Official Press Release on behalf of WABCO:
WABCO Localizes Air Disc Brake
Production in the U.S. to Meet Increasing Customer Demand in the Commercial
Vehicle Industry
- Celebrates
Grand Opening of state-of-the-art manufacturing facility - Invests
$20 million in 145,000 square-foot plant - Increased
number of high-tech U.S. manufacturing jobs at site to 230
NORTH
CHARLESTON, South Carolina, USA – March 22, 2017 – WABCO Holdings Inc. (NYSE:
WBC), a leading global supplier of technologies that improve the safety,
efficiency and connectivity of commercial vehicles, today 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.
“We
are excited to expand our manufacturing capabilities in the U.S. to be closer
to our customers in the region. Customer intimacy remains a major
differentiator for WABCO around the globe as we capitalize on dynamic growth
opportunities,” said Jacques Esculier,
WABCO Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “By localizing the production
of Air Disc Brakes in the region we demonstrate our commitment to advancing
commercial vehicle safety and shaping the future of the transportation
industry. Our Air Disc Brakes pave the way to higher automation of commercial vehicles
and platooning, both of which rely heavily on superior braking performance.”
“Commercial vehicle
manufacturers and fleet operators in North America value the superior
performance of single-piston Air Disc Brakes compared to traditional drum
brakes and other ADBs available in the market today,” said Jon Morrison, WABCO President, Americas. “Our new Charleston
facility enables WABCO to supply industry-leading safety and efficiency
technologies to customers across North America and beyond.”
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. Superbly 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.
MAXX22T
is the unique ADB system offering significant weight savings for trailer
applications in North America. WABCO signed a
long-term supply agreement announced in 2015 with Hendrickson Trailer
Commercial Vehicle Systems combining WABCO’s leading braking
technologies with Hendrickson’s INTRAAX® and VANTRAAX® integrated suspension
systems. The powerful Air Disc Brake system offers
overall weight reduction of up to 100 lbs on tandem axle trailers, thereby,
helping to improve vehicle fuel efficiency or enable an increase in transport
payload.
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.
Press
Photo / Caption: WABCO localized
in the United States the production of its most advanced Air Disc Brakes to
meet increasing customer demand. The company invested $20 million in the state-of-the-art,
145,000 square-foot manufacturing facility located in North Charleston, SC.
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.
For more information, visit www.wabco-auto.com.
WABCO
North America media contact
Dick Pacini, +1 248 770 6446,dpacini@millerschingroup.com
WABCO
Global media contact
Nina Friedmann, +49 69 719 168
171, wabco@klenkhoursch.de
WABCO
investors and analysts contact
Christian Fife, +1 248 270
9290, christian.fife@wabco-auto.com
