At the IAA show in Hanover, BPW exhibits weight-optimised air suspension modules which promise more economic efficiency in transport.
Weight-optimised running gears increase the benefits for customers directly: higher payloads in the trailers. In addition, fuel is saved, for example with partial loads, and the road surface is spared due to lower unsprung weight, while travelling comfort is increased. Benefits that BPW consistently implements in two new solutions:
Airlight II – less weight by using lightweight options
The use of new lightweight components for Airlight II can reduce the module weight to 370 kg. The realisation is planned to take place in two expansion stages: with the new BPW LightTube trailing arm and the BPW aluminium hub. The LightTube trailing arm consists of a hollow profile which is forged in a multi-stage, patented process and thereby saves around 14 kg of weight per axle compared to a conventional trailing arm made of spring steel. Use of the high-strength BPW aluminium hub reduces the module weight by another 18 kg. When using both options, a module weight of approximately 370 kg will be achieved in the future.
ECO Vision – running gear made of fibre-reinforced composite (FRC)
Using the high-performance material FRC will enable the BPW Group to achieve a weight reduction of about 80 kg per air suspension module with ECO Vision in the future. The density of the material is lower than that of aluminium with strength higher than that of spring steel. The BPW Group has the necessary expertise for the design and processing of GRP through its subsidiaries ADETE in Karlsruhe and HBN-Teknik in Denmark. HBN now supplies both the truck and the trailer industry with heavy-duty composite components for vehicles. Currently a pre-production sample of the running gear is being tested on the road.
Visitors to the IAA can find out more about the new concepts at the BPW Group stand C31 in hall 26.