Posted to News on 11th Feb 2026, 13:00
Safe holding function in the electrified powertrain
The industrial truck industry is characterised by high safety and performance requirements. With increasing electrification, electric drive systems and their safety components are becoming more important. Compact spring-applied brakes from Kendrion contribute significantly to the operational safety of industrial trucks.
These brakes deliver stable braking torque over their service life, robust design for industrial conditions, and high mechanical load capacity during emergency stops.
The holding brake is a key component for the operation of counterbalance forklifts: it secures the vehicle when stationary on ramps, is mechanically designed for a high number of load changes, and closes reliably in the event of a fault. The fail-safe principle has proven itself here - spring-operated, electrically released, and closed when de-energised.
With the BFK552-12 and BFK457-14 spring-applied brakes, Kendrion provides its customers with precision solutions for electric counterbalance forklifts. The brake specialists have been developing components for the industrial truck market for decades and support manufacturers and system partners with application-oriented design and series-production-ready implementation. The portfolio ranges from standard brakes to application-specific variants - tailored to motor/gearbox integration, installation position, and protection type requirements.
Flat, robust, energy-optimised - BFK552
The BFK552-12 from Kendrion is a flat spring-applied brake with a height of only 43.7 mm and a braking torque of 60 Nm - designed for counterbalance drives, including in back-to-back arrangements. With protection class IP66, the brake is ideal for use in climatically demanding environments. Overexcitation and holding current reduction reduce power loss and heat generation, which in turn has a positive effect on the efficiency and longevity of the forklifts.
As a ready-to-install unit, the brake reduces installation and adjustment effort and minimises typical installation errors. In addition, customers benefit from the global availability of brakes developed and produced in Germany.
Design-in platform for demanding requirements: BFK457-14
The BFK457-14 is available as a design-in platform for new developments with higher performance requirements. With a braking torque of more than 90 Nm and designed for high emergency stopping energies, the brake has proven itself in practice even at high travel speeds. Compact versions with a particularly space-saving design facilitate integration into dense drive compartments and enable application-specific adaptations.
When developing brakes, Kendrion combines application experience with vertical integration, relying for decades on its German development site, well-coordinated project management, a high level of service, and its in-house rotor production.
