ArvinMeritor to Produce Air Link at Mexico Plant

(Akron/Tire Review) ArvinMeritor Inc.’s Commercial Vehicle Systems (CVS) unit will manufacture Meritor Air Link suspension at its Sistemas Automotirices de Mexico, S.A. de C.V. joint venture facility in Monterrey, Mexico.

The company added the Air Link suspension to its product line through a licensing agreement with Raydan Manufacturing Inc. of Alberta, Canada in 2004. The agreement covers suspension applications up to and including 52,000-pound GAWR for commercial truck, and specialty and military vehicles.

“Applying our industrialisation and supply chain management tools to the Meritor Air Link suspension will allow us the opportunity to respond to our customers’ unique needs, including modules and systems, while controlling all aspects of quality and cost,” said Larry Dowers, general manager of product strategy.

Air Link’s walking beam air suspension design offers the ride and handling advantages of an air suspension for heavy haul applications, said ArvinMeritor. Other design advantages include desirable roll stability characteristics and lower suspension maintenance as a result of fewer moving parts