Dana Holding Corporation exhibited a comprehensive line-up of advanced technologies specifically engineered to help fleets get more pay out of their loads through better performance, increased fuel economy, and improved durability. It presented a wide range of innovations, including a new global family of single-reduction drive axles for vehicles with gross combination weight ratings of 32 to 41 tonnes, the Spicer Compact Plus Series driveshaft for trucks from eight to 60 tonnes, new Long brand exhaust gas heat recovery (EGHR) technology, which helps vehicle manufacturers improve fuel economy by up to three per cent, and numerous innovations for the light-commercial vehicle segment.
“Global fleets have a relentless focus on improving the performance of their fleets through improved fuel economy, lower vehicle weight, and reduced maintenance requirements,” said Pat D’Eramo, President of Dana Commercial Vehicle Driveline Technologies. “Propelled by 15 technical centers around the world dedicated to establishing new benchmarks in efficiency and productivity, Dana offers a comprehensive range of innovations throughout the truck designed to help fleet owners achieve these goals.”
New single-reduction drive axles
Dana will introduce a new global family of single-reduction drive axles with the company’s leading technologies to serve multiple popular truck and bus configurations. These axles will be engineered on a flexible platform that supports production in North America, Western Europe, and emerging markets. This customizable family of axles leverages Dana’s industry-leading AdvanTEK technology, a common head-assembly architecture, and other proven Spicer axle technologies to reduce weight, improve efficiency, and enhance durability.
This series of global axles for vehicles with gross combination weight ratings of 32 to 41 tonnes will meet accelerating demand for the most popular axle segment in the world. The global axle family will be locally sourced and manufactured to meet market needs and decrease time to market.
Designed for trucks from eight to 60 tonnes, the Spicer Compact Plus Series driveshaft will help commercial vehicles meet increasingly stringent global environmental regulations through engineering advancements that reduce weight and increase the life of the driveshaft. The driveshaft will weigh 10 per cent less than competing driveshafts, contributing to better overall vehicle fuel economy. Through a new innovative sealing design and improved bearing life, this pioneering driveshaft is designed to last 25 per cent longer than traditional driveshafts, significantly decreasing total ownership costs over the life of the vehicle.
Engineered to meet global market requirements, this line of driveshafts will be initially targeted for the European market.
Long EGHR technology
By helping vehicle manufacturers improve fuel economy by up to three per cent and reduce emissions, Long brand exhaust gas heat recovery (EGHR) technology enables customers to reduce friction in the engine, transmission and axle by redirecting exhaust heat to rapidly warm powertrain fluids during cold start and ramp-up.
Dana’s EGHR solution is more compact and up to 50 per cent lighter than competing devices, enabling it to be installed immediately downstream of the catalyst to capture the gas at a higher temperature. When coupled with Dana’s Long active warm-up units, the system is able to significantly reduce the time it takes to achieve optimum operating temperatures in the powertrain.
At IAA, Dana showcased its line-up of technology for the light commercial vehicle segment, including Spicer AdvanTEK axles, Spicer Life Series (SPL) driveshafts, and Spicer constant velocity joints (CVJ).
Dana’s latest AdvanTEK axle designs combine fuel-efficient bearings, expertly designed gears, and refined manufacturing processes to deliver best-in-class power density; efficiency; and noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH) performance in a smaller package. The featured axle models are ideal for trucks with a gross axle weight rating (GAWR) between 3,200 and 7,200 kg (7,000 to 16,000 lb.) and can be customized to meet the demands of specific vehicle applications.
Dana’s powerful and efficient axles can be coupled with its SPL driveshafts, which are capable of handling torque capacities ranging from 700 to 7200 Nm. These driveshafts are designed to meet the needs of new, low-emission, high-efficiency light-commercial vehicles and are precision balanced for reduced NVH.
The company also displayed its innovative Spicer CVJs, which utilize Rzeppa angular contact designs for high-speed driveshafts, capable of operating at high angles and at torques up to 6,000 Nm in light-commercial vehicle, pick-up truck, sport-utility vehicle, and van applications.
Spicer optimized tire pressure system
The first internal axle system of its kind for powered commercial vehicles, the Spicer optimized tire pressure system, has been engineered to automatically maintain proper inflation for drive and steer axles, significantly increasing vehicle fuel efficiency and reducing maintenance. This system can improve fuel economy by up to one per cent through periodic checks that ensure each tire is properly inflated to a pressure equalized with the other tires on the tractor.
Fleets can save approximately EUR 1,240 ($1,600) per truck every year when improvements in fuel economy are coupled with the savings that result from avoiding catastrophic tire events.