Hendrickson Truck Systems Group on Friday, Jan. 18, announced plans to release design enhancements to the Primaax heavy-duty air-ride rear suspension in mid-2008. Primaax, launched in 2003, is suited for a variety of heavy-duty vocational and construction applications, including mixers, dump trucks, heavy-haul tractors, truck-mounted cranes and logging trucks.
The rear suspension was designed to provide best-in-clas ride quality, combined with excellent articulation and axle travel, for off-road mobility. Building on the rapid expansion of the Primaax product line globally, plans call for the incorporation of further advancements in rear suspension technology to the Primaax suspension.
To counter the increased weight of new engine technology, a highly engineered, new main suspension beam is designed to reduce weight and improve reliability for severe vocational applications. To address growing demand for air suspensions across vocational applications, the optimized suspension geometry is engineered to deliver improved roll stiffness and handling for applications such as rear discharge concrete mixers.
Primaax reduces air pressure requirements to lift and support the rated load for improved performance in applications utilizing lift axles, Hendrickson says; the air spring fill rate is reduced, benefiting applications that frequently exhaust the suspension. In addition, as future braking requirements evolve, Primaax will offer expanded brake compatibility to include most drum and disc brake configurations, according to the Woodridge, Ill.-based company.
Primaax is available at most major truck manufacturers in capacities ranging from 23,000 to 26,000 pounds for single-axle, 46,000 to 52,000 pounds for tandem-axle, and 69,000 to 78,000 pounds for tridem-axle applications. For more information, go to www.hendrickson-intl.com.
