Meritor, Inc. (NYSE: MTOR) has introduced the MTec6, a six-inch, large-diameter trailer axle that offers greater weight savings and lower total cost of ownership.
“We applied Meritor’s advanced product development and manufacturing technologies, combined with a century of experience building axles, to develop the market’s lightest trailer axle,” said Martha Remski, general manager, Trailer for Meritor. “The MTec6 will save fuel, expand payload capacity and increase tire life.”
Meritor’s design experience and manufacturing processes allow for more efficient use of materials, resulting in an axle that is 36 pounds lighter than the industry-standard 5-inch axle. The lighter axle reduces gross trailer weight to enhance fuel economy and available payload. The MTec6’s greater stiffness reduces axle deflection to maintain neutral camber better than smaller-diameter axles, which helps reduce tire wear.
“Our MTec6 is designed to help fleets get the most from their van and refrigerated applications by achieving a higher level of efficiency and reduced maintenance costs,” Remski said. “Using our engineering expertise in axle design, we developed a larger-diameter axle with reduced wall thickness while improving basic physical properties, resulting in a lighter, high-strength product.”
Because the MTec6 utilizes less material, it is a greener, more environmentally friendly product. After completion of extensive lab testing and field validation, the MTec6 will be available later this year.