Haldex Brake Systems has formed a strategic alliance with Altra Technologies Inc of Minneapolis MN and made a $3-million equity investment in the company. Altra develops electronic collision avoidance systems for commercial vehicles.
The total worldwide market for collision avoidance systems on commercial vehicles is forecast to show rapid growth and is estimated to exceed $500 million in five years. The Haldex-Altra alliance aims at capturing at least 15% of that market.
Haldex will market the Altra collision avoidance system, which features Altra's patented SmartSensors. Each unit contains a radar sensor and built-in software to analyze possible collision hazards without using a central computer. SmartSensors can be deployed on the perimeter of any vehicle to guard against common accidents. Local processing of hazard data facilitates installation and tailoring of systems for each vocation. Altra also has developed a hybrid sensor that combines ultrasonic and radar technologies for obstacle detection while reversing.
Haldex and Altra cooperatively will develop collision avoidance and other radar-based vehicle dynamics systems for global commercial vehicle markets. Future development projects between the companies will integrate Altra sensors into Haldex's electronic braking and stability control systems to provide active collision avoidance capability.