Track: Manufacturing Design and Servitisation

Abstract

One of the most critical requirements for safety in vehicles is the availability of reliable braking systems. Most heavy vehicles in Zimbabwe employ the conventional hydraulic braking system. However changes and improvements in technology have seen the introduction of retarders that make use of magnets and eddy currents. The new technology is friction free but still deemed expensive and thus not yet readily acceptable to vehicle manufacturers for fears of reliability and cost. Hydraulic brakes are equally expensive in the long run owing to maintenance and frequent replacement of brake pads and rotors, particularly in Zimbabwe where the road infrastructure has deteriorated significantly over the years. A case study was carried out at a Zimbabwean company which specializes in the sales, service and backup of Scania heavy vehicles, with a special focus on the braking systems. The aim of the research was to conceptualize and compare various options and concepts of the eddy current retarders. Analysis for the chosen option were made for reliability and efficiency using an industrial engineering approach, with the objective of supplementing hydraulic brakes and recommending the sustainable use of such technology to the company and thereby dispelling any fears of reliability and cost.