Update on ZF Steering Products
The performance and safety standards of heavy commercial vehicles are always improving. The increasing demand for reliability and efficiency is a major factor that drives innovation in the trucking industry.
Modern trucks now have sensors that can provide the driver with valuable feedback and warnings while driving. These warnings range from lane-departure signals to the detection of proximity to pedestrians. These systems have helped drivers all over the world to avoid accidents.
Yet, steering systems remain the most important safety and control features in commercial vehicles. Any modification to a truck’s safety features first should consider the driver’s interaction with its steering systems. This article highlights some of the steering solutions produced by ZF for the commercial vehicle industry.
About ZF
ZF is one of the leading suppliers of aftermarket parts for commercial and passenger vehicles in the world. The company sustains a workforce of 149,000 people in 230 locations distributed over 40 countries worldwide. ZF’s reliability and quality are visible in the volume of sales the company makes in a year. The company sold products worth €36 billion in 2018.
The ZF Group began is operations in 1915 in the German town of Friedrichshafen. The company’s name is an abbreviation of the name “Zahnradfabrik”, which means “Gear Factory”. The company’s founder, Ferdinand von Zeppelin, started ZF primarily to produce gears for his Zeppelin airships.
After World War I, ZF moved into the automobile market. The company has continued to grow through acquisitions and mergers without altering its identity and innovative character.
ZF has maintained a strong connection with its origins. Today, 93.2% of the company belongs to the Zeppelin Foundation, which is primarily controlled by the City of Friedrichshafen.
Steering Products
ZF has been instrumental in the development of vehicle steering components for years. In 1999, ZF joined forces with Bosch to produce power steering systems. They established ZF Lenksysteme GmbH and shared the ownership 50/50. In 2015, Bosch took over 100% ownership of ZF Lenksysteme. The ZF Lenksysteme power steering systems and pumps are now produced and sold under the Bosch brand.
ZF continued the production of its high-quality steering gears and aftermarket parts under its TRW and Lemforder brands. Below are some of ZF’s best-selling aftermarket parts for European truck steering systems.
TRW Steering Gears
TRW has been a global supplier of steering gears for truck manufacturers and aftermarket dealers for many years. Today, one-in-three European commercial vehicles use TRW steering gears.
The TRW steering gears are available in two main categories TAS and THP type. Below are some of their unique features.
TAS type Steering Gears
- Easy maintenance due to a minimal number of moving parts
- Minimal resistance leads to superior torque and output performance
- Improves handling and steering control
THP Type Steering Gears
- Easy maneuverability due to faster steering ratio
- Easier control due to faster return-to-centre response
- Easier parking and low-speed control due to innovative Positive Centre Feel (PCF) feature
TRW XCAP
The TRW XCAP is an advanced steering component used when fitting ball joints and tie rod ends to your tie rods. Here are some of its unique features
- Lasts four times longer than competitors
- Lightweight design
- More than 180 references
- Enhanced steering comfort
ZF’s dynamic TRW steering products are complemented by Lemorder’s conventional steering products. Lemorder produces the steering components that ensure the truck responds accurately to the driver’s decisions. These include that rods, tie rods, drag links and ball joints. ZF maintains its competitive edge by investing about 6% of its revenue into research and development of new technologies.
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