Grote Industries has introduced a 12-volt version of its S100 LED WhiteLight surface-mount dome lamp that incorporates infrared motion activation, eliminating the need for an on-off switch. Like its 24-volt cousin, the 12-volt lamp is activated using a passive infrared motion sensor located in the lamp body, according to the company; the sensor is calibrated to recognize the heat signature unique to humans, and when it detects movement by a person within six feet, it will turn on immediately. Grote says the lamp will remain on as movement continues, and will stay on for three minutes after the last motion is detected.
All S100 LED dome lamps are engineered for durability using high-impact UV-stabilized polycarbonate material and feature moisture-resistant construction and a sleek look. Their thin 15-millimeter profile helps reduce the potential of objects colliding with the lamps, and they are engineered with wire channels to facilitate quick, neat installation. According to the company, the lamps utilize the latest surface-mount LED technology and generate a bright 300-lumen output with low amperage draw and minimal heat generation.
Grote says the S100 lamps, which also offer the performance benefits of the company’s proprietary LED WhiteLight technology, are suited for dry vans, utility vans, moving trucks and delivery vehicles, but currently are not recommended for refrigerated environments; a surface-mount infrared motion-activated LED dome lamp specifically designed for refrigeration applications is now in testing and is expected to be available in the near future.
Grote Industries
(www.grote.com)

Front air suspension
Hendrickson Truck Systems Group now offers the Parasteer HD – a front air suspension designed for twin- and tri-steer specialty applications at Autocar – as a 14,600- and 20,000-pound-per-axle rating option on the Autocar ACX chassis. The system is targeted for use in a variety of vocational and construction applications, including concrete, crane, tank and other specialty trucks.

According to the company, Parasteer HD is designed with no fixed steer-axle spacing constraints, providing axle spacing flexibility and allowing the end user, chassis manufacturer and body manufacturer to work together to obtain the optimum weight distribution for the application; the weight of the Parasteer HD system remains constant as steer-axle spacing increases. Parasteer HD also is designed to provide a superior turning radius in addition to outstanding performance and handling; load equalization is achieved with a height control valve designed to adjust to the load, resulting in a constant ride height and comfortable ride.

Each Parasteer HD suspension utilizes two heavy-duty air springs per steer axle to share the load equally, facilitating excellent ride and performance; the air springs support the entire vertical load, cushioning the driver by isolating impacts from the road and offering more protection to the chassis and equipment. In addition, oversized rubber bushings require no lubrication, resulting in reduced regular maintenance, the company says.
Hendrickson
(www.hendrickson-intl.com)

Night vision system
Pana-Pacific describes FLIR’s PathFindIR Driver’s Night Vision System as a compact thermal imager that allows drivers to see up to four times farther in total darkness than they can see with their headlights. PathFindIR is designed to “see” heat, not light, so that drivers can see everything in front of them. The company says the kit includes:
·Thermal night vision camera with universal mounting bracket and hardware for securing and aiming the camera;
·High-resolution 7-inch LCD monitor with wide viewing angle, three PAL/NTSC camera inputs and one front panel-mount A/V input for the camera, earphone output jack, built-in speaker, mirror and normal image switch, button-controlled brightness and full-function remote;
·20-foot cable with an adapter that fits most monitor auxiliary-video in-jacks; and
·Installation instructions.
The camera, when mounted in its bracket, is about 3-by-3-by-4 inches. The cable exits the bottom side of the camera/mounting bracket. While the connection between the camera and cable is sealed against moisture, the camera must be mounted outside the cab of the vehicle, as it cannot “see” through glass, according to the company.
Pana-Pacific
(www.panapacific.com)

Day cab no-idle system
Bergstrom says it has developed a battery-powered air conditioning system designed specifically for day cabs. The company says the Nite Day Cab No-Idle System was developed in response to growing demand for solutions to reduce idling in the day cab industry, as well as increasing federal, state and local regulations against truck idling. The company says the Nite Day Cab No-Idle System utilizes one or two deep-cycle absorbed glass mat (AGM) batteries to power the air conditioning system; to maintain sufficient battery power to start the truck, the starting batteries are protected from discharge by a separator. Bergstrom says the system uses the same technology as its Nite Plus unit, but is installed as a split system; the compressor and evaporator are installed between the truck’s seats, and the condenser is mounted remotely to the exterior of the cab.

Bergstrom says when the system is in the air-conditioning mode, no fuel is used as it uses deep-cycle AGM battery power; with the optional heating unit, only 0.05 gallons per hour are consumed, and the battery is charged by the truck’s alternator during normal operation. The system runs quietly and requires minimal maintenance, according to the company; when the system is in air conditioning mode, the sound level doesn’t exceed 50 dBA.
Bergstrom Inc.
(www.bergstrominc.com)