Just introduced by SAF-Holland is its new next generation of the SAF CBX Series lineup, the CBX40 AeroBeam Sliding Tandem Axle Air Suspension.
It is, says Bill Hicks – the company’s director, global marketing – “is now the lightest weight air suspension in the industry, providing the optimal balance of strength and weight for ultimate performance in on-highway applications.”
The CBX40 AeroBeam “is evolutionary for weight reduction,” Jeff Talaga, SAF Holland’s vice president, sales and strategic development, Americas, adds. This next generation of lightweight air suspension systems is part of the company’s Driving Innovation program “to contribute to our customers’ success, providing solutions that maximize fleet efficiency and safety.”
SAF Holland is a leading global manufacturer of trailer suspension and axle systems, truck suspensions, fifth wheels, landing gear and coupling products (www.safhollamd.com).
The CBX40 AeroBeam – the company’s new platform for trailer suspensions – is initially intended for weight sensitive 53’ van and reefer applications. With its reduced weight the suspension allows for more payload with the strength to carry it.
New standard
Designed for greater fleet efficiency, the SAF CBX40 AeroBeam Slider Suspension has a base weight of 1,267 pounds, says Roger Jansen, the company’s product manager, trailer axles and suspensions. That is “85 pounds lighter overall than the previous generation CBX40 and 27 pounds lighter than the nearest competitive slider suspension.”
Per Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Phase 2 legislation, the 85-pound savings will reduce the GHG gas emission by 1,250 pounds over 10 years - per the U.S. EPA SmartWay’s Weight Reduction – A Glance at Clean Freight Strategies.
Setting a new standard in the air ride van slider market, the CBX40 AeroBeam is stronger, with an 80 ksi steel subframe with four full-height cross members, he says. Sixteen strategically placed reinforcements improve resistance to damage caused by curb strikes, slider repositioning, and drag turns.
The slider subframe is backed by an industry-leading 7-year warranty, he adds.
Toughness
The CBX40 AeroBeam’s 5.75-inch diameter friction-welded axles are “12 percent thicker than competitive axles,” Jansen observes, “minimizing axle deflection to improve inside tire tread wear. Heat-treated cast alloy suspension beams achieve an optimum strength-to-weight ratio.”
The suspension and axle beam assembly is covered by a 10-year warranty.
Relocated shock absorbers provide more room on the subframe to install air tanks, brake valves, tire inflation systems and ABS modules. Combined with the streamlined AeroBeam design, the new slider facilitates under chassis airflow.
Corrosion protection
Like all SAF Holland suspension systems, the CBX40 AeroBeam is coated with the company’s proprietary Black Armour corrosion and rust prevention treatment. It provides hot dip galvanized (HDG) level protection without the added weight or cost of HDG. The eco-friendly Black Armour chemically bonds with metal to form a protective layer that is impervious to water and stands up against the harsh anti-icing agents used on roadways.
The suspension’s patented SwingAlign system makes maintaining axle adjustment quick and easy, says Jansen. Industry standard service components – including air springs, shocks, HCVs and actuators – “reduce maintenance costs and downtime.”
Options
The CBX40 AeroBeam, with a long list of available options, is customizable to suit any on-highway application. Options include manual or air-assisted slide pin release, dock walk solution, auto-sensing lift axles, P89 Series air disc brakes or drum brakes, parallel or taper spindles and conventional or extended warranty wheel end packages.
Jansen says the CBX40 AeroBeam continues the strong tradition of the company’s cast beam suspension series and is available at all major trailer OEMs.
