ZF Aftermarket has announced the introduction of sensors for commercial vehicle applications on the independent aftermarket for the first time under its Wabco brand, according to a press release dated Feb. 28. The sensors are the front camera for the OnLaneALERT lane-departure warning system and the radar sensor for the OnGuardACTIVE automatic emergency braking system.
ZF Aftermarket said it provides these spare parts in original equipment (OE) specification and quality for many DAF and Iveco commercial vehicle models. The necessary brackets and covers are also included in the range. With these new additions, the company said independent workshops now have the opportunity to carry out a complete repair without having to forego cooperation with their usual supplier, particularly in the case of accident repairs. However, ZF Aftermarket points out that sensors must be programmed with the vehicle manufacturer's original diagnostic software after installation.
The advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) sensors are the latest highlight in ZF Aftermarket's extensive portfolio of commercial vehicle parts available under its brands ZF, Lemförder, Sachs, TRW and Wabco. The parts program covers practically all maintenance work — from steering to axles, suspension and shock absorbers to brakes. In addition, there are drive components such as clutches and transmissions as well as air supply and conditioning. Lubricants tailored to ZF transmissions, as well as tools and specialized equipment, complete the range.
ZF said ADAS are becoming established within the commercial vehicle market. Trucks have had to be equipped with automatic emergency braking assistants and lane-departure warning systems since 2015. From 2024, further driver assistance systems will become mandatory throughout the EU. These include, for example, the speed assistant, a turning assistant or the accident data recorder. The company said for independent commercial vehicle workshops, the challenges of the maintenance and repair of trucks and buses are growing because driver assistance systems need to be checked and recalibrated after a repair. To do this, workshops also need access to the right spare parts, in particular to the sensors that supply the data for the driver assistance systems.
“According to a forecast by the German government, truck freight traffic is set to increase by 46% by 2051. Parcel services and bus companies will also expand their business over the next few years. The commercial vehicle segment therefore offers great opportunities for workshops. But they need a strong partner to take advantage of them. As the world's largest commercial vehicle supplier, ZF offers a comprehensive product portfolio for this market with over 70,000 part numbers following the integration of WABCO and introduces more than 400 new commercial vehicle spare parts every year,” the release added.
ZF observed that access to fleet management systems is also becoming increasingly important for commercial vehicle companies, helping them to increase the efficiency of their fleets and avoid unplanned repairs. With ZF Scalar and ZF Bus Connect, ZF said it provides perfect connectivity tools, with which more than 310,000 vehicles worldwide are already connected. The digital fleet management platform ZF Scalar improves the operation of vehicle fleets through AI-based, automated decision-making and ensures high efficiency.
