ELYRIA, Ohio — Bendix has announced it recently produced its 500,00th ADB22X air disc brake.

The company says it will produce 180,000 air disc brakes this year alone, out of its production facility in Bowling Green, Ky.

The Bendix ADB22X has been in production since 2005. Demand has increased more than five-fold since 2009, the company says. Production reached the quarter million mark in early 2012 and has doubled that in just 18 months.

“The popularity of the American-made Bendix ADB22X is a result of the brake’s quality and the market’s growing confidence in ADB technology,” said Aaron Schwass, vice-president and general manager of Bendix Spicer Foundation Brake. “Every day, more fleets and drivers discover the appeal and advantages of air disc brakes, from their car-like feel and straight, stable stops to the maintenance benefits of quicker pad replacement. Coupled with virtually no brake fade or degradation of stopping power, air disc brakes provide improved performance and reliability, helping to make commercial vehicles safer for everyone sharing the highway.”

Bendix recently invested $3.8 million into its Bowling Green facility to keep up with demand.

“We’re backing up our market gains with increased investment at the Kentucky facility. We’re investing in our products, our employees, and in our customers, who share our commitment for putting the safest, highest-performing, most reliable, and most cost-effective brake systems on their vehicles,” said Eddie Wilkinson, president of Bendix Spicer Foundation Brake.