Mack Offers Stability System For Concrete Trucks
Mack Trucks Inc. now offers a new first-of-its-kind stability system – Mack Road Stability Advantage by Bendix (RSA) – for concrete customers.
The full electronic stability system is now available for mixer applications on the Mack Granite model.
"We're very proud to be the first heavy-duty truck manufacturer to offer this technology to vocational customers," said Steve Ginter, Mack vocational products marketing manager. "Concrete customer demand for stability protection is strong because mixers, in general, are recognized to have a high center of gravity and carry dynamic loads."
Mack RSA uses the existing ABS wheel speed sensors, along with steering, yaw and lateral acceleration inputs, to deactivate the throttle and selectively apply the brakes in sharp curves, sudden lane changes, or obstacle avoidance maneuvers, reducing the potential of a rollover.
In conjunction with Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems, Mack began offering full electronic stability technology on its highway vehicles late last year.
"Engineering this technology for tractors is more straight-forward," said Tom Kelly, Mack vice president of marketing. "We're committed to getting this technology in the hands of mixer and dump customers as soon as possible. We targeted mixers initially per customer demand. But we're working very hard with our partner, Bendix, on other vocational applications as well, to make the technology available across the board in the very near future."
Dana Spicer Tire Pressure Control System Enhanced
Dana Corp.'s Commercial Vehicle Systems group has enhanced its Dana Spicer Tire Pressure Control System (TPCS) with a new integrated Driver Display Module that, in conjunction with new dash-mounted rocker switches, simplifies the selection of tire pressures under varying load and terrain conditions.
"These additions have resulted in a more convenient and user-friendly way to select the best tire pressure for vehicles, particularly mixers, engaged in a variety of on- and off-highway applications," said Jim Beverly, chief engineer for Advanced Chassis Control Systems for Dana's Commercial Vehicle Systems group. "In addition, the smaller foot-print of the DDM and rocker switch interface provides much more flexibility for OEMs in regards to dash lay-outs."
As the only system of its kind that is available as a factory-installed data book option, the Spicer Tire Pressure Control System is available on most makes and models of vocational heavy-duty trucks manufactured in North America. It is also the only system with air seals built into the axles that eliminate the need for external air lines for reliable, trouble-free performance.
The newly designed driver interface supports two load modes – loaded and unloaded – and three terrain selections – highway, off-highway and emergency. The highway mode permits high-speed travel on paved surfaces; off-highway allows for efficient operation on unpaved surfaces; while the emergency mode provides extremely low tire pressures to tackle exceptionally poor terrains and grades that might otherwise be impossible to negotiate without assistance. The six separate settings are designed to allow for smooth, trouble-free navigation over a wide variety of road surfaces and load conditions.
In addition to communicating and displaying operating conditions such as the selected load and terrain, the new DDM unit can display tire pressure by axle group, as well as over-speed and low tire (run-flat) operation. In the event the system recognizes a fault condition, the DDM will report problem areas to help bring about fast, accurate solutions.
Accuride's Lightweight GOLD Brake Drum Debuts
Accuride Corp. introduces the Gunite Optimum Lightweight Drum (GOLD). Gunite, a subsidiary of Accuride, is a leading North American supplier of wheel-end systems and components for the heavy and medium-duty truck market.
"GOLD brake drums are designed to be an optimum balance between durability and thermal capability, providing the performance of Gunite's standard full cast drums, yet saving as much as 170 pounds, versus standard full cast drums on a typical tractor/trailer combination," said Larry Taylor, Accuride's senior vice president of Sales and Marketing. "In addition, Gunite field-testing has indicated that GOLD drums can yield longer life compared to other drums."
"During two years of GOLD drum field-testing, fleets reported longer drum life, without increased lining wear," said Dr. Omar Fakhoury, vice president/general manager of Gunite Corp. "Collectively, drum life expectancy was reported to increase in front (steer) axle applications by 50-75 percent, rear (drive) axle applications by 20-50 percent, and trailer axle applications by 20-40 percent. Gunite field-testing is also showing that GOLD brake drums are effective in reducing brake drum 'squeal' versus lightweight steel shell composite brake drums."
Accuride's products are marketed under its brand names, which include Accuride, Gunite, Imperial, Bostrom, Fabco and Brillion.
'Extreme Duty' Live Floor Trailer Introduced By Titan
With the world's first high-capacity aluminum body self-unloading trailer specifically designed for extreme-duty applications, Titan Trailers has an improved product for truckers serving the forestry industry with Thinwall trailers.
The new Thinwall V-Floor trailer features a steel unloading system from Keith Walking Floor. The trailer combines the capacity, durability and light weight of Titan aluminum body construction with the self-unloading efficiency and strength of a solid steel Keith Walking Floor.
Until now, the varied requirements of logging and forestry loads have limited the range of backhaul contracts available to truckers. Trailers designed to handle high-volume loads of bark and wood chips, for example, have not had the floor strength to take on the impacts of loading logs.
According to Titan President Mike Kloepfer, the new trailer is Titan's response to increased demands for backhaul versatility and improved strength in extreme duty applications.
Traditionally, steel-body dump trailers and flatdecks meet many of these applications. However, dump bodies generally reach their practical payload limit around 50 cubic yards. A 48-foot Titan trailer, meanwhile, offers more than double the payload capacity – up to 130 cubic yards – while the Keith V-Floor system ensures that the trailer maintains a sure footing while it walks off the load.
Weldcraft, Miller Electric Provide Welding Packages
Weldcraft and Miller Electric Mfg. Co. have joined efforts to provide total TIG welding packages to meet the needs of both low- and high-amperage applications. To date, the two companies, both located in Appleton, Wis., and subsidiaries of Illinois Tool Works (ITW), have released three integrated TIG torch/power source packages throughout the United States.
These packages feature Weldcraft's Crafter Series and WP Series of TIG torches, along with select Miller Syncrowave and Dynasty models. Throughout 2006, the companies will continue releasing more integrated TIG welding packages.
Weldcraft's WP-20 water-cooled TIG torch, with its compact, durable and lightweight design, improves welding on applications with limited access or tight joints, and is now paired with Miller's Syncrowave 250 DX and Dynasty 300. The WP-20 comes front-end loaded, featuring a collet, collet body, nozzle, long back cap and 3/32 ceriated tungsten.
PSI Presents Truck Tire Pressure Sensor Report
Pressure Systems International (PSI), developer of automatic tire pressure systems, is making the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's Commercial Motor Vehicle Tire Pressure Sensors tech brief available to interested industry participants.
The objectives of the FMCSA's project covered by this report were to develop and document the impacts of tire inflation maintenance practices on commercial motor vehicle operating costs and safety, and to provide a quantitative estimate of the potential benefits of tire pressure monitoring sensors and automatic inflation systems.
Debra Moore, regional sales manager for PSI, said, "We are making this comprehensive report available because we obviously agree with the findings – that proper tire inflation is a safety as well as an economic advantage for trucking fleets. With many costs associated with operating heavy duty vehicles escalating, knowing that there's a way to make some cost reductions is worthwhile information." The report includes data that enables truck operators to evaluate the costs and benefits of tire inflation systems.
To obtain a copy of the tech brief, send an e-mail to tonya@psi-atis.com or call Pressure Systems International at (210) 222-1926.
Hendrickson's Vantraax Delivers Load Flexibility
Hendrickson's new single-axle slider delivers all the advantages of the road-proven Vantraax for a variety of refrigerated and dry van trailer suspension configurations.
Rolling off production lines late last year, the Vantraax provides a lightweight tapered-beam, 23,000-pound capacity system that delivers flexibility in axle spacing and enhanced load distribution especially on single-axle trailers.
Combine Vantraax single-axle systems for double the adjustability in tandem axle trailers, allowing axle sets from widespread to closed spaced, or use it as a third axle with a tandem suspension system for increased carrying capacity.
The single-axle model delivers all the same benefits haulers rely on, while trimming more than 200 pounds from comparable single-axle sliders on the market.
Standard with Hendrickson's Advanced Axle / Beam Technology, the single-axle slider teams tapered-beams and a large-diameter axle for strength, durability and reliability. LDA increases the diameter of today's traditional axle to five and three-quarters inches, which reduces weight while maintaining component and system strength.
The single-axle Vantraax builds on Hendrickson's patented K-2 slider box technology and comes standard with high-strength, low-alloy main rails and K-braces for added durability and strength.
The Vantraax single-axle comes standard with Quik-Draw, Hendrickson's fully pneumatic, pin-pull mechanism to simplify slider repositioning.
Air-Weigh Introduces New Onboard Scale
Air-Weigh announced that the 5800 Series of on-board scales has been expanded to include a new model designed specifically for small fleets and owner/operators.
Air-Weigh's latest innovative product, the Dedicated Tractor-Trailer Scale, was designed to help operators with dedicated rigs save money on their purchase, while still capitalizing on all of the benefits of weighing on-board with Air-Weigh.
The Air-Weigh Dedicated Tractor-Trailer Scale is a true load management system that is permanently installed in the dash and calibrated to each suspension on the vehicle. By running the trailer suspension air line to the dash, there's no need for a separate trailer scale. With no operator interaction required, the two-inch gauge display automatically shows the steer, drive and trailer weights on one screen.
A single button press displays GVW and Net Payload weights. A 12V alarm output is standard and allows connection of an in-dash or exterior light or buzzer to warn of near-legal weight limit or over-legal weight on any axle or GVW.
Like all Air-Weigh scales, the Dedicated Tractor-Trailer Scale provides the ability to weigh while loading, eliminating the costs associated with leaving the loading site under or overweight. In addition, there is no more wasted HOS time, missed delivery schedules, wasted out-of-route miles and fuel, or waiting in line to re-work the load.
If you check-weigh at all, or even waste time checking your weights at the shipper's in-ground yard scale, Air-Weigh is a quick and simple ROI.
All Air-Weigh products are backed by a three-year warranty.
Graphics Fusion Debuts Vehicle Transfer Product
California-based Graphics Fusion Co. Inc. is introducing NanoStrate, a new vehicle graphics transfer product that is as thin as a human hair, and as durable as the paint to which it is applied.
NanoStrate is 25 microns thin, similar to a coat of paint, while die-cut vinyl decals are seven times thicker – typically a minimum of 150 microns.
NanoStrate-based graphic transfers consist of several patented polymer layers and inks that are released from a special, porous paper by adding water and a catalyst. The results are graphics solutions that combine the best attributes of custom paint and vinyl decals with easy application and longer lasting auto, truck, boat and aircraft decoration.
The company says the product is easier to handle and apply than vinyl or paint; looks and feels like paint and is as smooth as the surface it's applied to; and is easy to remove with no damage to vehicle surface or underlying paint.
It also offers superior scratch resistance; features nine coloration options including metallics; is clear-coat compatible for even better performance; and has high photographic resolution and detail including gradations.
In a factory production environment, NanoStrate-based transfers can adhere to many surfaces – most metals, including stainless steel, glass-like surfaces, and most plastics. And now these transfers are available for off-site applications and soon, for the do-it-yourself car customizer.
Commercially, fleet owners and operators will be able to specify total graphic appearance for the first time, including detailed photographic images, elaborate contours and sizes for a large number of transportation applications.
Martin Marietta TrailerWins Technical Award
A new fiber-reinforced-composite platform trailer, developed by Martin Marietta Composites, has won the 2005 ACE Award for Technical Innovation for Corrosion Applications from the American Composites Manufacturers Association.
The trailer has a composite deck, subframe beams, suspension cross-members, outriggers and rear impact guard.
With its extensive use of composites, the trailer is lighter than conventional trailers and much more corrosion resistant. Naturally, lighter weight means more payload for a given tractor GCWR, so the operator can enjoy higher revenue potential per load.
The manufacturer also expects the composites trailer to be more durable, yielding longer life and offering lower maintenance requirements than conventional steel or aluminum trailers.
Small repairs can be easily accomplished using a fiberglass repair kit. For larger repairs, components can be replaced quickly without causing any loss of strength.
The nonskid-coated deck is made from Martin Marietta's proprietary Transonite panel, an extremely durable, low weight pultruded composite sandwich consisting of glass-fiber-reinforced polymer laminate skins and a foam core. Because composite materials absorb more energy per pound than conventional materials, the pultruded rear impact guard may help to reduce the risk of injury in the event of an accident.
According to the manufacturer, the fiber-reinforced polymer materials used in the trailer are resistant to many chemicals, as well as acids, road salts and the effects of weathering. They are also nonflammable, self-extinguishing and resistant to fatigue stresses.
This makes them ideal for poultry hauling and other livestock transport, while their light weight makes them particularly well-suited for hauling building materials and other dense bulk goods.
