ArvinMeritor’s Aftermarket business, responding to customer demand and an ongoing industry call for more rust-resistant brake components, on Tuesday, Jan. 19, introduced hydraulic disc brake rotors with a new patented coating called ZXP3, designed to protect against oxidation and corrosion. The company made the announcement at Heavy Duty Aftermarket Week in Las Vegas, Nev.
Also in Las Vegas, ArvinMeritor was named 2009 Heavy Duty Remanufacturer of the Year by the Heavy Duty Remanufacturing Group (HDRG) of the Automotive Parts Remanufacturers Association (APRA). The award was presented to Doug Wolma, general manager-remanufacturing, ArvinMeritor, at the fourth annual Heavy Duty Remanufacturing Group Summit, held in conjunction with Heavy Duty Aftermarket Week.
In addition, Meritor WABCO Vehicle Control Systems, a supplier of commercial vehicle braking and active safety systems, used the Las Vegas event to mark its 20th anniversary by emphasizing the role of its aftermarket organization in the company’s growth.
Hydraulic disc brake rotors
ArvinMeritor says the initial launch of the new hydraulic disc brake rotors will cover three part numbers, with more models to be released throughout the year. The new coating initially will be applied to rotors with a cast-in ABS tone ring, and other applications for the coating are under research and development. Distribution of the coated rotors will begin this month under the Meritor and Euclid brands through commercial vehicle aftermarket distributors and OE truck dealers in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Brake rotors are made of iron, and rust is a common problem, particularly in the tone ring area; it forms quickly on bare metal and can lead to diminished ABS braking performance, corrosion and metal fatigue. ArvinMeritor says its coating process ensures that the rotor receives a complete application.
“The coating adheres and seals thoroughly — even the outside edge of the cooling veins get coated — and will not wear or chip when exposed to heat, chemical deicers, wash solutions, pebbles, sand or grime,” says Dennis Riedel, hydraulic brake product manager, Aftermarket. “After extensive testing both in the lab and in actual motor carriers’ fleets, including 400 hundred hours of salt-spray testing, our coated rotors demonstrated improved service life over uncoated rotors.”
Award recipient
The Heavy Duty Remanufacturer of the Year award is given to a company or individual who has demonstrated innovative ways to create and grow a successful business model and, in the process, supported industry efforts to advance the remanufacturing craft, says Bill Gager, president of APRA/HDRG. Gager says the decision to select ArvinMeritor is significant in that it represents a departure from past APRA awards, which have been given to solely independent firms in the reman business.
The award recognizes the company’s efforts to expand its portfolio of remanufactured products, grow revenue, streamline its production and distribution systems, and develop innovative processes like PlatinumShield, a coating developed by ArvinMeritor to help prevent corrosion and rust-jacking on remanufactured Meritor brake components.
“Our company has always supported the remanufacturing industry, and we’re proud to be recognized by that industry for our ongoing commitment to this market,” Wolma says. “Throughout nearly two decades but especially over the past few years, we continue to transform our remanufacturing business to deliver more products that provide parts in form-fit-function right out of the box at a lower price. Our company’s entire engineering team is responsible for much of our remanufacturing success today, since the team tests products and processes to help us exceed customer expectations.”
In North America, ArvinMeritor supplies remanufactured components under the Meritor and Mascot Truck Parts brands. In this region, it operates two dedicated remanufacturing facilities: a 275,000-square-foot plant in Plainfield, Ind., and a 100,000-square-foot facility in the Toronto area. Mascot also operates three regional facilities to better serve the customer bases.
20 years for Meritor WABCO
Meritor WABCO says its aftermarket business has grown five percent each year since 1990 and has shipped more than 8.1 million units to date.
“Our complete customer support team in Hebron, Ky., in Florence, Ky., and in district managers across the country makes the world’s most advanced vehicle control systems easier to understand, use and service,” says Jon Morrison, president of Meritor WABCO Vehicle Control Systems. “They’re integral to our customers’ and our company’s success.”
