ZF on New CVS Division, Intelligent ABS Production

ZF started 2022 with a new restructured division — Commercial Vehicle Solutions.

Having successfully integrated its Wabco acquisition as its Commercial Vehicle Control Systems division, ZF recently took the next logical next step of combining it with its existing Commercial Vehicle Technology division.

“The global launch of ZF’s Commercial Vehicle Solutions division powerfully combines all of ZF’s commercial vehicle technology expertise and capabilities within one division and successfully concludes the integration of Wabco,” explained Julien Plenchette, senior vice president, Americas, CVS Division, ZF Group, in a news release.

“With the new CVS division, ZF is now positioning itself as the world's largest component and system supplier for the commercial vehicle industry,” said Wilhelm Rehm, head of the Commercial Vehicle Solutions division.

“The combination of ZF and Wabco has brought a new dimension of innovation and capability for commercial vehicle systems technology, and now we can offer full systems integration capability, which many OEMs seek in the diverse technology options now available,” Rehm told Truck & Bus Builder in an interview.

CVS is technologically very well positioned, Rehm said, to face the challenges and opportunities in the industry. “The key market challenges are in the areas of sustainability, electrification, digitalization, as well as safety and security. And, of course, autonomous and automated driving functions are right at the top of our agenda.”

As part of CVS, the Wabco brand name will continue to be used across key products and solutions, notably serving the aftermarket.

ZF to make intelligent ABS in America

ZF has invested significantly in its first brake production line at its manufacturing facility in Charleston, South Carolina, which will allow it to produce its antilock braking system and electronic braking systems in the U.S. instead of importing them from European plants.

ZF’s new intelligent ABS for trailers, named ‘iABS’, was first announced under the Wabco name in late 2019. In addition to optimizing trailer control during emergency braking by preventing the trailer’s wheels from locking and slipping, iABS combines with additional sensors to become the “brain’ of the trailer, Wabco officials said at the time.

According to Christiaan Verschueren, vice president of trailer systems with ZF’s Commercial Vehicle Control Systems division, the change-over from the previous generation ABS (TCS II) to iABS was achieved in close collaboration with ZF’s U.S.-based customers, according to an interview with Truck & Bus Builder.

“This included providing them with training and consultancy support to ensure the smooth systems implementation across each trailer builder’s production processes.”

The first two variants of the Intelligent Braking Platform, iABS Standard and iABS Premium, were launched at the turn of the year in the North American market. ZF is promoting its intelligent ABS together with its advanced telematics solutions to fleets in North America.

“IABS, and of course, iEBS, allows ZF to offer and fit trailer telematics systems such as Trailer Cast, which is the North America market name for TrailerPulse,” Verschueren explained. “We see this as a real game-changer, because we are able to effectively offer our full suite of intelligent solutions through a single box with just one connection.”

More than 12,000 U.S. trailers have so far been equipped with iABS.

This story was produced in partnership with UK-based Truck & Bus Builder. For a free trial subscription to T&BB, go to www.truckandbusbuilder.com/trial-request.asp