“We are pleased to be represented once again at NUFAM with our intelligent assistance systems and proven solutions. As a leading trade fair, NUFAM offers visitors from Germany and other European countries the opportunity to gain a comprehensive and diverse overview of the commercial vehicle industry’s portfolio,” said Dietmar Franke, Head of Trailer Germany, Austria, Switzerland at JOST. “With a wide range of products, JOST helps to increase the efficiency and safety of a fleet. In addition to optimising costs, JOST assistance systems make the everyday life of truck drivers easier and significantly counteract the challenge of the driver shortage.”
Automatic coupling system KKS with new KKS-U Connector: faster, safer, more efficient
The KKS enables drivers to couple and uncouple semi-trailers via remote control without leaving the driver’s cabin, automatically, safely and quickly. The driver is guided through the entire coupling process, with sensor technology providing live information on the KKS remote control throughout every step of the process. For example, the support plate sensor indicates that the trailer plate is touching and the position of the king pin is also monitored by sensors. Climbing out of the cabin to manually open the fifth wheel, cranking down the landing gear and manually connecting the spiral cable, air and brake connections are all a thing of the past for drivers. Time, comfort and safety gains are made possible with just one product.
At the NUFAM JOST will present another innovation of the KKS – the KKS-U Connector: With the KKS-U Connector, existing fleets can be retrofitted with a KKS system without much effort, as it is simply and quickly mounted to the underside of the semi-trailer. The KKS-U connector controls all the mechanical, electrical, and pneumatic connections between the truck and trailer, eliminating the need for vulnerable air, electrics and ABS/EBS spiral lines. Alongside the exhibit at the stand, there will also be live demonstrations: Visitors can have a look at the automatic coupling process every day in the outside area.
JOST King Pin Finder: new assistance system
As an innovation, JOST will be presenting the King Pin Finder in Karlsruhe, a camera integrated in the fifth wheel coupling that supports the coupling process by sending optimum images to the dashboard in the driver’s cabin. Securely integrated into the fifth wheel coupling, the JOST King Pin Finder provides assistance during coupling, thereby enhancing both safety and convenience. This latest assistance system allows the driver to find the ideal coupling height and to manoeuvre the tractor perfectly. The King Pin Finder assists by displaying a live camera image in the driver’s cabin when driving backwards, making the coupling process considerably easier. On top of this, the system’s intuitive handling assists drivers when changing trailers – thereby preventing accidents and damage to the fifth wheel coupling and king pin, as well as the truck and trailer.
Drawbar Finder: the smart solution for the coupling process
ROCKINGER will exhibit a further innovation at the NUFAM in the form of the Drawbar Finder. Here, a camera sits in a central and protected position above the towing hitch, functioning as an extra set of eyes and preventing misalignment of the drawbar eye. By providing both horizontal and vertical guid-ance, it enables precise coupling, which in turn raises efficiency and helps prevent accidents. The driver no longer needs to get out of the truck to check that the drawbar eye is aligned correctly. It is therefore a practical tool for coupling processes, which is a particular advantage when using central axle trailers.
JOST ZGA and TRIDEC EF-S: Command Steer Axle with electronic steering system
Tight depots, narrow city streets and a 16.5-meter-long trailer that needs to be steered safely – all challenges that push conventional axle systems to their limits and demand a command steer axle. Following the successful market launch of the ZGA with the 9-tonne version, a 10-tonne axle has been added to the portfolio in 2023. Like the 9T, the ZGA 10T can also be used in all conventional steering systems whether mechanical, hydraulic or electronic. It impresses with outstanding performance characteristics and in particular the lowest roll radius. This has a positive effect on the actuation force, which is up to 70% lower than that of comparable axles as a result. Additional batteries are rendered obsolete and there is greater flexibility when designing steering systems. The low space requirement of the ZGA is unparalleled, enabling smaller mud guard designs and thus wholly new vehicle designs, even when space is tight.
The JOST ZGA is perfectly tailored to TRIDEC-brand steering systems: the TF mechanical system, the HF and HF-E hydraulic systems and the EF-S electronic steering system, with which the ZGA can be seen at NUFAM. Up to three JOST ZGA axles can be used. The steering angle can be easily adapted to the available space for installation and the required maneuverability.
JOST World stand: Hall 2 / stand C 211 and KKS live demonstrations in the Demo Park.
