Annual Report 2010 - Knorr-Bremse AG.

84 RepoR t | CoMMe RCIAL VeHICLe SYSteMS
ABS for agricultural vehicles
This is an example of a new area of application for a well-established product: 2010 saw Knorr-Bremse
continue its development of an electro-pneumatic anti-lock braking system for agricultural vehicles
and virtually complete the preparations for series production. During the first half of 2011, full production
of the new ABS system will start for the Fendt 900 vehicles series.
There were two basic reasons why Knorr-Bremse became involved in this new market segment. Firstly,
market analyses had indicated that as agricultural tractors become ever larger, demand is growing for
safety-critical products. In developing the system Knorr-Bremse was able to draw on its core competences
and decades of experience with vehicle safety systems. For this new category of vehicle the
company used tried-and-tested electro-pneumatic components from the related truck sector.
The second reason was increasing convergence of the parameters for agricultural tractors and trucks.
Tractors are becoming faster and capable of pulling heavier loads. And their engines are increasingly
not just used to power the vehicle but also for other functions, for example driving snow blowers. As
the fields of use expand, so, too, do the technical requirements. If, for example, agricultural vehicles are
used for clearing snow, then safety aspects become increasingly important.
Compressors for Volvo Powertrain
Knorr-Bremse has won an order from Volvo Powertrain to supply compressors for the company’s new
medium-duty engine platform. This means that Knorr-Bremse’s share of the compressor market for Volvo
Powertrain will rise significantly from 2013 onwards. At the end of 2009 Knorr-Bremse had already secured
a contract to supply compressors for the company’s heavy-duty engine platform.
The total volume will be more than 72,000 units per year, making Knorr-Bremse one of Volvo Powertrain’s
five most important suppliers. Production facilities in Lisieux (France), Dalian (China) and Pune (India) will
be involved in supplying the compressors.