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Innovations

WABCO's long history of technology breakthroughs began with George Westinghouse's revolutionary invention, the air brake, in 1868. Today, WABCO is a global technology leader in the commercial vehicle industry and a preferred solutions provider to the world's leading commercial truck, trailer, bus and car manufacturers. New WABCO developments are protected by a comprehensive patent portfolio.

Cornerstones of WABCO's quest for innovation:

• Approximately US$83million invested per year in R&D
• 750 product development engineers in five countries (France, Germany, India, Poland, UK), with an average of 15 years experience per person
• 10,000 total man-years of engineering experience
• Computer aided engineering (CAD/CAM)
• Three privately owned test tracks in Rovaniemi (Finland), Jeversen (Germany) and Chennai (India Joint Venture)

WABCO's recent innovation milestones and partnerships include:

• WABCO's adaptive air suspension and chassis control on Audi's A6 passenger car
• WABCO's compressor in the air suspension system on Mercedes-Benz new CLS-class passenger car
• WABCO's North American joint venture, Meritor WABCO, reached an industry milestone for sales of its "Easy-Stop" trailer anti-lock braking systems (ABS), with more than 1.5 million units sold in the past 10 years, making the system the most widely specified trailer ABS system in the US commercial vehicle industry
• New generation air disc brake of revolutionary bionic design that reduces the overall average vehicle weight by more than 50 kg (110 lb) and increases potential payload. The air disc brake combines high-performance braking with easy installation for manufacturers and improved service life for fleet owners and owner-operators by optimized and thickened brake pads. The optimization of wear characteristics reduces service cost.
• IVTM, WABCO's Integrated Vehicle Tire Pressure Monitoring system, the first system specifically designed for commercial vehicles, available for trucks, trailers and buses. IVTM is an innovation jointly developed by WABCO and Michelin. It continuously monitors tire pressure amd detects exceeded thresholds for under- and over-inflation, as well as slow leaks. It reduces both the need for frequent manual inspections and the ristk of tire-related breakdowns.
• Air System Protector , a high-performance air dryer cartridge suitable for most truck models. A patented coalescing cartridge, it reduces aerosol contamination and removes both moisture and oil, reliably protecting commercial vehicle air and braking systems, extending system component life and reducing service costs and vehicle downtime. It replaces standard air dryer cartridges.
• New generation Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) for trucks and buses from WABCO and Continental Temic: More compact, easier to install, retains proven driver alert feature and road safety benefits.