trailer world issue Two 2008

Issue Two 2008 33 Winter 2008: Snow, ice and a narrow road in Swedish winter. One truck after the other thunders along in the opposite lane: this is where a trailer and its brakes really have to form a perfect team – which makes it the ideal test route for BPW Bergische Achsen KG’s new disc brake. BPW always tests its products under the toughest pos- sible conditions to ensure their absolute suitability for everyday use. Robin Eskes is one of the people at BPW who keep a stern eye on innovations. He is in charge of the company development service’s “Heavy- duty Road Trial Programme”, and was himself behind the wheel in Sweden. Having previously put the ECO Disc through a number of success- ful tests, the 33-year-old engineer with a degree in mechanical engineering had already acquainted himself in detail with the new product before trialling it in Sweden’s ice-cold winter. This previous testing was conducted in BPW Bergische Achsen KG’s factory test facilities to ascertain the adequacy of the braking force, establish which brake pressure levels are necessary, whether the brake would also stand up to ultra-high temperatures (which were simulated via continual interval braking). Also, could the new brake be relied upon for a long service life, and are the brake discs of suﬃcient quality to ensure that they will not crack. These were ques- tions the development service team was able to answer on comple- tion of the testing. “We were highly satisﬁed with the product, and only had to slightly modify a few settings which the design depart- ment couldn’t be expected to know since they can only be accurately determined in practical operation”, says Eskes. On completion of this testing it was then time to take the brake out onto the road for the ﬁrst time. The ﬁrst tests were carried out on roads in Germany. Te company’s own test trailer was ﬁtted with the new product and taken by a driver on a long-distance test. A 300-kilometer circuit taking the vehicle successively through hilly and mountainous terrain on which the driver undertook continuous hard braking, there- by making for high temperature levels. This degree of stress can also arise in normal travel under diﬃcult conditions. Like, for instance, the 16-kilometer downhill run from the Rossfeld Alm heights in the Ber- chtesgaden Alps, where the driver ill-treats the brakes with constant braking manoeuvres. After a time the brakes literally get red-hot – but the trailer is nevertheless successfully brought to a standstill on arriv- ing at the end of the run: BPW test passed. This tough test was followed by the tour through Sweden, during which the BPW team put almost 14,000 kilometres behind it. The experts tested to ﬁnd out what harm snow, wet and ultra-low temperatures can do to the brakes. Special measuring instruments were ﬁtted and delivered data on a regular basis. “We were very satisﬁed with the results”, says Robin Eskes. This success cleared the way for the ﬁrst ﬁeld trials, for which purpose BPW customers were asked if they would like to test the ECO Disc. Those taking part then had their trailers ﬁtted with the new disc brake. A test carried out under everyday operating conditions, accompanied by targeted questioning of the customers and regular workshop checks. “The testing of our products goes far beyond what’s necessary”, ex- plains Robin Eskes. This huge outlay is something BPW pursues with an alert eye on the future. BPW are already working on improve- ments for the new disc brake which could possibly be realized in a subsequent version. Eskes now knows the product inside out after all the tests he has performed with and on it: “It hides no more secrets from us.” (jg) New products have to prove their worth in road tests. »We were highly satisfied with the test results at all times.« Robin Eskes InnovationPhotos:Stretz

trailer world issue Two 2008

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