HANNOVER, GERMANY. A new family of single-reduction drive axles from Dana (NYSE:DAN) features a flexible design platform that will allow it to be customized for and build in various markets around the world, including North America, Western Europe and emerging economic zones. Introduced at the IAA Commercial Vehicle Show, the new global axle will accommodate GCW ratings between 32 and 41 tons with final drive ratios ranging from 2.05:1 to 6.50:1.
The new axle family combines Dana’s AdvanTEK gearing technology with a common head-assembly architecture and other Spicer axle developments intended to lower weight and improve efficiency, the company said.
As a global product, it will be locally sourced and manufactured in multiple markets, and modified to be compatible with popular suspensions and specifications for each area, according to the company. In North America, for example, the axle will be configured to support the downspeeding strategy being rolled out by truck makers to improve fuel efficiency.