New MAN VOK-08-F Designed to Meet Needs of the American Market
MAN Engines will present its new axle variant at this year’s APTA EXPO in Orlando, Florida USA: the MAN VOK-08-F. The new variant is a fundamental redesign of its successful predecessor model, the MAN VOK-07. Thanks to its sturdier supporting structure, the new MAN VOK-08-F bus front axle offers an increased payload of eight metric tons. MAN Engines made this change to meet the growing weight requirements of its bus customers, stemming from the increasing use of hybrid, hydrogen, and battery-powered drivelines.
MAN has also optimized the rigidity of the axle to improve the stability of vehicles with a higher center of gravity due to the additional components on the roof. The lower radius rods of the MAN VOK-08-F are now positioned at the center of the axle in a V orientation, which means the new front axle is providing greater lateral stability thus ensuring increased driving comfort.
The brake calipers have also been relocated on the new axle design. Whereas on the MAN VOK-07 predecessor model they were positioned at the rear in driving direction, on the new model they have been moved to the front. The new Knorr SYNACT® brake will be introduced replacing the current Knorr SN7 brake. The SYNACT® brake is lighter and the adjuster has been redeveloped in order to extend its service life.
The MAN VOK-08-F is a non-driven front axle for use in city buses and coaches that are from 10.7 to 18 meters in length (35 to 60 feet), compatible with both low-floor and low-entry designs. Given its specific width of 2,591 mm (102”), it is primarily designed for the North-American market. The MAN VOK-08-F will be introduced into production in the second half of 2024 in the Xcelsior series of New Flyer of America Inc., the largest bus manufacturer in North America, that played a key role in the development of this new axle.
MAN Engines is a business unit of the European truck and bus manufacturer MAN Truck & Bus, which is headquartered in Germany. Together with Scania, Volkswagen Caminhões e Ônibus, and Navistar, it belongs to the Traton Group, which is a subsidiary of the Volkswagen Group. Having been active in the USA for many years, MAN Engines has accumulated a wealth of market expertise, and over the course of almost 30 years has manufactured and sold several tens of thousands of axles via its subsidiary MAN Engines & Components Inc., located in Pompano Beach, FL.
The MAN VOK-08-F will be showcased at the APTA (American Public Transportation Association) EXPO in Orlando, FL, USA from October 9–11, 2023 at trade show stand 3077 from MAN Engines & Components.
Source: MAN, October 2nd 2023
