The newly formed Brake and Wheel Ends (BWE) group of Marmon Highway Technologies (MHT) is developing systems to optimize the performance of brake and wheel end components for the heavy truck and trailer market.
Cullman AL-based BWE is comprised of the businesses of Webb Wheel Products Inc, OE, Severe Duty, and Aftermarket; along with TSE Brakes. Additionally, BWE plans to acquire new companies and enter into joint ventures.
A research and development facility on the BWE campus in Cullman supports all its businesses with product design and development, in-house prototyping, and extensive testing capabilities. Product design incorporates 3D CAD, Finite Element Analysis (FEA), and in-house prototyping capabilities that include an induction melt furnace and vacuum molding facility, rapid prototype printer, CNC and vertical lathes, and a full metallurgical laboratory. Test equipment onsite includes a heavy-duty Link brake dynamometer with infrared camera and two rotary fatigue testers On-vehicle testing is performed by Link-Radlinski at the Transportation Research Center (TRC) in Ohio.
During 2011, BWE is expected to announce additional business partnerships along with enhancements of current capabilities.