Lighter weight and faster service were common benefits among the new products introduced at this year’s Heavy Duty Aftermarket Week January 23-26 in Las Vegas.
Here are some of the products introduced for OEMs as well as aftermarket applications:
Dana Incorporated (NYSE: DAN) today introduced a new, e-commerce platform that streamlines the identification process of the company’s automotive and commercial-vehicle replacement parts portfolio and connects service technicians with Dana’s aftermarket parts distributors.
Dana’s e-commerce site allows anyone to search for and accurately identify replacement parts, locate a qualified distributor, and request quotes. For aftermarket distributors, it combines search plus the ability to place and track orders and inventory.
Highlights of the platform for the public include:
• User-friendly search function that identifies the desired component by part number, product type, product line, keyword, and interchange part number, as well as year, make, and model of vehicle;
• Line drawings or photographs with technical details and specifications to help ensure the right part is ordered;
• Zoom function to help visually identify the correct part;
• Distributor and dealer locator that identifies where parts can be purchased locally; and
• “Request for Quote” function.
Additionally, the platform includes a secure portal for customers that delivers expanded functionality, including features such as:
• Easy access to pricing;
• Real-time inventory and part availability;
• Emergency order options;
• Automatic email confirmations; and
• Immediate access to invoices, packing slips, and order status/tracking.
“Not only will this new platform improve the purchase and service experience for automotive technicians, but it will also drive business to our distributors’ front door,” said Peter Cirulis, vice president of customer experience, strategy, and product planning for the Dana Aftermarket Group. “This new e-commerce platform is a significant advancement in Dana’s commitment to digital transformation for the aftermarket community, while improving and enabling access to replacement parts and information in all vehicle markets around the world.” www.SpicerParts.com/Aftermarket and www.SVLparts.com/Aftermarket.
Eaton upgrades Advantage Series clutches
Eaton has upgraded its line of Advantage Series heavy-duty clutches that improve durability, reduce vibrations, and enhanced shifting across a range of torque ratings up to 2,250 lbs.-ft.
Highlights of the list of enhancements include:
• A new strap drive system, which affixes the intermediate plate to the housing on the clutches, prolongs clutch life by eliminating lug fatigue that over time could lead to failures. The design also eliminates rattle that is associated with the prior lug design.
• Eaton’s soft rate dampers effectively absorb engine vibrations to prevent driveline damage and are now standard on all clutches. This premium damper technology enables downspeeding at all torque ratings up to 1,850 lbs.-ft.
• A patent-pending spring separator system permits cleaner, quicker disengagement with the engine for more efficient, smoother shifting.
• A second wear tab indicator has been added to the Advantage Self-Adjust model giving maintenance professionals better access during visual inspections.
Eaton Advantage Self-Adjust clutches in a new truck application are warranted for three years/350,000 miles. The new truck warranty for Eaton Easy Pedal Advantage clutches is two years/200,000 miles. Aftermarket warranty coverage for both designs is two years/unlimited miles. Release bearing lube intervals for all Eaton Advantage heavy-duty clutches is 50,000 miles. www.eaton.com.
New steel, aluminum wheels from Accuride
Accuride Corporation introduced lighter steel and aluminum wheels at HDAW.
New steel wheels included two- and five-hand-hole versions of its Accu-Lite 22.5 x 8.25 steel wheels. The new wheels are each three pounds lighter than the previous models and add a five-year warranty for its standard Steel Armor coating. Specifications for the new wheels include:
• 51408 wheel – The two-hand-hole version, three pounds lighter than the prior 50408 wheel, weighs 67 pounds.
Accuride’s Steel Armor coating technology comes standard on both wheels, along with a new five-year warranty against corrosion. In addition, customers have the option of ordering these wheels with Accuride’s proprietary EverSteel technology that offers a standard eight-year warranty against corrosion. Both wheels will be available to customers in April 2017 and can be ordered in white, black and gray. Accuride will produce the wheels at its Henderson, Kentucky and Monterrey, Mexico wheel plants.
For aluminum wheels, Accuride introduced its new Quantum 99 aluminum alloy that is 20% stronger than Accuride’s previous alloy, enabling Accuride to reduce the weight of its most popular standard lightweight aluminum wheel by 11%. The wheels weigh in at 40 pounds.
“Quantum 99 will serve as the foundation of a new series of lightweight aluminum wheels from Accuride that provide superior fatigue life and durability,” Accuride President and CEO Rick Dauch said. “Accuride’s engineers developed the proprietary next-generation Quantum 99 alloy to be 20% stronger than our previous aluminum alloy. Its optimized microstructure enhances wheel performance, ensuring industry-leading strength and durability.”
The new aluminum wheel – the 42644 – will be available in the third quarter of 2017. It will be manufactured at the Accuride plant in Erie, Pennsylvania, and in Monterrey, Mexico. www.accuridewheelendsolutions.com.
Meritor expands line of FastSet king pin kits
Meritor (NYSE: MTOR) announced today at Heavy Duty Aftermarket Week 2017 that it has expanded the FastSet King Pin Kit product line to now offer 45 no-ream kits that provide fleets with a faster solution for aftermarket king pin replacement.
With the kit, kingpin bushings do not need to be reamed after they are installed into the steering knuckle, which saves labor, time and equipment costs. Instead of pressing in the bushings during installation, customers can use the kit to easily install spiral bushings by hand. Additionally, the king pin’s special groove pattern design allows grease to permeate high-wear areas.
FastSet uses only Meritor approved quality components and significantly reduces repair time as well as maintenance costs.
The Meritor FastSet King Pin Kit is covered by Meritor’s standard aftermarket warranty. For more information about the kits and availability, visit Literature on Demand on meritor.com and search for publication numbers SP-1637 and SP-1728. www.meritor.com
Maxion rolls out forged aluminum wheels
Maxion Wheels is expanding its North American commercial vehicle product offering with the addition of a forged aluminum truck wheel product line.
Maxion Wheels developed the forged aluminum four-wheel product line in response to the market’s growing need for lighter vehicles that reduce fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. The new 22.5x8.25 aluminum CV wheel weighs 45 lbs.
Compatible and interchangeable with current market offerings, Maxion Wheels’ aluminum wheel line-up was designed to exceed recognized industry standards with respect to material, rim contour, radial and rotary fatigue, mounting configuration, and FMVSS 571.120 markings.
The four wheels will be available in the industry’s most popular sizes: 22.5x8.25, 24.5x8.25, 17.5x6.75, and 22.5x14.00. A bright machined finish is standard, and polishing is also available.
Fleets operating in North America will be able to purchase the new wheels through aftermarket channels beginning in the spring with the initial rollout of the 22.5x8.25. A standard five-year limited warranty is included.
Polk concluded, “Maxion Wheels’ CV wheel product strategies will continue to focus on minimizing corrosion, reducing weight, and offering more styling alternatives, as a continued commitment to our customers to push the boundaries of innovation as the industry leader.”
Maxion produced nearly 60 million wheels per year. The company serves its global OEM customers from 22 locations in 12 countries on five continents. It operates technical centers in the Americas, Europe and Asia. www.maxionwheelsandrims.com.
Emission products available from DENSO
DENSO Products and Services Americas, Inc, an affiliate of DENSO Corp., has partnered with Clean Diesel Technologies, Inc, (CDTi), a manufacturer of vehicle emissions control systems, to introduce a new line of aftermarket emissions control products for heavy-duty trucks and equipment.
Available now, the all-makes original equipment replacement program features 60 DPF part numbers covering more than 260 OE-quality products and seven DOC part numbers for heavy-duty on-road and off-road trucks and equipment. The partners plan to expand the product line with an additional 20 DPF and 15 DOC part numbers later this year.
PowerEdge diesel aftertreatment replacement DPFs and DOCs match or exceed the emissions control performance and benefits of OE-manufacturer (OEM) replacement units when installed in 2007 and newer heavy-duty diesel equipment.
The turnkey DPFs and DOCs are approved for horizontal, vertical and dual installation and backed by a two-year unlimited mileage warranty. Many of the components are manufactured in the U.S. All part numbers meet strict U.S. Environmental Protection Agency emissions control regulations and are available for purchase and installation in 49 U.S. states and Canada. www.denso.com ♦
Heavy Duty Aftermarket Week 2018 will be held January 22-25 at The Mirage in Las Vegas.