ABT is confident its sealed integrated braking system will be a big hit with waste compactor operators
Gary Worrall | July 31, 2012
Building on its successes in the mining industry, Western Australia-based Advanced Braking Technologies (ABT) is confident its sealed integrated braking system (SIBS) will be a big hit with waste compactor operators.
ABT CEO Ken Johnsen confirmed last week the company will begin commercial production of the SIBS unit for heavy trucks within the next year, and has trialled the technology with operators in WA and Queensland.
Johnsen says the technology was originally developed for underground mining operations to meet a perceived need for a failsafe brake for light commercial vehicles that lack the maxi brake of heavy trucks.
“Olympic Dam is our biggest customer. All underground Toyota LandCruisers are fitted with our brakes, while at Xstrata all vehicles must have them fitted, including contractors working on the site,” he says.
As a result, ABT boosted sales to $6.5 million in 2011, up from just $100,000 per annum previously. Although Johnsen admits ABT is still a niche company, he says he is looking to go mainstream in the future.
“We recognised garbage trucks as a good market to take our product into for urban operations, and began working to develop the offering,” he says.
Johnsen says ABT has already invested $4 million on the project, which aims to offer drivers a familiar experience when they use the brakes.
“It has to feel like a normal brake. If the drivers don’t like it, then we won’t succeed,” he says.
Johnsen says SIBS meets all Australian Design Rule regulations. As part of the development process, he says SIBS began validation testing in March 2008, with the cost estimated to be close to $3 million.
He plans to have the technology ready for sale by June 2013.
Helping the development process is the dominance of the Iveco Acco as the preferred chassis for waste compactor operations. The SIBS unit is designed to bolt straight onto the Acco and most field testing was carried out on Accos already working as compactors.
“Our first goal is after-market sales, but we want to gain OEM [original equipment manufacturer] fitment of the SIBS unit,” Johnsen says.
“Iveco knows what we are doing, but we are doing it separately.”
Johnsen says the SIBS unit is a total replacement for the existing brake units, with SIBS working as an air-operated hydraulic disc brake running in a sealed oil bath.
While Johnsen says there are advantages to using SIBS, he acknowledges one of the drawbacks is the reduced co-efficient of friction compared to current systems, rating SIBS at one third of conventional brakes.
“It does require additional braking force, hence we use hydraulic actuation via a multiple piston brake calliper, although the wet brake allows for better heat dissipation as well as preventing pad wear from dust intrusion,” he says.
The disc brakes are also ABS compatible, which for retro-fit applications allows trucks to be upgraded to include ABS braking.
To help control heat build-up in the oil, Johnsen says there is a central oil cooler for all the brakes. Each brake has an integrated heat exchanger linking back to the oil cooler.
“This also eliminates brake drum distortion due to heat build-up, as well as the need for periodic inspection and adjustment,” he says.
Johnsen says the hydraulic system offers even and consistent brake applications to reduce uneven tyre wear. Importantly for operators, Johnsen says the replacement system does not carry a tare weight penalty. Cast iron brake components are able to be replaced by aluminium housings.
“Removing the cast iron drum does reduce the unsprung weight but our goal was to ensure no weight gain by converting to SIBS,” he says.
Although the Acco model serving as the test and development mule for ABT, SIBS will not be an option on new trucks immediately.
Iveco Director of Strategic Business Lloyd Reeman says SIBS should be offered as a retro-fit to trucks already in use to build demand as operators become familiar with the system.
Reeman says building demand includes not just the cost of the system but also the overall weight and availability of spare parts. He acknowledges ABT has done a lot of work to get the cooling package right, including positioning components on the chassis.
“They have done everything right. Customer feedback is guiding development. We see it as a fantastic opportunity if everything works out.”
