The ArvinMeritor Commercial Vehicle Aftermarket (CVA) business recently celebrated reaching twin major milestones with the remanufacture of its 10-millionth brake shoe and 50,000th axle differential carrier at its plant in Plainfield, IN. The 275,000-sq-ft facility, which opened in 1999, has been remanufacturing differential carriers since 1999 and brake shoes since 2000.
Site manager Ernie Smith reported the celebration included a plant tour, the presentation of a commemorative differential carrier and brake shoe (pictured) and a luncheon for all employees.
According to ArvinMeritor, it “committed to a rigid remanufacturing process in the late '80s, opting to adhere to remanufacture standards rather than rebuilt” standards. “We've worked hard to satisfy growing customer demand for our remanufactured shoes and differentials," said Joe Mejaly, vp & gm of ArvinMeritor CVA. "Keeping our customers on the road generating revenue is where they belong and that's always been our goal. Our mission is to offer a broader range of remanufactured components through our authorized sales outlets across North America."
ArvinMeritor pointed out that its reman commitment includes having all remanufactured products undergo an extensive visual inspection and evaluation process to ensure genuine-quality products and concludes with specific parts replacement and “final stamps of quality approval” as well as bench-testing.
To better understand its milestone volumes, the company related that ten million brakes shoes are equivalent to approximately half-a-million tractor-trailers with some 20 shoes on each. Or 10-million shoes would stretch (end-to- end) the 2,400 miles from Indianapolis to Vancouver, British Columbia. The firm said 50,000 differential carriers weigh about 9,100 tons, the same weight as a Ticonderoga-class U.S. Navy destroyer loaded with cargo or about 21 fully loaded 747-400 jets.
ArvinMeritor noted that applications for reman brake shoes include over-the-road tractors and trailers as well as vocational vehicles such as buses and refuse vehicles while axle differential carriers can be found on a range of vehicles from over-the-road trucks to emergency vehicles.
The company pointed out that its portfolio of aftermarket brakes and brake systems, drivelines, suspensions, axles, clutches, tire-inflation systems and other truck and trailer components are offered through its Euclid and Meritor brands.
For more information, go to www.arvinmeritor.com or call their 24/7 customer-service line at 888-725-9355.
