Internal comparative cradle-to-gate studies show that the two new disc brake generations from Knorr-Bremse, SYNACT and NEXTT, present carbon footprints that are 10% and 11% lower than those of their respective predecessors.

Knorr-Bremse, the global market leader for braking systems and a leading supplier of other rail and commercial vehicle systems, is helping to cut the carbon footprint of commercial vehicles.

Internal comparative cradle-to-gate studies show that the two new disc brake generations from Knorr-Bremse, SYNACT and NEXTT, present carbon footprints that are 10% and 11% lower than those of their respective predecessors.

“Our aim is to minimise the use of natural resources in all our business activities and thereby support a sustainable form of mobility,” said Dr Peter Laier, responsible for the commercial vehicle systems division at Knorr-Bremse AG. “Life cycle assessments help us to understand at what points in the process we can best apply leverage – from production to recycling and disposal.”

With the aid of life cycle assessments (LCAs), Knorr-Bremse compared its new disc brake generations – SYNACT for heavy-duty commercial vehicles and NEXTT for trailers and semitrailers – with their respective predecessors, SN7 and ST7. Both newly developed versions deliver marked advantages in terms of safety, reliability and customer benefits. The LCAs, which are based on ISO 14040, the international standard for life cycle assessments, document the progress made on the sustainability front.

Then there are the savings achieved through the use of the optional Active Caliper Release-System (ACR), a mechanical system patented by Knorr-Bremse. When the braking process is over, the system separates the pads from the brake disc and centres the calliper, minimising brake drag and the resulting power losses inherent to all floating calliper brakes.

Stefan Bräuherr, who is responsible for the topic of sustainability at Knorr-Bremse, said in order to anchor sustainability at product level more firmly throughout the whole product creation process, in 2017 Knorr-Bremse formed a new cross-divisional Ecodesign working group.

In the aftermarket sector, Knorr-Bremse TruckServices adopts a Lifetime Efficiency approach and offers remanufactured products as a low-cost service option for older vehicles.

The emissions target that Knorr-Bremse originally set for itself for 2020 was attained in 2014. The new target is for CO2 emissions from operations not to exceed their 2015 baseline level despite the marked increase in production capacities. With this in mind, the group is working to boost energy efficiency at its locations and aims to achieve a clear increase in the proportion of renewable energy generated in-house.