WABCO Holdings Inc. (NYSE: WBC) announced that its roll stability support (RSS) for trailers has been certified by TÜV Nord Germany, an accredited technical service.
The certification is required to obtain the approval of the German Federal Authority for Road Transport. According to WABCO, its RSS for trailers is the industry’s first trailer roll-over control system approved for use in all 27 countries of the European Union and in 20 other countries worldwide in accordance with the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe’s Regulation 13 for braking, WABCO said.
The EU is mandating standards for improving road safety in Europe—including a new EU regulation that will introduce a vehicle stability function with roll-over control for semi-trailers and heavy trailers. The requirement will apply to trailers equipped both with air suspension and up to three axles. It will be compulsory for new type approvals from July 2010 and for new registrations from July 2011.
WABCO has been offering RSS for trailers with its trailer electronic braking system (EBS) since 2001, ten years ahead of such a function becoming compulsory in the European Union.
Integrated with WABCO’s Trailer EBS system, RSS is designed to prevent vehicle roll-over within physical limits. It analyzes vehicle data such as wheel speed, load and lateral acceleration. In case it detects an imminent roll-over hazard, RSS automatically applies the brakes to reduce the speed and re-stabilize the vehicle.
Beyond the scope of the EU’s new regulation, WABCO also offers RSS for trailers with mechanical suspension, lift axles and steering axles. The company can adapt RSS for special vehicle types such as non-standard flatbed semi-trailers with independent wheel suspension.
As of 2009, WABCO has sold more than 900,000 trailer electronic braking systems worldwide.