The Truck Writers of North America has recognized the rust preventative coating on ArvinMeritor’s PlatinumShield Brake Shoes as the top technical achievement for 2009. The award presentation took place last week at the annual Technology & Maintenance Council meeting in Tampa, Fla.
The PlatinumShield coating was developed by ArvinMeritor to resist micro-abrasion caused by the movement of the brake lining against the shoe table during normal use. Rust-jacking occurs when rust forms on bare shoe metal under the lining, causing the lining to lift and crack.
“The Technical Achievement Award committee was impressed that ArvinMeritor’s PlatinumShield coating offers a practical solution to rust-jacking, a problem that has frustrated countless maintenance managers and owner-operators in the U.S. and Canada,” says James Menzies, chair of TWNA’s award committee. “As trucking companies search for ways to lower their operating costs, ArvinMeritor has come to market with an effective solution to a costly long-running problem.”
The review process for 2009 began with several candidates nominated by the press members of TWNA. From that group of candidates, four finalists were selected for an in-depth review. The Top Four finalists were ArvinMeritor’s PlatinumShield Brake Shoes, Eaton’s UltraShift Plus Transmission, Rand McNally’s IntelliRoute TND 500 GPS and TruckLite’s LED Headlamps.
Using a point system based on each committee member’s ranking of the candidates, ArvinMeritor’s PlatinumShield Brake Shoes scored a substantial lead to receive the award.
