WABCO localizes air disc drake production in the U.S.
March 22, 2017
NORTH CHARLESTON, SC – WABCO Holdings Inc., a leading global supplier of technologies that improve the safety, efficiency and connectivity of commercial vehicles, announced the expansion of its manufacturing capabilities in North America. For the first time in the company’s history, WABCO localized the production of its most advanced Air Disc Brakes (ADB) for commercial vehicles in the United States.
WABCO celebrated with its Board of Directors the opening of its state-of-the-art manufacturing site in North Charleston, South Carolina. WABCO invested $20 million in the new facility to meet increasing customer demand for its industry-leading Air Disc Brakes, energy-efficient air compressors and related safety systems.
The Company moved from an existing Charleston location to a new, 145,000-square-foot facility, expanding its manufacturing footprint by more than 60 percent. In addition, WABCO increased employment at the Charleston facility to approximately 230 individuals today. The Company created more than 50 new jobs over the past two years alone in line with previous commitments.
WABCO manufactures its industry-leading, high performance, single-piston ADBs in Charleston to serve commercial vehicle manufacturers and fleet operators in North America. WABCO’s portfolio of ADBs is sold under the brand names MAXXUS™ for heavy-duty trucks and MAXX22T™ for trailers.
Compared to today’s drum brakes, WABCO ADBs reduce stopping distance up to 10 percent while almost completely eliminating brake fade. In addition, ADBs extend service intervals up to two times versus drum brakes. Engineered with 25 percent fewer parts, WABCO ADBs improve reliability while lowering maintenance costs. Technicians are known to exchange brake pads on Air Disc Brakes four times faster than the linings of a drum brake.
In addition, WABCO manufactures high-performance air compressors at its North Charleston facility. WABCO and Cummins, a leading global manufacturer and distributor of diesel engines and related technologies for commercial vehicles, established a joint venture – fully operational in 1998 – to produce single- and twin-cylinder air compressors for heavy-duty trucks, buses and industrial equipment.
About WABCO
WABCO (NYSE:WBC) is a leading global supplier of technologies and services that improve the safety, efficiency and connectivity of commercial vehicles. Founded nearly 150 years ago, WABCO continues to pioneer breakthrough innovations for advanced driver assistance, braking, stability control, suspension, transmission automation and aerodynamics. Partnering with the transportation industry as it maps a route toward autonomous driving, WABCO also uniquely connects trucks, trailers, cargo, drivers, business partners and fleet operators through advanced fleet management systems and mobile solutions. For five consecutive years, Institutional Investor named WABCO among the “Top 3” in its sector for “Best CEO.” WABCO reported sales of $2.8 billion in 2016. Headquartered in Brussels, Belgium, WABCO has 13,000 employees in 40 countries.
