective, the system automatically closes the opening to the palm coupling as soon as the air hose is disconnected.
blind spots at the rear of a vehicle. The new Electronic Control Unit (ECU), which is CAN-Bus compatible, can communicate directly with EB+. It is more compact than ever and completely enclosed in new, highquality plastic. Because temperature affects ultrasonic sensors, the new generation of Soft Docking also records outdoor temperatures. The first advantage: Optimum functionality is ensured. The second advantage: Soft Docking and CAN-Bus compatibility means all trailer electronics, such as the Haldex TPMS tyre pressure monitoring
This is made possible by a sophisticated rubber diaphragm. When the connection between tractor and trailer is broken and pressure is released, the diaphragm automatically seals the opening. It retracts just as quickly when the system is repressurised. Soft Docking ramp approach assistance has now been on the market for almost half a decade. Is it any wonder that it’s already time to celebrate the premiere of its next generation? Extended functionality, greater precision and a wide range of variants are the hallmarks of EB+ Soft Docking. The system is designed to eliminate
Protect-O closes the bulkhead as soon as the air hose is disconnected.
system, can utilise recorded temperature data. EB+ Soft Docking also offers more latitude when installing sensors, such as placement of sensors in recessed positions to prevent damage from truck cargo. The
EB+ Soft Docking can work with a variety of sensors.
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New products
Colas raise/lower ®
valves: market leader in Western Europe.
Creating Value
Intelligent axle load management: EB+ Load Transfer ensures optimum axle loads.
sensors can be calibrated for their exact location. This is especially beneficial for vehicles carrying bulk cargo. Faster and more accurate: This is what the new ILAS®-E+ lift axle valve is all about. Larger cross sections, which optimise flow conditions, are the lynchpin of this much faster response. Product housing: die-casting has replaced aluminium block. The housing design requires only one screw for installation, even when two lift axles are used. The fit prevents the valves from twisting. ILAS®-E+ gives customers maximum flexibility. A total of seven ports are available. Additional valves can be connected directly to the ILAS®-E+ lift axle valve instead of through complicated end ports or T-connectors. Haldex also uses the lift axle for intelligent axle load management. The problem: Axle load distribution often shifts when the trailer is partially unloaded, to the detriment of the drive axle – especially if the remaining load is concentrated at the front of the semi-trailer. Permissible axle load is quickly exceeded. The solution: EB+ Load Transfer
by Haldex. With EB+ Load Transfer, the EB+ electronic brake system, air suspension and lift axle valve interact to balance the vehicle’s axle loads for maximum effectiveness. As soon as the ignition is started and EB+ supplied with power, the following happens: EB+ analyses the axle weights. It then calculates the height of axle load reserves for the first and second trailer axles. Finally, EB+ Load Transfer automatically relieves pressure on the last trailer axle by redistributing the pressure to the first two trailer axles within permitted limits. Unlike traditional lift axles whose thresholds are defined, EB+ Load Transfer can adjust axle loads for given conditions. When EB+ Load Transfer is engaged, the centre of gravity is moved forward slightly. This shortens the theoretical wheelbase, which reduces pressure on the semi-trailer tractor’s drive axle. But it is not just the drive axle that benefits. Reduced pressure on the last trailer axle improves tractor-trailer cornering as a whole, which also reduces tyre wear, especially on the third trailer axle. The vehicle’s overall rolling resistance is also better.
Intelligent solutions that create added value: This is the competitive edge that Haldex was quick to identify and put into practice. ‘Creating Value’ is the theme of the Haldex stand at Solutrans in Lyon.ModulT air disc brakes are available in 22.5 and 19.5-inch versions. Customers benefit from a lightweight brake that is extremely maintenance-friendly. The Haldex electronic brake system EB+ Gen3 allows many connections. This is exactly what is needed to accommodate an ever-increasing number of electronically controlled trailer systems. Other features include extensive additional functions and new, extremely sturdy ECU housing. The raise/lower COLAS®+ valve has a number of noteworthy features. In addition to the deadman function, the COLAS®+ valve offers RoRo positioning and automatic Reset to Ride if the driver forgets to switch the valve back to the drive position. Reset to Ride, which is controlled by the EB+ system, prevents damage to the vehicle body and wheel suspension. TEM® Safe Parking Single makes handling of uncoupled trailers almost foolproof. The park and shunt valve prohibits deactivation of the parking brake and thereby prevents all associated risks. The Haldex TPMS tyre pressure monitoring system offers considerable potential savings and increased traffic safety. The system monitors not only tyre pressure but also tyre temperature.
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Air treatment
Dry is good What do you do when condensation affects the pneumatic system of the truck? CIS turned to Consep air pre-treatment.
I
t isn’t every construction site that gets a visit from the German minister of transport. But the soon-to-be railway line between Stuttgart and Ulm is no ordinary project. It is part of the new European high-speed route from Paris to Hungary via Munich. One of the biggest challenges of the project is tunnel construction on the ‘Albaufstieg’ section between Stuttgart and Ulm, where southern Germany’s low mountain range abruptly meets lowland. Too abruptly for standard track. That’s why the route must descend 450 metres through 30 kilometres of tunnel to reach the plateau.
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Summer 2013, a Friday in July: The German minister of transport officially and personally launches tunnel construction before a large crowd. There’s no work this day. Even the black-cab dump trucks of Construction & International Service GmbH (CIS) are forced to stop, but their drivers and CIS workshop agent Michael Oertel use the time to whip everything behind the scenes into shape: changing a tyre here, adding a reversing camera there — and look forward to the coming weekend. The dump trucks under Michael Oertel’s purview are just as special as the construction site in southern Germany. But they had a ‘dirty’ little
Air treatment
Michael Oertel Workshop representative
‘Consep saved us’. secret. ‘In this truck series, we had huge problems with condensed water leaking into the pneumatic system’. Such was the CIS man’s description of the problem. Its cause was, and still is, a mystery. Experts are baffled to this day. The problems were massive: water sloshed into the pneumatic valve, moisture put the clutch servo out of action
and, in winter, the solenoids on the power take-off froze and the emergency brake occasionally gave out. All of this led to unwelcome downtime and also forced unscheduled part replacement, which, in some cases, was very expensive: ‘A new clutch servo alone costs EUR 900’, says Michael Oertel. But all is well again in Michael Oertel’s world of trucks thanks to a regional exhibition where Michael Oertel learned about Consep air pre-treatment from Haldex. Dietmar Psille, a Haldex sales engineer, not only explained the system but quickly installed it in one of the dump trucks plagued by the water problem: ‘It worked really well’, recalls Michael Oertel, who didn’t take long to make up his mind. Today, all of the affected dump trucks have been equipped with Haldex Consep. Now when the wheels of one of Michael Oertel’s dump trucks stop unexpectedly, the cause is something else: force majeure in the guise of a top-level political guest, for example. In any case, since the installation of Consep, breakdowns due to pneumatic issues are a thing of the past.
Nothing but air Every compressed air system needs an air compressor. But this process also creates two evils that pneumatic systems can’t tolerate: water and oil. When air is compressed, some of the moisture in it is unavoidably released as water during the compression process. Oil, in turn, is used to lubricate compressor pistons, so it also sneaks into compressed air as a stowaway. The air drier keeps harmful substances out of the pneumatic system. An air drier equipped with a Haldex Multi-Treatment Cartridge (MTC) prohibits oil, water and other harmful substances from entering the system. In the MTC, five filters successively clean the air before it reaches the brake system. And thanks to regular air regeneration, vehicle downtime is exemplary. Consep air pre-treatment is recommended for particularly strong air flow: for example, buses, waste collection trucks or swap-body trucks. Utilising a cyclone filter, Consep removes up to 90 percent of all impurities and harmful substances from the compressed air and eliminates them through a valve. The system is installed between the compressor and the air drier.
Consep is available in two versions. The pneumatic version is especially quick and easy to install. The electronically controlled version is strategically-oriented with particularly economical compressed air use. An overview in poster form of air treatment products from Haldex is attached. Additional posters can be requested at info.eur@haldex.com (please indicate language preference – English, French or German).
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Manufacturer
A COUPLE OF live wires In just a few years, Polish trailer manufacturer Wielton S.A. has grown considerably. Behind this success lies a very special story.
+
P
eople need ideas, and improvisation was hugely important during Poland’s transition from a planned to a market economy. In the case of Wielton S.A., the ability to ‘think on its feet’ helped it become the largest trailer manufacturer in the country today. Let’s go back to the year 1991. Just two years prior, the communist cadre in Poland had abdicated. Means of transport were scarce while demand was growing rapidly. Founding partners Ryszard Prozner and Krzysztof Tylkowski from the town of
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Wielun in southern Poland came up with an ingenious idea for a venture in recycling. Why not, they thought, get discarded 12-metre semi-trailers from the West and soup them up in a local garage to the longer dimensions allowed by new legislation? No sooner said than done. The speculative business succeeded so well that after a few years, the garage had become a factory for new trailer production. Given its history, it’s really not surprising that the company’s brand name and its logo are also somewhat unusual. Wielton
Andrzej Szczepek CEO
‘Speed and flexibility’.
Manufacturer
references the city of Wielun, the company’s headquarters; but it is also a play on the Polish words for ‘many tons’ and the Polish word for camel. And so this desert animal’s distinctive shape has served as the logo for the trailers from Wielun since the Wielton brand was founded in 1996. Management board chair Andrzej Szczepek still maintains that ‘creativity and expertise’ are the cornerstones of the company’s success. With production of almost 7,000 units in 2012 and about 1,200 employees, Wielton S.A. is a major player in Europe. Nevertheless, the company’s production output is extremely flexible. ‘Custom solutions comprise 40 percent of our production’, says Andrzej Szczepek as he comments on the degree of customisation. Wielton S.A. produced almost 7,000 units in 2012.
With this in mind, the range of products offered by the company is remarkable. Semitrailers range from dump truck bodies in every conceivable variation to various platform semi-trailers and box trucks to drop-deck solutions and container chassis. Wielton S.A. also makes centre-axle and drawbar trailers. In terms of superstructures, the company makes mainly dump bodies although agricultural trailers have also comprised part of the range for some time now.In response to the economic crisis, Wielton S.A. created the ‘Argo’ line. Another response was ‘even more customisation and ge-
Safety first: TEM® Safe Parking complements Wielton semi-trailers perfectly.
ographic diversification’. That is how Andrzej Szczepek describes the company’s current direction, which goes hand-inhand with close cooperation with Haldex. EB+, TEM® Safe Parking, Soft Docking and COLAS®+ are products in the spotlight. Individual solutions – as Wielton S.A. conceives them – also involve servicing of individual components. ‘Technical support from Haldex is quick and extremely professional’, says Andrzej Szczepek as he praises support service provided by sales manager Dariusz Miksa.
Wielton S.A. milestones 1996: Brand founded 2000: ISO 9001 certification 2003: Started automated production 2006: Recapitalised, new majority inves- tors. Subsidiaries established in Russia and Ukraine 2007: Listed on stock exchange 2008: Warehouse, paint shop and pro- duction lines automated 2012: Assembly plant opened in Russia. Subsidiary founded in Belarus
For Wielton S.A., flexibility is important but speed equally so. ‘More than ever, our strength is the implementation of new concepts in the shortest amount of time’, says Andrzej Szczepek. This is why the company has recently undertaken several far-reaching changes in its business development. The export ratio increased quickly from 30 percent to 70 percent after the economic crisis with exports geared not towards the West but the East. ‘That is where the better margins are’, says Andrzej Szczepek, describing the reason for this radical change in direction.
Wielton S.A.'s eastern export radius extends from the Baltic states to Russia, down to Kazakhstan and into Turkmenistan. This is where success lies. The product mix has also changed, with dump trucks playing a much bigger role. And last but not least, Wielton S.A., listed on the Warsaw stock exchange since 2007, has been working extensively on its company structure. New processes have led to ‘30 percent higher productivity’, says CEO Andrzej Szczepek. The advantage of all this is that Wielton S.A. has always kept rough roads and working conditions in the East in mind when designing vehicles, and has thus built solid equipment. Frames, for example, are welded rather than riveted, and are constructed of high-strength S700 steel. Russia imports more dump trucks from Wielton S.A. than from any other company, and Wielton S.A. has now opened its own assembly plant there. The Russian plants of large manufacturers Scania, Volvo and Renault will soon deliver their dump trucks upon request ex-works with dump bodies made by Wielton S.A. From garage shop to original equipment manufacturer in only two decades – this is a big shift that still requires lots of work to achieve as Wielton S.A. moves from quasilocal company to international firm with the same high standards as Scania, Volvo and other large corporations. ‘That will be a difficult balancing act’, says Andrzej Szczepek as he describes Wielton S.A.’s next step: ‘To custom-build the company for this specific purpose yet maintain high levels of flexibility’.
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Brake service
Child's play
Changing pads on the Haldex ModulT disc brake is an extremely easy task - as are many others! A damaged or worn-out brake calliper, or even the slide function, can be replaced quickly and with minimal time and effort in any workshop. Haldex Magazine describes the process step by step.
1 Fasten the calliper securely in a vice with soft jaws. Use a small hammer and chisel to remove the leading and trailing protective cups (protective cups are not to be re-used).
2
Using a long drive 14 mm Insex (part no. 95233), remove the two bolts (the bolts are not to be re-used).
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Brake service
3
4
Remove the carrier from the calliper by gently rocking the carrier to release it from the slide pins and bellows.
If replacing the slide function: pull out the old slide bushings, clean the calliper and pull in the new slide bushings. Fit the new slide pins and bellows. Load the carrier, fit and correctly torque tighten the slide pin bolts. Tap in place the slide function protection cups. The brake can now be remounted to the axle.
4.1
4.2
4.3
4.4
5
If replacing the calliper follow the same procedure as for the slide bushings but new spare parts are fitted (kit part no. 95620C/95621C). Clean and refit the original carrier.
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People at Haldex Publisher: Haldex Europe S.A.S. Weyersheim, France
Austria Haldex Wien Ges.m.b.H. Vienna Tel.: +43 1 8 69 27 97 Fax: +43 1 8 69 27 97 27 E-Mail: info.at@haldex.com
Korea Haldex Korea Ltd. Seoul Tel.: +82 2 2636 7545 Fax: +82 2 2636 7548 E-Mail: info.hkr@haldex.com
Belgium Haldex N.V. Balegem Tel.: +32 9 363 90 00 Fax: +32 9 363 90 09 E-Mail: info.be@haldex.com
Mexico Haldex de Mexico S.A. De C.V. Monterrey Tel.: +52 81 8156 9500 Fax: +52 81 8313 7090
Brazil Haldex do Brasil Ind. E Com. Ltda São José dos Campos Tel.: +55 12 3935 4000 Fax: +55 12 3935 4018 E-Mail: info.brasil@haldex.com
Horst Riethmüller is the Haldex man for Daimler. He learned his trade from the ground up.
W
hen Horst Riethmüller pedals hard from his home on the edge of the Black Forest, two typical characteristics come to mind. One, he is a down-to-earth southern German. Two, he likes to look beyond the horizon. Thus he was in contact with a Scandinavian company at an early stage of his career. When Scania set its course for Europe in the seventies, Horst was a mechanic at one of the company’s facilities near Stuttgart. He soon enhanced his qualifications and climbed the job ladder until he was in charge of the workshop. Today, after 30 years at Haldex and 15 years as Key Account Manager for Daimler, the passionate cyclist, who also plays football in his spare time, reflects: ‘This year, I’m celebrating two anniversaries at once’. In 1983, Horst Riethmüller left Scania and Horst Riethmüller knows the commercial vehicle business inside out.
moved to Haldex’ predecessor SAB. In the beginning, he was a jack-of-all-trades and made use of his all-round talent. He supported large forwarding companies such as Willy Betz and Dachser as well as axle and trailer manufacturers and, not least, major groups such as former Daimler-Benz AG. Used in buses since the sixties, the automatic brake adjuster really became established in heavy-duty trucks in the eighties. Slowly but surely, it gained recognition even in relation to towed units. ‘There was a lot of persuading to do here’, recalls Horst Riethmüller. In the meantime, the Key Account Manager has focused on major client Daimler for 15 years. The automatic brake adjuster still plays an important role in this, for example, for construction vehicles; yet the portfolio has expanded to include a number of components: ‘the air pre-treatment Consep, brake cylinders, clutch servo and special valves, as well as the new intelligent air management system ModulAir’, lists Horst Riethmüller as the range stands today. This is a particularly impressive and balanced mix. In his typically concise way, the Haldex man for Daimler sums up the approach behind this achievement in two sentences: ‘You need to build and maintain trust’, he says. He adds: ‘Having diesel in your blood is just as important’.
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China Haldex Vehicle Products Co. Ltd. Suzhou Tel.: +86 512 8885 5301 Fax: +86 512 8765 6066 E-Mail: info.cn@haldex.com France Haldex Europe SAS Weyersheim Tel.: +33 3 88 68 22 00 Fax: +33 3 88 68 22 09 E-Mail: info.eur@haldex.com Germany Haldex Brake Products GmbH Heidelberg Tel.: +49 6221 7030 Fax: +49 6221 703400 E-Mail: info.de@haldex.com Hungary Haldex Hungary Kft. Szentlörinckáta Tel.: +36 29 631 300 Fax: +36 29 631 301 E-Mail: info.hu.eu@haldex.com India Haldex India Limited Nashik Tel.: +91 253 6699501 Fax: +91 253 2380729
Russia OOO Haldex RUS Moscow Tel.: +7 495 747 59 56 Fax: +7 495 786 39 70 E-Mail: info.ru@haldex.com Spain Haldex España S.A. Granollers Tel.: +34 93 84 07 239 Fax: +34 93 84 91 218 E-Mail: info.es@haldex.com Sweden Haldex Brake Products AB Landskrona Tel.: +46 418 47 60 00 Fax: +46 418 47 60 01 E-Mail: info.se@haldex.com United Kingdom Haldex Ltd. Newton Aycliffe Tel.: +44 1325 310 110 Fax: +44 1325 311 834 E-Mail: info.gbay@haldex.com Haldex Brake Products Ltd. Redditch Tel.: +44 1527 499 499 Fax: +44 1527 499 500 E-Mail: info.gbre@haldex.com USA Haldex Brake Products Corp. Kansas City Tel.: +1 816 891 2470 Fax: +1 816 891 9447 E-Mail: info.us@haldex.com info.us@haldex.com
Italy Haldex Italia Srl. Biassono Tel.: +39 039 47 17 02 Fax: +39 039 27 54 309 E-Mail: info.it@haldex.com
Haldex develops and provides reliable and innovative solutions with focus on brake and air suspension products to the global commercial vehicle industry. Listed on the Stockholm Stock Exchange, Haldex has annual sales of 3.9 billion SEK and employs 2,200 people.
www.haldex.com
MAG27_DE/11.2013/ Weyersheim
Diesel in his blood
Canada Haldex Ltd. Cambridge, Ontario Tel.: +1 519 621 6722 Fax: +1 519 621 3924 E-Mail: info.ca@haldex.com
Poland Haldex Sp. z.o.o. Praszka Tel.: +48 34 350 11 00 Fax: +48 34 350 11 11 E-Mail: info.pl@haldex.com