ILAS-EP
The ILAS-EP brings weight savings and longevity benefits to trailer OEMs and the aftermarket.
When ILAS-EP launches for OEMs and the aftermarket, the change at first glance may seem small – just one extra letter compared to its predecessor product, the ILAS-E. But the minor name change brings with it major improvements to the lift axle valve. These benefits come from switching from an aluminium, die-cast housing to an entirely plastic one – an innovation Haldex was first to introduce in this product segment.
Siegfried Heer, senior commercial product manager at Haldex, explains: "The new ILAS-EP housing is almost half the weight of the original. Less weight means cost savings for our customers, while the reduction in corrosion increases the longevity of the part."
Easy integration and flexibility built in
A hidden but essential trailer component, the ILAS-EP (Integrated Lift Axle System) is a lift axle valve that controls the supply of air to the air spring bellows that raise a trailer’s lift axles. When the ILAS-EP is energised, the lifting system remains pressurised and the axle is raised. When the power supply is interrupted, the axle lowers again.
The clever part is that when the ILAS-EP is connected to a Haldex TRS (Trailer Roll Stability) system or an EBS (Electronic Braking System), the lift axles can be raised and lowered automatically as the air suspension reacts to changing trailer loads.
Importantly, Haldex’s ILAS-EP has been designed with flexibility in mind. It can be connected to any EBS or ABS system, even those from other suppliers, while maintaining the same level of performance and functionality across applications. Several different orientations and variants are also available to suit different platforms.
"We are offering direct connection to the air spring bellows with versions that have four, six or seven ports, depending on the customer’s needs. We also have variants that offer different orientations of the solenoid connector, as well as 12- and 24-volt versions," says Heer.
While the internal mechanism of the valve is identical across the range, the plastic housing significantly simplifies manufacturing. The valve is also optimised for high airflow, which is carefully controlled for safety reasons.
Heer adds: "The optimised lowering time takes into account the potential risk of someone being near the trailer and getting hands or feet underneath a tyre. The airflow is therefore not too fast, but optimised and appropriate."
In addition, the increased corrosion resistance delivers clear benefits in demanding operating regions such as the UK and Ireland.
Next generation
Haldex plans to phase out previous versions of ILAS-E and ILAS-E+ in favour of the latest EP version, and is confident this essential but hidden trailer component will demonstrate its value through innovation, flexible design and tangible customer benefits.
"Haldex has long been a technology pioneer in air suspension systems, and this approach continues with the next generation of products," says Heer. "We were the first to introduce a levelling valve made entirely from plastic. Now we are bringing the same innovation to lift and lower valves."
