Haldex, Altra Technologies Form Collision Avoidance Alliance

Autoparts Report, May 3, 2001

Haldex Brake Systems, a division in the Haldex group, said it has formed a strategic alliance with Altra Technologies Inc., MN, which has developed electronic anti-collision systems for commercial vehicles, and made a $3 million equity investment in the company.

The total market for collision avoidance systems on commercial vehicles is forecast to show a rapid growth and is estimated to exceed $500 million in five years. The Haldex-Altra alliance aims at capturing at least 15 percent of that market, Haldex said.

Both Haldex and Altra will market the Altra Technologies collision avoidance system which features Altra's patented SmartSensors, Haldex explained. Each unit contains a special radar sensor and built in software to analyze possible collision hazards without the need for an expensive central computer. The SmartSensors can be deployed on the perimeter of any vehicle to guard against the most common accidents, the company said.

Altra Technologies has also developed a hybrid sensor that combines ultrasonic and radar technologies for obstacle detection while reversing. Haldex and Altra will cooperatively develop collision avoidance and other radar-based vehicle dynamics systems for global commercial vehicle markets, Haldex said.