Bendix Introduces 2009 Brake Training School
Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems new 2009 edition of its Brake Training School launches April 6 at the company’s Elyria, Ohio, facility. The program is tailored to accommodate both new and veteran technicians and the curriculum is conducted by ASE-certified Bendix Service, Warranty and Training (SWAT) personnel.
According to Bendix, the program “teaches maintenance professionals the description, operation and service elements for the total range of components found within foundation and air brake systems.” The training includes both detailed classroom lectures and operational demonstrations. Bendix said more than 250,000 people have completed the Bendix training since it began more than 50 years ago.
The training curriculum includes the fundamentals of compressed air; tactics for air system failure mode diagnosis and troubleshooting; and air brake system and foundation brake components, including air compressors, valves, foundation drum brakes and air disc brakes, slack adjusters, brake chambers, shoes and drums. Additional topics covered include
antilock braking systems (ABS) and stability technologies such as the Bendix ESP Electronic Stability Program. Participants receive a comprehensive workbook, enabling them to take their lessons home with them.
The course will be offered in nearly 20 cities across the United States and Canada. For a full listing of locations and dates, visit www.bendix.com. Class size is limited, and enrollment is on a first come, first served basis. Registration may be completed online at www.bendix.com or www.foundationbrakes.com, by phone 800/AIR-BRAKE (option 3) or via fax 216/651-3261.
Inaugural Aftermarket Distribution Summit Set for September
The aftermarket’s leading distributor association, publication and e-commerce solutions company have joined forces to create the Aftermarket Distribution Summit – a new annual distributor event featuring issue-driven forums and business-building workshops.
The Aftermarket Distribution Summit is expected to draw hundreds of truck industry aftermarket professionals to its debut Sept. 12-16 on Amelia Island, Fla. The new event combines the annual Commercial Vehicle Solutions Network meeting, Truck Parts & Service magazine’s Truck Parts Seminar and the HDX Technology Conference.
“The goal was to create the best distributor-specific event in the industry. The Aftermarket Distribution Summit will bring the elite membership of CVSN together to chart the future of the aftermarket,” said Ken Duval, CVSN president and president of Canadian Wheel Industries. “This event will elevate the business performance of CVSN members and further strengthen the role of the independent aftermarket channel.”
The Aftermarket Distribution Summit will retain the winning elements that have made previous meetings successful and will incorporate new content to sharpen the focus on industry issues, new technology solutions and enhanced channel interaction between distributors and suppliers.
“The strength of Randall-Reilly’s collective media resources will establish the Aftermarket Distribution Summit as an issue-driven, content-rich meeting from which all attendees will benefit with numerous, executable takeaways,” said Mike Reilly, CEO and president of Randall Reilly, which publishes Truck Parts & Service magazine. “Our award-winning editors, industry-leading editorial content and unparalleled industry relationships with distributors, manufacturers, fleets and owner-operators will lay an invaluable foundation for the ongoing success of CVSN and HDX members.”
The inclusion of HDX into the Aftermarket Distribution Summit provides cutting-edge content on new business technologies. This will continue to serve the needs of IT professionals and other HDX members, as well as introduce industry executives to technology information they might not normally experience through other industry events.
“HDX will provide the usual amount of hard-hitting office technology issues over the course of two half-day tracks, including sessions on how to improve inventory management, product pricing and channel communication,” said Edward Kuo, executive director of HDX.
The preliminary agenda for the Aftermarket Distribution Summit will include:
- A market outlook from a leading industry economist;
- Candid roundtable discussions with distributor, supplier and end user
- Technology workshops, including a “Bridging the Gap” IT panel;
- Private strategic planning sessions scheduled between distributors and suppliers;
- Presentation of the CVSN President’s Award to honor individuals who have made significant contributions to the industry; and
- Networking opportunities, including the Tenneco Challenge Golf Tournament and deep sea fishing.
participants;
FleetPride Offers Tractor-Trailer.net to Its Service Network
FleetPride announced it is offering the online service resource Tractor-Trailer.net to its drive-in service shops and FleetCare Truck Service Center affiliates. Tractor-Trailer.net, a Mitchell 1 product, provides service technicians with service and repair information for all makes of heavy-duty tractors and trailers manufactured since 1990.
“We made the decision to add Tractor-Trailer.net as a tool for our company-owned FleetCare locations because we want to keep them at the leading edge of technology so they can offer our customers the service they expect,” said Chris Romeis, director of New Business Development for FleetCare. “For our affiliated locations, offering them access to Tractor-Trailer.net demonstrates our commitment to them as a member of our network; that we will continue to help them however we can to strengthen their business.”
Volvo Launches DPF Reman Program
Volvo Trucks North America announced a diesel particulate filter (DPF) remanufacturing program that will be run from the company’s Middletown Remanufacturing Center (MRC) in Middletown, Penn.
According to Volvo, customers can exchange the used ceramic filter element from their DPF for a clean one that is warranted by the company. Volvo said the DPFs are remanufactured to more than 90 percent of original capacity. According to the company, the process begins by blowing air across the filters and removing contaminants via a powerful vacuum. Filter elements with a high level of oil or particulate buildup are baked in industrial ovens to further reduce accumulated material prior to the vacuum process.
Bob MacPherson, MRC’s manager of lean systems and new engine projects, said a key advantage of the program is the ability to remanufacture in bulk, instead of servicing one filter at a time.
“A DPF filter element is reusable,” MacPherson said. “When it’s no longer doing its job optimally, the component is sent to us and we return it to useful service. It’s a great deal for customers.”
Fontaine Revamps Web Site
Fontaine International announced it upgraded its Web site – www.fifthwheel.com – to provide customers comprehensive information quickly and efficiently. The Web site includes information for specifying, using, maintaining, troubleshooting and rebuilding fifth wheels.
Content is presented in a variety of formats, including downloadable video and .pdf versions of product literature, sales materials, driver FAQs, troubleshooting flow charts, warranty information and technical bulletins. Additionally, an interactive “Choosing the Right Fifth Wheel” application walks users through the process step-by-step. May of the materials are available in Spanish.
“Fifthwheel.com provides a wealth of information about Fontaine fifth wheels and Genuine Fontaine Parts. Our new site has been reorganized to be faster, easier and more intuitive,” said Toby Harris, Fontaine Parts Connection vice president of sales and marketing. “For example, clicking on a top plate name brings up a page with all the information a customer may want on that product, including specifications and features/benefits. The page also has links to mounting options, schematics, instruction handbooks, coupling/uncoupling procedures, recommended maintenance, the parts catalog and a rebuild guide.”
Bendix Acquires Eaton’s VORAD System
Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems announced it has finalized an agreement to acquire the VORAD (Vehicle On-board Radar) collision mitigation system from Eaton Corporation.
Bendix says the assets associated with VORAD now are a part of its electronics business unit and “will complement the other leading safety technologies such as the Bendix ESP Electronic Stability Program and Bendix Adaptive Cruise Control.” As part of the agreement, Eaton’s Roadranger marketing organization will market and support the VORAD system in the North American marketplace.
“Every Bendix employee is passionate about improving the safety on our nation’s highways; about reducing the number of fatalities and serious injuries in commercial vehicle-related accidents; and about providing an economic payback to our end users, through a complete range of active safety systems. This move is another important step in our overall business growth plan,” said Joe McAleese, Bendix president and CEO.
The VORAD Collision Warning System employs warnings that alert the operator to objects up to 500 feet ahead of the vehicle, even around curves, and can track up to 20 vehicles at a time. In addition, radar-based technologies also can help warn the driver of objects to the side and/or rear of the vehicle.
Karmak Updates Director Series Parts and Service Software
Karmak announced it updated its Director Series service shop and parts inventory management software that allows service providers to track unit repair costs, preventive maintenance and parts inventory. The new version includes the ability to create repair order quotes and has improved reporting capabilities.
Karmak says the Windows-based Director Series software includes two main applications, ServiceDirector and PartsDirector:
- ServiceDirector helps improve shop productivity by tracking unit, customer, work-in-process and scheduled maintenance information, and provides tools for analyzing technician productivity and job profitability. It also supports barcode time entry and labor pricing by door rate, operation or customer; and
- PartsDirector, available as a standalone application, helps reduce inventory costs and increase inventory efficiency with cross-referencing, core tracking, cycle counting, tailored pricing and profit analysis reporting. It helps users quickly locate part and warranty information and analyze part usage and turn cycles, and it also helps streamline purchasing with electronic ordering from suppliers using the Karmak Legend or INFO 5 business system.
The company adds that when integrated with QuickBooks Pro accounting software, the Director Series checks customer credit during the order process and generates accounting reports.
