Meritor WABCO's New Aftermarket Programming Tool Helps Reduce Commercial Vehicle Downtime

NASHVILLE, Tenn., Feb. 16, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Meritor WABCO is announcing a breakthrough programming tool that helps significantly shorten delivery times of replacement electronic control units (ECU) for antilock braking systems (ABS). The Aftermarket Programming Tool will be introduced at the Technology & Maintenance Council (TMC) 2015 Annual Meeting & Transportation Technology Exhibition.

Beginning this spring, service centers can use the tool to configure a new line of partially programmed control units to specific vehicle settings. In recent years, wait times have soared because customers can choose between more than 400 pneumatic ABS ECU variants in use today. Service centers generally do not stock all of these units.   

"Technology like our new Aftermarket Programming Tool can significantly reduce the delivery time for the replacement of ECUs," said Steve Hampson, president, Meritor WABCO. "This will help our customers reduce downtime and return their commercial vehicles to revenue-generating service sooner."

The programming tool is being added to Meritor WABCO's TOOLBOX™ diagnostic software package. Service centers will now be able to stock a small inventory of partially programmed control units and use TOOLBOX™ to quickly configure these parts for a wide variety of vehicles. Reduced inventory and less downtime will help fleets save costs and improve performance.          

The interactive tool walks users through the steps necessary for fast programming right at the point of service to quickly get vehicles back on the road. Service centers can use the Aftermarket Programming Tool when replacing current Meritor WABCO pneumatic ABS and Stability Control ECUs. Meritor WABCO will expand use of the tool to future products, helping to reduce parts proliferation up to 90 percent, according to Hampson.

Aftermarket Programming Tool must be used with TOOLBOX 11.3 or higher and a purchased configuration file. TOOLBOX 11.3 will be available as a free upgrade to current TOOLBOX 11 users this spring.

Service centers can purchase Meritor WABCO's programmable ABS ECUs through Meritor Aftermarket. Each unit will be shipped with instructions. The instructions, including a link to a video, will be available this spring on www.meritorwabco.com within the "Service & Support" heading.

About Meritor WABCO 

Meritor WABCO is a North American joint venture focused on the development and delivery of proven, integrated safety technology and efficiency components. These include braking systems and controls, active safety systems, and suspension and control systems for commercial vehicles in North America. Two leading parent companies back Meritor WABCO, each with more than 100 year legacies. Meritor, Inc. (NYSE:MTOR), a supplier of drivetrain, mobility, braking and aftermarket solutions for commercial vehicle and industrial markets, provides Meritor WABCO the industry's most extensive service and support network; while WABCO Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:WBC), is a leading global supplier of technologies and control systems for the safety and efficiency of commercial vehicles, pioneering breakthrough electronic, mechanical and mechatronic technologies for braking, collision mitigation, stability control and transmission automation systems. For more information, visit www.meritorwabco.com.

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SOURCE Meritor WABCO

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