Breakthrough in Brake Technology: ArvinMeritor Remanufactured Brake Shoes With PlatinumShield(TM) Coating Offers Industry-Best Protection Against Corrosion and Rust-jacking
- Resists micro-abrasion which can lead to accelerated corrosion and rust-jacking
- Three-year, 300,000 mile warranty against rust-jacking
ORLANDO, Fla., Feb. 10 /PRNewswire/ -- ArvinMeritor, Inc. (NYSE: ARM)
today introduced remanufactured brake shoes with PlatinumShield(TM) coating,
which provides superior protection against corrosion and rust-jacking.
Remanufactured Meritor shoes with PlatinumShield coating provide a three-year,
300,000 mile warranty against rust-jacking.
The aftermarket shoes -- platinum gray in color -- were introduced here at
the Technology & Maintenance Council of ATA, and subsequently at the annual
meeting of Heavy Duty Aftermarket Week, Feb. 17.
The PlatinumShield coating was developed by ArvinMeritor brake engineering
to resist micro-abrasion caused by the movement of the brake lining against
the shoe table during normal use. Rust-jacking occurs when rust forms on bare
shoe metal under the lining, causing the lining to lift and crack.
Starting in May 2009, the remanufactured brake shoes with PlatinumShield
coating will be standard on all Meritor remanufactured production shoes with
"MA" and "R" prefixes; Meritor MG1, MG2L, MG2, CG, and MET OEM aftermarket
shoes; and Fras-Le F550, F555, F577, F560, F587, F787T, and Combo shoes.
"While rust-jacking has been a recurring industry issue, it's a fact that
the increased use of harsh liquid chemicals as winter road solvents can
accelerate the formation of rust on shoe metal where the paint has been worn
away," said Doug Wolma, general manager of remanufacturing for ArvinMeritor's
Commercial Vehicle Aftermarket (CVA) business. "PlatinumShield is a
technologically-advanced coating process that provides North American truck
operators with the highest level of protection possible."
This technology breakthrough is the result of ArvinMeritor's investment in
an improved paint facility at its modern 275,000 sq. ft. Plainfield, Ind.,
remanufacturing facility. Used shoes are shot-blasted and proceed through a
five-stage wash and pretreatment process with iron phosphate before the
PlatinumShield coating is applied.
"PlatinumShield coating represents an entirely new process for protecting
brake shoes and delivering the performance customers expect," said Paul Nyers,
marketing manager for ArvinMeritor CVA. "The real benefit to our customers is
lower overall maintenance costs. The elimination of premature brake jobs
resulting from cracked liners will make fleets using these shoes more
competitive."
In testing to evaluate surface rust after more than 400 hours of exposure
to salt and road solvents, remanufactured shoes with PlatinumShield achieved
the highest possible ASTM(1) scale rating of 10 (less than .01 percent surface
rust). Shoes from two competitors advertising rust-jacking protection features
had ASTM ratings of 1 (50 percent surface rust) and 2 (33 percent surface
rust).
In addition to brake shoes, ArvinMeritor remanufactures axle carriers,
transmissions, brake calipers, trailer axles, steering gears and drivelines.
The company entered remanufacturing in 1982 with the production of axle
carriers at its Florence, Ky., national parts distribution center, and has
since moved that operation into the Plainfield remanufacturing center.
To address new truck-trailer brake applications, ArvinMeritor will make
the PlatinumShield anti-rust jacking coating available to all OEM customers
later in 2009.
About ArvinMeritor
ArvinMeritor, Inc. is a premier global supplier of a broad range of
integrated systems, modules and components to the motor vehicle industry. The
company serves commercial truck, trailer and specialty original equipment
manufacturers and certain aftermarkets, and light vehicle manufacturers.
ArvinMeritor common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the
ticker symbol ARM. For more information, visit the company's Web site at:
http://www.arvinmeritor.com/.
(1) Test simulation conducted by ArvinMeritor using ASTM (American Society
of Testing Materials) B-117 salt-spray testing standard
