Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC made two new product announcements regarding its air products this week at the Mid-America Trucking Show in Louisville.
The company says it has now introduced its AD-RP air dryer as a bolt-in replacement solution in the aftermarket, and that its new generation of air compressors will include a revolutionary design that is lighter, more compact and more efficient than air comparable product.
Regarding its aftermarket air dryer, Bendix says the product is designed to meet the specific air dryer requirements of many Volvo and Mack trucks equipped with remote purge tanks. It also comes equipped with the Bendix PuraGuard oil coalescing cartridge, combining true aftermarket value with established original equipment performance.
“The AD-RP is a proven product, making it the ideal aftermarket alternative to off-brand or remanufactured replacement air dryers,” says Richard Nagel, Bendix director of marketing and customer solutions, Air Charging. “And the PuraGuard oil coalescing technology provides a higher level of air protection that is crucial for many air systems, including the automated transmissions that are growing in popularity on many Volvo and Mack models.”
Well-suited for applications that involve long compressor cycles and frequent starts and stops, the AD-RP is available in two versions, Bendix says. The standard version includes a turbo cut-off valve, while a second model features a discharge line unloader compatible with vehicles requiring twin cylinder compressors.
The Bendix AD-RP, which is built alongside other Genuine Bendix original equipment products and subjected to the same rigorous testing and quality controls, is offered as an aftermarket component at a price lower than comparable remanufactured parts – and without a core charge to the buyer, the company says.
As for its new air compressor, Bendix says production will begin in 2016 for a major North American OEM.
“Pioneering air charging systems is in our DNA at Bendix, and we’re proud to take the next step to advance compressor technology,” says Mark McCollough, Bendix vice president and general manager, Charging group. “Our goal was to develop a compressor that set a new standard. The end result is a game changer – a proven, OE-tested design that significantly outperforms current models on the market.”
The new water-cooled, aluminum-crankcase compressor reduces the weight by over 40 percent compared to the current Bendix BA-921 compressor – and measures 25 percent less in length, which makes for easy adaptability to any engine configuration. Its lighter weight, compact design, and design optimization help increase overall fuel efficiency by reducing power consumption up to 30 percent, while still pumping out over 16 cfm of air to the air tanks, the company says.
The innovative design also reduces oil carryover by as much as 60 percent compared to traditional compressors, reducing the amount of the engine’s lubricating oil that is carried into the air system during normal operation. Oil can be particularly harmful to air system components by deteriorating seals – which can cause leaks – and potentially contributing to premature damage in a variety of braking and non-braking components, Bendix says.
“We’re not departing from the technology that Bendix knows best and has served the industry leaders for decades,” McCollough says. “We’ve made major leaps in size and weight reductions while reducing oil carryover even further, without adding new parts or complex mechanisms that add weight or lack proven reliability. This cutting-edge compressor technology will be an ideal complement to continuing engine advancements among truck manufacturers, allowing them to offer even better-performing, safer, and more efficient commercial vehicles.”
