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Warrington, Cheshire-based axle supplier Granning Lynx has developed a self-contained, modular lift-up EBS add-on axle that it claims significantly cuts the fitting and engineering approval time for chassis converters.

Having worked closely with vehicle manufacturers and the Department for Transport (DfT), Granning says its stand-alone axle can be fitted both to tractors and rigids and comes with its own EBS control and backup  systems so converters do not have to plumb it in to existing EBS electronics – with all the attendant problems of seeking engineering approval from an original equipment manufacturer (OEM).

Granning Lynx engineering director Mark Quigley says: "We've done tests at MIRA with it and the vehicle sailed through all of them. A number of converters have fitted it and we've experienced no problems with those installations. Because it's stand-alone it provides a separate backup system that works even if there's a fault with the truck's EBS."

Quigley says that all a vehicle basically needs is a trailer control valve (TCV). "Many of the chassis being stretched and converted start life as a tractor; otherwise, rigid vehicles can be fitted with a TCV, so it's not a problem. The pneumatic signal from the TCV is taken from the Granning add-on axle's EBS system. The electrical can lines are then hard-wired into the ISO 7368 canbus on the vehicle."

The Granning system includes  a separate warning light on the dashboard. Quigley explains: "We also fit a charging valve to the front and rear brake reservoirs, which feeds into the reservoir for the lifting Granning axle – so if there's a break in the air line downstream you can't deplete the main air reservoir."

Although the modular stand-alone EBS axle, which comes with Wabco and Knorr-Bremse braking components, adds about 25% to the overall price, Quigley promises less paperwork for converters and OEMs to complete.

Moreover, he says that by going down the stand-alone route, Granning's modular EBS axle can be fitted within three days – whereas other units have involved long discussions of up to six months between the converter and the OEM before the chassis manufacturer has been willing to sign off the conversion.

"We've liaised with Vosa, the DfT, TTS and the EBS manufacturers and we've come up with a solution that is acceptable to all and one that negates the need for the chassis manufacturer to be involved," says Quigley.

"Granning Lynx can supply the suspension, axle, EBS kit and lift-axle control equipment for a specific conversion. Once installed, one of our engineers will visit the converter and install the relevant software into the independent EBS unit. We'll then produce its own declaration for the EBS and send it to Vosa in the usual manner," he adds.

Among the chassis converters offering the modular EBS Granning axle are North East Truck & Van, Truck Fusion and Euro Axles.