
Truck-Lite has unveiled its new state-of-the-art Advanced Transportation Lighting Laboratory at Penn State Behrend in Erie, Pa.
The new testing and validation facility is located on-campus at Penn State Behrend in the Advanced Manufacturing and Innovation Center (AMIC) Building and sits adjacent to Knowledge Park, the location of Truck-Lite Headquarters since 2022.
“Truck-Lite has proudly earned the trust of customers over its history by consistently delivering products that set the industry benchmark, and we intend for this to continue well into the future,” says Jon Stineman, president of Truck-Lite. “The Truck-Lite Advanced Transportation Lighting Laboratory is a state-of-the-art facility that brings a complete set of testing and validation capabilities directly to the Truck-Lite engineers responsible for the development of future lighting solutions.“
Truck-Lite is owned by Southfield, Mich.,-based Clarience Technologies, a global leader in transportation technologies whose brands include Road Ready advanced telematics, DAVCO diesel filtration solutions, ECCO safety systems, and Pressure Systems International (PSI) tire pressure monitoring and inflation systems, among others.
The Truck-Lite Advanced Transportation Lighting Laboratory is designed to help Truck-Lite deliver products that not only meet their strict internal standards for peak performance, but also comply with the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS), the company says.
At the center of the laboratory is 100-ft., light tunnel designed to measure optics performance across a variety of optics characteristics, including intensity, color, and distribution/spread, especially important when validating all-new products or unique design applications.
Laboratory capabilities also help simulate real-world environments to ensure durability and longevity of its products. Truck-Lite engineers can assess the long-term performance impact of exposure to extreme temperatures, wind, dust and water, as well as the resiliency of products to shock, vibration and impact, the company adds.
The new facility also enables Truck-Lite engineers to test and validate product designs against over 1,000 different standards set by the transportation industry, including all applicable FMVSS, ECE, SAE, and ASTM safety standards. Truck-Lite can issue certifications against IATF and ISO/TS for custom designed products for Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) – a significant part of Truck-Lite’s business success – as well as certifications for lighting used in military and defense applications.
"From electric and autonomous drivetrains to connectivity, artificial intelligence and other smart solutions, the new technologies changing transportation today have different technical requirements that impact lighting," says Craig Watrous, VP of Technology and Compliance. “The Truck-Lite Advanced Lighting Laboratory will help us develop next-generation lighting that meets both future technical requirements as well as our own exacting standards."