TAMPA, Fla. — The Truck Writers of North America (TWNA) have announced Consolidated Metco’s TruTurn fully machined brake drum is the winner of the group’s 2004 Technical Achievement Award.

TWNA director Tom Berg presented the award at the American Trucking Associations’ Technology and Maintenance Council meeting in Tampa, Fla. on Thursday. Truck News editors James Menzies and John G. Smith were members of TWNA’s award committee which considered all new products introduced in 2004 with the exception of new trucks.

The TruTurn brake drum boasts a fully-machined finishing process both inside and out that creates better dimensional consistency and a uniform wall thickness which leads to improved performance characteristics.

"The TruTurn brake drum is truly unique in that it is machined on the outside as well as the inside," explains Rob Edstrom, ConMet’s vice-president of sales and marketing. "Through this process the drum is `turned to balance,’ which means it is inherently balanced, as well as having its strength optimized because the drum wall thickness is uniform around the circumference."

Since weld-on weights are not required, the drum’s strength is enhanced, the company says. The drum has less potential for cracking as well as lower stop temperatures, and a more uniform distribution of temperature and braking forces. The new design also minimizes brake vibration for better braking performance.

TWNA is an organization of professional journalists who cover the trucking industry. The Technical Achievement Award recognizes significant new products and services to the commercial vehicle industry. It has been presented for 11 years.