(R)EVOLUTION - Electropneumatic ABS for industrial vehicles: optimised braking

Electropneumatic ABS for industrial vehicles: optimised braking

In the field of road transport, safety is a vital issue. Due to their size and weight, heavy goods vehicles require particularly reliable braking systems. However, until the 1990s, emergency braking could cause the wheels to lock completely, resulting in a dramatic loss of control for the driver and a major danger to other road users.

That is why, in 1995, US regulations imposed a decisive advance: the mandatory installation of anti-lock braking systems (ABS) on road tractors, trailers and lorries equipped with pneumatic brakes. This pioneering measure marked a turning point for heavy transport safety. Now, even during sudden braking, the wheels continue to rotate, allowing the driver to maintain control of the steering and avoid uncontrolled skidding.

The impact is immediate: vehicle stability is improved, stopping distances are reduced, and the risk of accidents due to loss of traction is significantly reduced. In an industry where every incident can have serious human and material consequences, ABS quickly becomes an indispensable ally.

Building on this success, the system crossed the Atlantic and was adopted in Europe, where it gradually became standard equipment in all commercial vehicles. This widespread adoption complemented the innovations already introduced twenty years earlier in passenger cars, when Bosch and Mercedes-Benz pioneered ABS for cars. The idea is the same, but adapted to much greater constraints: managing the colossal power of pneumatic braking systems while ensuring maximum safety.

Today, ABS has become an essential standard for heavy goods vehicles around the world. It is part of a broader approach to active safety, alongside other technologies such as ESP, emergency brake assist and advanced driver assistance systems. By helping to reduce the risk of serious accidents, it has profoundly transformed road transport, reminding us that technological innovation is not only about improving comfort or performance, but also about saving lives.