Hendrickson's new product suite focuses on EV market

Hendrickson Truck Commercial Vehicle Systems, a Woodridge, Illinois-based transportation equipment manufacturer specializing in lightweight axle and suspension technology, has announced a suite of new products focused on what it calls a rapidly growing electric vehicle (EV) market.

The company’s Softek front steer axle and suspension system, which features Hendrickson’s Steertek front steer axle and integrated with the front mechanical spring suspension and lightweight clamp group, has been scaled to accommodate the medium-duty last-mile delivery market, while still providing weight savings and ride quality. Hendrickson also has incorporated its snake spring technology into the rear suspension system for this platform which it says delivers additional weight savings and optimized ride and stability characteristics.

“Hendrickson has a long history of supplying lightweight suspension products to the heavy-duty transportation industry and today expanded that offering to support the burgeoning medium-duty electric vehicle segment,” says Jason Shiffler, business unit director at Hendrickson.

He adds, “Innovative solutions like Softek and snake spring technology deliver not only critical weight savings but also provide excellent ride and handling for the Class 4 and 5 medium-duty delivery van market allowing vehicle manufacturers and fleets alike to maximize capacity in other areas of the vehicle.”

In addition, Hendrickson has made other advancements in the medium-duty market with mechanical suspension components like its Liteflex hybrid composite and steel spring, which it says offers weight savings up to 240 pounds compared with a steel multileaf spring mechanical suspension.

For the heavy-duty market, Hendrickson is offering its Optimaax lightweight forward liftable tandem axle and suspension system for 6x2 vehicles which it says delivers weight savings and helps optimize a vehicle’s energy consumption through its automated liftable technology. Hendrickson says its new product innovations show its commitment to support the EV space, where lightweight products are needed.

The company manufactures and supplies medium- and heavy-duty mechanical, elastomeric and air suspensions, integrated and nonintegrated axle and brakes systems, tire pressure control systems, auxiliary lift axle systems, parabolic and multileaf springs, stabilizers, bumpers and components to the global commercial transportation industry.