EMCO Industries launched the spring to meet demand from U.S. Trailer OEMs.
TULSA, Okla.—A new axle leaf spring designed and manufactured by EMCO Industries for heavy-duty trailer applications is reported to combine high performance with reduced weight in axles rated to handle 22,400 pounds (gross weight limit). EMCO is a manufacturer of leaf springs for trailers, agricultural equipment, recreational vehicles, and specialty vehicles.
In a release describing its new High-Performance Mono-Leaf Spring, EMCO said the spring reduces weight by 25 percent versus traditional 22.4K axle leaf springs, dropping from 53 pounds to 40 pounds. The company also stated that the spring delivers “performance characteristics that exceed Truck Trailer Manufacturers Association (TTMA) B-10 fatigue life requirements.”
The new High-Performance Mono-Leaf Spring from EMCO Industries (Image courtesy EMCO Industries)
“The High-Performance Mono-Leaf Spring is particularly well suited for applications requiring lower suspension clearance, including container chassis, flatbed trailers, and drive-on trailers,” the release stated. “Both low-arch and high-arch configurations will be available, with the low-arch variant expected to see the highest demand based on customer feedback”.
According to EMCO, the new spring addresses critical onshore supply chain delays that have long plagued major OEMs and distributors, leaving them struggling to source this basic, yet essential, component. The company’s entry into the mono-leaf market comes as trailer manufacturers also face mounting uncertainty due to tariffs on offshore suppliers, the company said in the release.
“In today’s environment of supply chain uncertainty, we’re providing reliability,” said Marcus Hester, president of EMCO Industries, in a statement. “Fueled in part by demand and by our track record of on-time delivery, we’ve seen a lot of customer enthusiasm. We’re seizing this opportunity and are doubling down on our commitment to domestic manufacturing with a significant multimillion dollar investment in automation and expanded capacity.”
Meeting market demand
The launch comes as EMCO nears completion of a new 30,000-square-foot automated manufacturing facility that will more than double the company’s production capacity. The expansion, featuring robotic cells working in conjunction with EMCO’s skilled labor force, will also enhance the company’s ability to meet on-time delivery schedules, the company said.
“We’ve been urging EMCO to develop a mono-leaf spring and we’re thrilled that they’ve done it,” said Joel Schubach, chief operating officer and owner of Pratt Industries, in the release. “Their commitment to using U.S. steel and investing in a state-of-the-art automated facility right here in America demonstrates exactly what we need more of in this industry. EMCO has proven they will deliver when they say they will deliver, and that’s one less factor for our production folks to worry about.”
Chad Dugger, sourcing manager for Stoughton Trailers, LLC, agreed with Schubach.
“We look forward to adding EMCO’s mono-leaf spring to our supply chain. Their past track record of reliability and on-time delivery has earned our trust, and we’re confident this new product will meet the same high standards we’ve come to expect from our relationship with EMCO,” Dugger said in the release.
EMCO stated that for more than 35 years, its focus on spring manufacturing has enabled the company to respond quickly to market needs. The company’s engineering team, with more than 100 years of combined leaf spring experience, worked hard to perfect the mono-leaf design to ensure it met the company’s stringent quality standards before bringing it to market.
“We’re not going to introduce a product until it’s right,” Hester explained. “With mono-leaf springs, functionality and durability are critical. That’s why we’ve invested the time to ensure our product exceeds industry standards for fatigue, longevity, and performance.”
The new mono-leaf springs will be manufactured using EMCO’s proprietary steel specifications and heat-treating processes. Each spring will be individually painted for superior corrosion resistance. According to EMCO, its ISO certification and multiple OEM Supplier of the Year awards underscore its commitment to quality and reliability.
In addition to its new High-Performance Mono Leaf Spring, EMCO produces springs with capacities ranging from 250 pounds to 14,000 pounds, serving OEM and aftermarket customers globally from its facilities in Claremore, Oklahoma. The company said its new automated facility is expected to create approximately 20 new jobs in Claremore and the surrounding area.