Horiba Prepares For Future With Brake Dust App

MUNICH, Germany–HORIBA, a leading supplier and innovator for complete automotive test solutions has developed an advanced system for measuring and analyzing nano-particles, brake dust, released during braking events.

As these nano-particles are now known to have adverse effect on health, the European Union is initiating new legislation to minimize these effects by including so-called non-exhaust emissions into existing emission legislation. Horiba’s Brake Dust measurement application allows brake and auto manufacturers to comply with upcoming regulations.

An essential component of the HORIBA Brake Dust application is the improved MEXA-2×00-SPCS. The Solid Particle Counting System takes brake dust measurement technology to the next level and can be integrated into a broad range of existing brake test systems and the STARS Brake automation software from HORIBA.

The system can count particles from 2.5µm down to 10nm thanks to the complex condensation process. In order not to falsify the measurement results, particles with a size over 2.5µm are not detected and excluded by the application. In addition to measuring the number of particles, it is also possible to measure particle matter, particle size distribution and conduct an elemental analysis.

The application is also in line with current emission standards, is easy to adjust and allows for a more efficient utilization of the system.

“At HORIBA we want to make the world cleaner and more efficient. To achieve this, we continuously work on solutions, such as the Brake Dust application, that support our customers and partners as they improve their technology,” says Matthias Schröder, Director Research and Development (R&D). “We can prepare our customers with an appropriate solution even before the regulatory framework has been established.”

Customers can experience the concentrated know-how of HORIBA’s brake test solutions in the Brake Test Center in Flörsheim, near Frankfurt am Main, Germany. 

Besides the EU, The California Air Resources Board is also looking at regulations similar to the EU. If CARB completes regulations on brake dust particulate pollution, those regulations will become tantamount to a national regulatory standard in the U.S.

David Kiley
David Kiley

David Kiley is Chief of Content for The BRAKE Report. Kiley is an award-winning business journalist and author, having covered the auto industry for USA Today, Businessweek, AOL/Huffington Post, as well as written articles for Automobile and Popular Mechanics.