Annual Report 2012 - Knorr-Bremse AG.
Annual Report 2012 - Knorr-Bremse AG.
Annual Report 2012 - Knorr-Bremse AG.
Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
126<br />
<strong>Report</strong><br />
Market successes // Commercial vehicle systems<br />
for this new project, <strong>Knorr</strong>-<strong>Bremse</strong> began to adapt the air treatment system used in Europe in line with<br />
the needs of the South American market. At the same time it started to investigate the extent to which<br />
– in line with local content requirements – the systems could also be manufactured in Brazil in future.<br />
Ford Otosan orders braking systems<br />
Ford Otosan is the leading commercial vehicle manufacturer in Turkey, with an annual output of<br />
some 280,000 units. Until recently the company had not made much use of <strong>Knorr</strong>-<strong>Bremse</strong> products,<br />
but in 2011 it placed a major order for braking systems for the new semitrailer tractor units in its heavy<br />
truck program.<br />
What ultimately won <strong>Knorr</strong>-<strong>Bremse</strong> the order was not just the company’s high quality standards but<br />
also its across-the-board systems competence. After modification to meet the particular requirements<br />
of the new vehicle, the components were subjected to exhaustive summer and winter testing<br />
that was successfully completed in <strong>2012</strong>.<br />
Ford Otosan is planning to bring production levels up to 12,000 heavy trucks and some 3,000 semitrailer<br />
tractor units in 2013. But there is even more scope for future cooperation between <strong>Knorr</strong>-<br />
<strong>Bremse</strong> and the Turkish company, as it is planning to further expand its heavy truck production over<br />
the coming years.<br />
<strong>Knorr</strong>-<strong>Bremse</strong> starts preparing for new bus platform in Russia<br />
At <strong>Knorr</strong>-<strong>Bremse</strong> Russia, preparations have begun to equip a new bus family built by GAZ Group<br />
Russian Buses. The new bus platform comprises several different model series, from city, local and<br />
regional buses to long-distance touring buses up to 18 m long. <strong>Knorr</strong>-<strong>Bremse</strong> is to supply the complete<br />
braking systems for the entire vehicle platform. The new models are due to enter volume<br />
production in 2014. GAZ Group Russian Buses is planning to build a total of 15,000 to 20,000 units<br />
between 2014 and 2016.<br />
In addition, <strong>Knorr</strong>-<strong>Bremse</strong> Russia is working on a project to supply disc brakes for a new minibus series<br />
from bus manufacturer Pavlovo Bus. With an annual output of approximately 11,000 units, Pavlovo is<br />
the largest bus builder in the CIS states. Start of production for the new minibus series is set for 2013<br />
and <strong>Knorr</strong>-<strong>Bremse</strong> is to supply the brakes for between 2,000 and 3,000 vehicles. Pavlovo Bus belongs<br />
to GAZ Group Russian Buses which is part of the GAZ Group, the leading bus manufacturer in Russia<br />
and the CIS states, with a market share of around 65%.<br />
In <strong>2012</strong> <strong>Knorr</strong>-<strong>Bremse</strong> Russia began construction of the prototypes for both of these projects.<br />
Lift axles are additional<br />
axles that the driver<br />
can lower to distribute<br />
the weight of a<br />
heavy payload more<br />
evenly across the<br />
axles.<br />
Start of series production for Indian lift axle system<br />
Production of the second generation of a pneumatic lift axle system for the Indian commercial vehicle<br />
market is off to a successful start. <strong>Knorr</strong>-<strong>Bremse</strong> India is supplying the system to Tata Motors for<br />
installation in selected model series. Lift axles are additional axles that the driver can lower to distribute<br />
the weight of a heavy payload more evenly across the axles. This not only helps reduce tire wear<br />
but also serves to provide better grip, which is very important for the optimal performance of the<br />
braking system.<br />
With the second generation of the pneumatic lift axle system, <strong>Knorr</strong>-<strong>Bremse</strong> was able to introduce<br />
numerous improvements, reducing the number of parts and the overall system costs. In addition,<br />
the company also developed an anti-tire-theft system, while new valves make for faster activation.