During a press conference held today at the Technology & Maintenance Council (TMC) annual meeting, Phillips Industries announced a new partnership with LED manufacturer Innotec.
The new partnership will offer Innotec’s Boardfree LED lights packaged with Phillips’ Sta-Dry trailer harnesses. This partnership signifies Phillips’ entrance into the exterior trailer LED lighting market, the company says.
In September 2013 TMC issued RP-704C recommending a “whole-systems” approach when specifying new trailers to address electrical problems. Exterior lighting was the only piece of the trailer electrical system not provided by Phillips so the company says it pursued a partner. Phillips Industries’ choice of Innotec to provide the exterior lights to complete the package takes advantage of Innotec’s reputation, processes and experience, the company says.
Rob Philips, president at Phillips Industries, says Innotec is a major player in the light-duty vehicle marketplace and currently has heavy-duty supplier contracts with Wabash National and Utility Trailer.
By partnering with Innotec, Phillips says his company will offer the commercial trailer industry an exceptional product that matches Phillips quality requirements.
“Phillips’ product development over the last five years has included many award-winning innovations recognized by the industry for the benefits they provide to fleets,” says Phillips. “Our product development is driven by the fleets because we believe it is the best way to help solve industry problems. These new lights follow that same principle; they are designed thinner and stronger than what is on the market today, giving them an overall advantage.”
Innotec and its patented Boardfree LED lights fit Phillips’ prerequisite for highly engineered products and they are manufactured in the U.S. Bundling the new lights with their Sta-Dry trailer harnesses will offer fleets a real solution unlike anything currently available in the market, Phillips says. Innotec’s Boardfree in-mold technology is a process that eliminates the need for a traditional printed circuit board resulting in an ultra-thin light that has no hazardous waste.
Phillips says other features and benefits of the new lights are:
- 3D forming to direct light in various directions
- Sealed components completely protected from environmental issues
- Diodes directly mounted to circuitry to efficiently dissipate heat
- Thin profile results in superior strength
By combining Phillips’ Sta-Dry trailer harness and Innotec’s Boardfree lights, Phillips says fleets will experience the ultimate in compatibility and systems engineering, combined warranty coverage for both lights and harnesses, and a streamlined supply base.
This initial program launch will be for OEMs only, with a planned aftermarket launch by June 2014, Phillips says.
