Eaton breaks through
Page 17
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• Eaton has achieved sales breakthroughs into previous non-users with its new generation of five-speed, six-speed and nine-speed synchromesh gearboxes covering torque outputs from 390 to 980Nm.
The 4106 six-speed transmission is already supplied to ERF for the E6 17-tonne rigid chassis behind the Cummins B Series engine, while Seddon Atkinson and Dennis Eagle specify it with the Perkins Phaser engine for municipals.
Now Steyr is to take it for its right-hand-drive rigids (see page 10). Volvo, which already uses Eaton axle components in the FL6, is also fitting the 4106 to more than 60 FL611 11-tonne urban tractive units ordered by Bass.
Eaton has also penetrated the Japanese home market for the first time, having agreed to supply Nissan with its 6109 nine-speed gearbox.
Fuller nine-speed and Twin Splitter gearboxes are already supplied direct to Harris Assemblers in Ireland for Hinos, which are sold there and in the UK.
Production versions of the SAMT transmission, based on the Twin Splitter gearbox, are now going down the line at St Nazair, while a pilot series of the fully automated box will be released later this year.
To provide a greater understanding of the systems Eaton is offering an intensive service and maintenance course, while fault-finding is said to be simpli fled with an SAMT test set to complement the coded dashboard display.
SAMT options for the synchromesh gearboxes are now being developed "but are still four to five years away from the production stage for 17tonne distribution vehicles", says David Rothera, Eaton's regional manager for the UK and Scandinavia.