In an announcement today at Heavy Duty Aftermarket Week (HDAW) ‘13 in Las Vegas, leaders from Betts Company announced BettsHD as the company’s new operating division for spray suppression and fender products. BettsHD combines the resources of Betts and Life-Time Fenders into one reliable source for safety-related products focused on heavy duty tractor/trailer applications. Products include mud flap hangers; conspicuity solutions; quarter, poly and metal fenders; bracket kits and accessories; application solutions; and custom design/manufacturing. Heavy duty tractor/trailer components previously branded or offered distinctly by Betts and Life-Time Fenders will be branded as BettsHD.

Under the leadership of Bill Betts, vice president, Betts Company, the newly formed business unit will offer a broad line of products, including continuously enhanced bundles for the heavy duty aftermarket.

"With our strong leadership in spray suppression and fender products, we are pleased to unite these legacy brands," said Betts. "We believe the formation of BettsHD provides strong supply chain value through expanded, unified marketing, extended customer support and streamlined business processes designed for productive business. The BettsHD platform is uniquely positioned for complementary product extensions focused on safety-related products."

BettsHD has been a leader in spray-suppression products for nearly 60 years and holds numerous patents, including the first patent granted on spray suppression mud flap hangers in 1954. Life-Time Fenders, acquired in 2007, substantially increased Betts’ solution capabilities with its well respected line of quarter, single axle and tandem fenders for on- and off- highway applications. BettsHD will continue to operate from strategically located manufacturing facilities in California and Ohio.

The formation of BettsHD is part of a larger branding initiative introduced by the Betts Company in 2013. Formerly known as Betts Spring Company, the company was founded in 1868 by William Michael Betts who built a reputation for the design and manufacturing of high quality springs for transportation and industrial applications. Betts Company has evolved significantly during its long legacy and in addition to BettsHD holds two additional operating divisions; Betts Truck Parts and Service www.BettsTruckParts.com and Betts Spring Manufacturing www.BettsSpring.com.

Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC hosted renowned technical expert Wayne Tustin at its Elyria, Ohio, headquarters Nov. 27-29, continuing the company’s commitment to keeping its engineers on the leading edge of active safety and braking system technology development.

Tustin, whose engineering career began in 1948 at Boeing, is an authority on factors that cause equipment downtime, specializing in the measurement, analysis, and simulation of mechanical shock and vibration. While visiting Bendix, he conducted an intensive three-day workshop with 13 experienced Bendix engineers.

"Vibration study can be highly theoretical, and Wayne Tustin is able to translate its very complex concepts into applications that our engineers can put to work every day," said Raymundo Garza, manager of organizational learning at Bendix. "By learning the most effective ways of extracting and interpreting vibration data from commercial vehicles, our engineers are even better equipped to put that data to use in designing and enhancing Bendix’s products."

As industry regulations grow more stringent when it comes to commercial vehicle fuel efficiency and safety standards, understanding shock and vibration is increasingly crucial in the design of new, safer braking systems and components.

Following his visit to Bendix, Tustin taught another three-day shock and vibration workshop at New York Air Brake, in early December. Engineers there focused their learning on shock and vibration testing applications in the rail industry. New York Air Brake, in Watertown, N.Y., is one of Bendix’s sister companies in the Knorr-Bremse Group.

Tustin’s visit reflects just one aspect of Bendix’s commitment to ensuring that its engineers at all levels keep abreast of the skills and evolving information needed to develop industry-leading technologies.

In addition to providing courses for its experienced engineers, Bendix also offers an Engineering Development Program, which takes a two-pronged approach to sharpening the skills of engineers in the early stages of their careers. Established in 2011, the Engineering Development Program guides college recruits through a three-year, full-time rotational employment with Knorr-Bremse. This rotation exposes the engineers to a range of engineering challenges at several North American facilities, including Bendix’s plants in Acuña, Mexico, and Bowling Green, Ky., as well as New York Air Brake.

The company’s Engineering Development Program includes a robust Technical Skills Enhancement program, a contemporary engineering curriculum that caters specifically to the current group of product engineers. Specialized certification opportunities, distance learning, and in-person workshops are part of the program.

"Bendix is proud of our engineers’ innovative thinking, and of the very progressive approach we take in the technical education of our new and experienced engineers alike," Garza said. "Equipping them with the best tools and knowledge available is one more reflection of our passion for safety and our desire to provide