By Truck Parts & Service Staff
Shop Safety Products
New Pig Corporation introduced GripZone, a new collection of products to help improve shop safety by preventing slips and falls.
GripZone products, the company said, are designed to prevent the spread of liquids and keep floors clean for improved traction and employee safety. The new lineup includes: Gription Degreaser for removing slippery oils, grease and grime embedded in floors; the Genie Portable Floor Scrubber with a 14-inch cleaning path; and an entire line of SureGrip Footwear to improve footing on wet, slippery floors.
Real-time Axle Weight Information
TruckWeight Inc. introduced its TruckWeight FleetLink system that integrates with a vehicle’s onboard telematics to capture and communicate axle-weight data in real time.
“Traditionally, onboard scales produce results that have to be manually interpreted, logged and reported by the truck driver,” said Peter Panagapko, president of TruckWeight. “As a companion to Smart Scale, TruckWeight FleetLink helps replace these manual processes. It creates an accurate electronic record of axle-weight data that can be read by an onboard computer and sent home by satellite- or cellular-based mobile communications systems.
Dispatchers and fleet managers can monitor payload capacity while the truck is in the field, eliminating the latency and errors associated with paper-based reporting.”
TruckWeight FleetLink integrates with Smart Scale which monitors subtle changes in the air-ride or mechanical spring suspension. An RF transmitter sends the data to the TruckWeight FleetLink receiver which is connected to an onboard computer, onboard communications device or cellular phone via Bluetooth, RS-232 or USB. From there, the data can be used by a wide range of fleet management programs, including dispatch, compliance and accounting. TruckWeight FleetLink also can be connected to an in-cab printer to produce receipts and other documents on-site.
TruckWeight FleetLink uses AA batteries for power and does not require electricity from a truck or tractor.
Integrated Air Compressor, Generator, Hydraulic Pump
The new EnPak Mechanic Series from Miller Electric Mfg. Co. is, according to the company, the world’s only truck-integrated, diesel engine-driven air compressor, generator and hydraulic pump.
The EnPak is powered by a 27-hp Kubota diesel engine, eliminating the need for a PTO, and integrates seamlessly with the vehicle’s electrical and fuel systems. Miller said it can be run while the truck is turned off, lowering fuel costs by up to 30 percent and truck engine hours by up to 60 percent, as well as reducing noise and exhaust emissions.
The EnPak uses Miller’s Air Pak 40 variable speed rotary screw air compressor that is rated 40 CFM at 100 PSI with a 175 PSI maximum, allowing technicians to power air tools without waiting for air pressure to build. The Eaton variable displacement piston hydraulic pump provides 3,000 PSI at 8.5 GPM (up to 20 GPM maximum) for smooth, fast and accurate crane operation, according to Miller.
Additionally, the company said, the generator provides 6,000 watts of power at 100 percent duty cycle, plus an additional 2,400 watts of pure sine wave EnVerter power at idle is available to run electrical tools including welders, lights and laptops used for equipment diagnostics.
Ranger Rolls Out Wheel Balancer
Ranger Products said its DST-1200 Wheel Balancer adopts the latest 16-digit signal processor and single-chip architecture, providing an inherent boost in performance and accuracy. The DST-1200 consumes less power and features an improved rate of heat dissipation, according to the company, and users can choose from multiple methods for inputting wheel parameters, including button controls and a wheel rotation.
The calibration process also is easier, Ranger said; both static and dynamic calibrations can be made automatically through a photocell sensor, allowing original data to be accessed after each use. Unique wheel parameter data can be saved in the system, and the user can perform incremental distance and parameter diameter adjustments, according to the company; after six seconds, the LED display recommends the correct minimum weight and placement to achieve optimum balance.
Minimizer Enhances “The Brute”
Minimizer announced it redesigned its “The Brute” full fender and “The Brute Half” half fender, and both have new part numbers, MIN 900 and MIN 950, respectively.
The new “The Brute” full fender and “The Brute Half” half fender, like their predecessors, will be used to fit a tandem axle tractor or trailer.
“The updated products are better suited for their role in the product line up,” said Steve Hansen, Minimizer national account manager. “It was time to improve these particular products with new ideas we had been compiling for the past several years based on customer feedback.”
Specs on the redesigned MIN900 include:
- Designed to fit a tandem axle tractor or trailer;
- Four-piece set (4 – PM901 fender sections);
- Kit weighs less than 52 pounds; and
- Optional lightbox can be molded onto the rear section as one piece and has a backing plate to protect wiring.
Specs on the redesigned MIN950 include:
- Designed to fit a tandem axle tractor or trailer as a half fender;
- Two-piece set (2 – PM901 fender sections);
- Kit weighs less than 26 pounds; and
- Optional splash guards are available.
Hand Safe, Snag Proof Cable Ties
Cobra Cable Tie Company announced a new line of compact, low-profile cable ties that it said are safer than ties that have a square head and exposed barb which can cause injuries and scratch surfaces.
The Cobra Low Profile Cable Ties have one-third the head height of standard ties when cut and the stub is concealed within the head to create a smooth, snag-proof outer surface that conforms to the bundle, according to the company.
The new ties are available in UV-resistant black and natural nylon and are UL/CSA listed, QPL approved, and come in 7- to 16-inch sizes in medium- and heavy-duty styles. Cobra said they are easy to install using industry standard tools, and they mate in-line which removes the stress points of conventional cable ties. Applications include wire harnesses and the bundling of tubing and hoses.
Toyo Tires Introduces Premium Drive Tire
Toyo Tires said it introduced the M647 premium drive tire, designed for local, regional and long haul highway applications and has a deep, 30/32-inch tread which provides improved wear and long service life.
The M647 is designed using Toyo’s e-balance technology which the company said minimizes the growth of the tread profile during operation. This helps to maintain a more uniform and flatter tread radius during the entire life of the casing which results in long wear for increased value. The casing profile is also enhanced with the combination of e-balance profile retention technology and a high stiffness bead. Sheer strain is reduced at the belt edge area in the tread and in the bead.
Irregular wear is reduced by incorporating high rigidity in the shoulder of the tire, thus improving the durability of the M647. Traction is also maintained over the life of the tread through deep slits engineered into the design that are equal to the main groove depth.
The initial size offering of the Toyo M647 premium drive radial is a 295/75R22.5 in a 14-ply, load range G.
New Full Function ABS Valve
Haldex Commercial Vehicle Systems announced a new product which works with the patented Haldex PLC Select 1M and 2M Full Function ABS System applications. The new Full Function ABS (FFABS) now has a pre-installed combination nipple which accommodates either ½-inch or ¾-inch reservoir ports. Haldex said the product not only expedites service replacement, it also reduces inventory since the combination nipple works for two different sized ports.
