ABT gains grant to commercialise brakes

Advanced Braking Technology has received a $2 million Commonwealth grant, which it will use to accelerate the market entry of its rubbish truck braking technology.

ABT said it would be able to expand its Sealed Integrated Braking System (SIBS) for garbage trucks as a result of receiving the grant.

The SIBS is a single disc enclosed wet brake used by mining companies in harsh environmental conditions.

ABT is attempting to commercialise the technology for the mainstream market, in particular garbage trucks.

The additional funding allows ABT to expand its SIBS program to include:
- the preparation and monitoring of a 50-truck fleet that will be retrofitted with the technology;
- the development of an ABS version of the brakes for garbage trucks;
- production validation of a 5-truck fleet using the ABS version of SIBS;
- and the preparation and monitoring of a 50-truck fleet of new trucks that will be fitted with the ABS version of SIBS.

ABT managing director Ken Johnsen said it was important to gain a rapid and firm initial market foothold to improve the technology's long term prospects.

"The Commonwealth assistance under the Early Stage Commercialisation program will enable the company to develop the ABS variant in parallel with the non ABS variant and enable the company to achieve a market launch of two variants of its innovative product in rapid succession," Mr Johnsen said.