Commenting on the Innovation Award, Claus Bünnagel, Editor-in-Chief of busplaner, says: “The hydropneumatic suspension and damping system from HEMSCHEIDT Fahrwerktechnik gives buses a high degree of driving comfort and stability – even on uneven roads. The oil used transmits forces with almost no loss – in the case of large load changes, e.g. when passengers get on and off, the system is back to level in a fraction of a second.”
Chassis systems operating without compressed air – the future of e-mobility
“Winning the busplaner Innovation Award makes us very proud. Congratulations are in order for the whole team at HEMSCHEIDT Fahrwerktechnik for this terrific success,” comments Uwe Bittroff, HÜBNER Group Managing Director and responsible for the Mobility Road division.“We are convinced that these chassis systems that operate without compressed air will be a key part of the future of electromobility. That’s why we see this award not only as a great honor in itself, but also as a confirmation that we – as the HÜBNER Group – can make an important contribution to the ongoing mobility transition with key technical solutions and concepts.”
Uwe Bittroff delivered the innovation award as a surprise to the team working with Managing Director Dr. Mark Wöhrmann at the Hemscheidt Fahrwerktechnik headquarters in Haan-Gruiten. HEMSCHEIDT Fahrwerktechnik first presented the innovative new suspension and damping system at Busworld Europe 2023, the world’s largest B2B trade fair devoted exclusively to bus transport. HEMSCHEIDT Fahrwerktechnik is part of the HÜBNER Group – a global system supplier serving the mobility sector, manufacturing industries, as well as life sciences companies and research activities.
Driving comfort with high energy efficiency
“We would like to thank the trade magazine busplaner and all its readers for this very special award,” said a jubilant Dr. Mark Wöhrmann, Managing Director of HEMSCHEIDT Fahrwerktechnik. “With this hydropneumatic suspension and damping system we have succeeded in combining energy efficiency and driving comfort in one system – for greater sustainability in the ongoing operation of both buses and commercial vehicles.”
The hydropneumatic suspension and damping system is the basis for a chassis technology in buses and commercial vehicles that can operate without the use of compressed air. What makes the system so special is the use of (bio)oil as the hydraulic fluid in the system instead of compressed air, which requires far more energy. An oil-based system of this sort functions with greater energy efficiency and at the same time requires significantly less space in the chassis.
Oil enables a higher degree of energy efficiency
The use of oil enables a higher degree of energy efficiency than compressed air. This is because the oil as a hydraulic carrier fluid is continually reused in the closed hydropneumatic suspension and damping system. This makes it so that more than two thirds of the energy typically used for the bus’s lifting and lowering operations can be reused.
Besides saving energy, the suspension and damping system increases driving comfort and stability – even on rough road surfaces. And in the case of large load shifts when passengers exit or enter a bus, for example, a hydropneumatic suspension system brings the bus to a level position in fractions of a second.
Positive feedback and interest from customers
“Following the presentation of the system we have had very positive feedback to our innovative suspension and damping system that works with compressed air,” reports Dr. Mark Wöhrmann.“We are conducting in-depth discussions with several customers who are convinced of the added value delivered by this system and are interested in using it in their vehicle models.”
The mobility transition – sustainably
The HÜBNER Group is supporting the mobility transition and the implementation of electromobility with numerous product solutions for buses, commercial vehicles and railway vehicles that reduce the weight of vehicles and improve aerodynamics. In addition, HÜBNER is pursuing a comprehensive approach to sustainability – from product development, to production, to maintenance and servicing.
HEMSCHEIDT Fahrwerktechnik
Suspension Solutions
HEMSCHEIDT Fahrwerktechnik GmbH & Co. KG (HFT) is specialized in the development and production of customized chassis systems for buses, trains and commercial vehicles. The company was founded in 1929 under the name Maschinenfabrik HEMSCHEIDT Wuppertal. Since then, it has operated as a highly specialized partner of the commercial vehicle industry in the field of chassis technology. HFT has been a wholly owned subsidiary of the HÜBNER Group since 2007, producing high performance chassis and articulation systems for buses, trains and commercial vehicles. HEMSCHEIDT Fahrwerktechnik is headquartered in Haan-Gruiten near Düsseldorf with a workforce of 45 employees. www.hemscheidt.de
