Hendrickson Truck Commercial Vehicle Systems recently introduced its lightest-weight, 46,000-lb.-capacity rear air suspension, the RoadMaax Z, which is designed to improve on- and off-highway performance, ride quality, and cargo protection in demanding applications, the manufacturer reported.
The system is approved for use with lift axles and up to 25% off-highway operation.
Hendrickson also is offering its Zero Maintenance Damping (ZMD) ride technology for trucks and tractors for the first time with the introduction of the RoadMaax Z drive axle air suspension system, the company said.
“Hendrickson has a long history of supplying state-of-the-art suspension products to the heavy-duty transportation industry, and RoadMaax Z delivers the light weight and stability that drivers and fleets demand for tough applications,” Sean Whitfield, Hendrickson director of marketing, said in a news release.
“Innovative solutions like RoadMaax Z with Hendrickson’s exclusive patented ZMD technology deliver not only the critical weight savings, but also provide excellent ride and handling for both on- and off-highway applications.”
RoadMaax Z was designed as a top-mount, trailing arm air suspension. The integration of ZMD technology, which provides a smooth ride when fully loaded, empty, or anything in between, eliminates conventional shock absorbers and combines the damping function with the air springs, helping to reduce downtime and maintenance costs over the life of the vehicle, Hendrickson maintained.
“Unlike shock absorbers whose damping capacities are finite and typically deteriorate with age, ZMD air springs are designed to provide continuous damping over the life of the air spring,” the company stated.