Blue Bird singled out Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems for superior performance and commitment to innovation in awarding the safey and braking systems manufacturer with the Blue Bird Corporation 2014 Supplier of the Year award this fall in Macon, Georgia.
Blue Bird recognized 10 “distinguished suppliers” from its list of 390 production suppliers for the best in quality, innovation, service, and timely delivery. A supplier for several Blue Bird wheel-end offerings, Bendix won the top honor on Oct. 16 for partnering with Blue Bird to launch the Bendix ADB22X air disc brake this past year. Blue Bird credited Bendix’s “outstanding dedication to innovation and technology for the tremendous success of the product launch.”
The patented Bendix ADB22X technology, which is manufactured by Bendix Spicer Foundation Brake in Bowling Green, Kentucky, is a lightweight air disc brake design that significantly reduces stopping distance and offers straight, stable stops with a car-like feel and virtually no brake fade or degradation of stopping power. In addition, the Bendix ADB22X offers twice the lining life, four times the rotor life, and half the service time of comparable drum brakes.
“Bendix is truly honored to receive this prestigious award from Blue Bird Corporation,” said Scott Burkhart, Bendix vice president – sales, marketing, and business development. “We value our collaboration with Blue Bird and look forward to continuing to work together to provide innovative, reliable, and high-quality solutions for Blue Bird buses. We are proud to partner with Blue Bird to help ensure a safe school bus ride for students each day.”
This year, Blue Bird also became the first North American school bus manufacturer to offer stability technology with the Bendix® ESP® Electronic Stability Program full-stability system as a factory-installed option on conventional Blue Bird buses. Bendix ESP is a proven commercial vehicle technology that helps mitigate loss-of-control and rollover conditions. Both companies displayed the solution last month at the National Association for Pupil Transportation Summit in Kansas City.
Bendix added that no technology can replace skilled, professional and alert drivers as well as comprehensive driver training, which the company called “the most important safety components of all.”
Other suppliers recognized by Blue Bird are:
Chicago Expert Importers (CEI)
Cummins, Inc.
Dana Holding Corporation
Hankook Tire America, Inc.
HSM Transportation Solutions
Quality Drive Away, Inc.
Roller Die and Forming
ROUSH CleanTech
St. Claire Technologies
