Commercial vehicle technology solutions specialist Knorr-Bremse recently released a new iMass on board mass management (OBM) system in Australia. The system is designed to measure the pressure in the air suspension of the vehicle and relate this to a vehicle mass estimation. It is the only approved Smart OBM system utilising Trailer Electronic Braking System (TEBS) technology in the market currently.
Last month, Knorr-Bremse Australia – CVS won the Application of Technology Award at the Australian Freight Industry Awards ceremony for its new iMass OBM system. The honour recognises Knorr-Bremse’s use of innovative technology and commitment in providing cost effective and productive solutions to support the freight industry.
The iMass solution is highly consistent and accurate and can be integrated into the existing infrastructure. Being a hardwired system, it ensures connectivity is easily maintained and stays reliable.
To support the release of the iMass solution, Knorr-Bremse has created a strong support network in the marketplace by training installers and a number of its TruckServices service partners both locally and interstate in the installation, calibration and service of iMass. John Ryan is one such Knorr-Bremse TruckServices partner. John, who is the owner of Ryan’s Diesel Maintenance & Repairs, specialises in trailer EBS diagnostics and compliance checks / repairs, and truck & trailer repairs and servicing.
John has been a TruckServices service partner for nearly a year and in that time, he has already seen huge benefits of the technology for his customers. “The latest iMass OBM system is just a brilliant piece of technology. It utilises the trailer EBS system that is already installed to the trailer,” he says.
The product received its Transport Certification Australia (TCA) Category B type-approval earlier this year, building on the Category A type-approval it received in July 2021. The system was engineered, designed, developed and rigorously tested for compliance by the Knorr-Bremse engineering and sales teams at the Keysborough branch in Victoria to achieve the TCA mass accuracy of 98 per cent.
With over 20 years of experience in the heavy vehicle transport sector, John established his own business roughly two years ago. “My passion is to ensure trucks/trailers are safe for use on our roads and to provide a service to our wonderful industry to ensure any heavy vehicles I work on are maintained to a high standard to ensure that my family and yours are kept safe out there. We are a small team – I manage the general day-to-day operations, ensuring work is scheduled in, liaising with customers and listening to their concerns, performing repairs and organising parts etc., while my wife manages the accounting side of the business.”
John’s journey with Knorr-Bremse started nearly a year ago when, while servicing a fleet of logging trucks and trailers fitted with the Knorr-Bremse electronic braking systems (EBS), John came across an issue that required some additional technical support. He reached out to “technical guru” David Oliver (now retired), who got him in touch with Knorr-Bremse’s Product and Marketing Manager – CVS, Robert Bonnefin.
“Robert pointed me in the right direction and offered exceptional support. There was an opening for a truck service partner in Victoria’s Gippsland region to provide product support and before I knew it, I was a Truck Services partner. This partnership is helping me better support my customers who have Knorr-Bremse’s TEBS modules and to learn and support the fantastic Knorr-Bremse product line.
“Since joining Truck Services, Darren Hillson, Knorr-Bremse’s Technical Sales & Business Development Manager along with Rachel Michaud Technical Account Manager OE Truck, and Luke Paola Application Engineer have provided me some outstanding training to support the Knorr-Bremse product and helped me grow my business for which I’m very grateful.”
Knorr-Bremse has been working on the development of active and passive driver assistance systems through electronic systems ranges – from legally required ABS (anti-lock braking systems), through EBS to ESP (electronic stability program) and ACC (adaptive cruise control).
Speaking about its EBS systems, John says: “The Knorr-Bremse product is very durable in the marketplace and suitable for some of the harshest environments such as forestry, logging, right through to applications on the open highway. When coupled with fitment that uses high attention to detail, this product sits high with many other systems in the market and proves extremely reliable.”
“When the Knorr-Bremse TEBS system is maintained correctly and fault-free, the expected outcome is a high level of increased road safety, increased tow coupling, brake lining, tyre wear and roll stability to help mitigate potential roll over events. Another advantage is that this system provides ABS and quick brake application response times.
“The team at Knorr-Bremse have been brilliant. Their extensive training has been very valuable for me, my customers and the Knorr-Bremse brand as well. They have assisted with brake module Dpv files, and information when the odd curly fault has been thrown my way by my customers.
“The Knorr-Bremse team is very passionate about our industry. It shows in the way they conduct their business and develop their products. This is exactly what the customer requires and as a TruckServices partner it is a great brand to represent.”
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