CULLMAN, Ala. — The newly formed Brake and Wheel Ends (BWE) group of Marmon Highway Technologies is looking to develop systems solutions to optimize the performance of its brake and wheel end components for heavy truck and trailers, the company announced.

BWE currently consists of: Webb Wheel Products (OE, aftermarket and severe-duty business units) and TSE Brakes. The group will expand to include other complimentary brake and wheel end components engineered to work together to provide improved performance, safety and life-cycle costs, the company announced.

BWE will also be acquiring new companies and entering into joint ventures to, as the company says, “further build on the idea that components developed with the total system in mind will bring better benefits to the end user.”

The company has a modern, well-equipped R&D facility in Cullman, Ala., which will support product design and development as well as prototyping and testing capabilities.

“With the current make-up of the Brake and Wheel Ends group along with acquisitions and joint ventures, we can provide the commercial vehicle market complimentary products designed to work with each other offering the end user better performance and cost profiles,” explained J.T. Weis, president of the group. “For instance, when brake drums and linings are engineered together there can be significant improvements in performance and life benefitting fleets. Light truck and passenger car braking systems have long incorporated a friction couple model. However, in the commercial vehicle industry, brake drums and linings are still developed separately and may or may not compliment each other. We want to change that. There are significant other opportunities we are pursuing to marry products to give the end user system solutions.”