The Wheelend Eco Pro wheel-end assembly was BPW's main technical innovation at IAA Transportation 2026 in Hanover, reflecting a broader vision of the semi-trailer that integrates mechanics, electronics and data management. The group's development focus has shifted from the axle to the vehicle as a complete system, with three objectives: reducing unladen weight, improving efficiency and moving from scheduled to predictive maintenance. The new component is designed for 9-tonne axles with offset 120 disc brakes, a configuration widely used in the European market. BPW has redesigned the assembly by optimising material distribution and geometry, using an approach the manufacturer describes as "bionic". The result is a weight reduction of around 20 kg per axle. On a three-axle semi-trailer, this translates into approximately 60 kg less unladen weight, increasing the available payload.
Weight was not the only consideration for the designers. The wheel-end assembly was also developed to reduce rolling resistance and simplify maintenance. It retains the design principles of the Eco family, with access to the wheel assembly engineered to shorten workshop servicing times. BPW plans to begin small-series production in 2027, with full-scale production scheduled for 2030. On the electronics side, the manufacturer presented the latest evolution of iC Plus in Hanover. The system processes data already available from the trailer's EBS and other electronic components to provide information on its operating condition. The underlying principle is significant: expanding the range of functions without increasing the number of sensors installed.
The applications presented include predictive brake monitoring, analysis of the stresses experienced by the vehicle and estimation of remaining brake pad life. The system also determines axle loads, giving fleet operators an additional tool to check that semi-trailers are being used correctly. The data feeds into the Cargofleet 3 digital ecosystem from Idem Telematics, bringing information from individual components into overall fleet management. This is an important development because it links maintenance, vehicle availability and operational management. At the exhibition, BPW also highlighted the performance of its modular Eco Air suspension system, fitted to more than 200,000 trailers across Europe, and displayed Hestal FlowMaster aerodynamic solutions designed to reduce drag.
Massimiliano Barberis
