Graphic example Stoneridge

GRAPHIC EXAMPLE

Stoneridge is a leading European manufacturer of driver information systems, tachographs and instrument clusters for the automotive industry. Philip Yorke reports on how the company is continuing to gain market share through innovation and product excellence.

Stoneridge Electronics is a major supplier to the automotive, truck and offroad vehicle manufacturers. Stoneridge’s diverse range of products includes telematic systems, driver information systems, tachographs, multiplex systems and cockpit switch modules. The company also offers a variety of aftermarket products and works in close collaboration with most of Europe’s premier automotive and truck vehicle manufacturers.

Since 1988 Stoneridge Electronics AB, formerly Berifors, has been committed to the transportation market and quickly earned a reputation for excellence in both product design and project management. In addition the company is recognised for its innovative research and for offering close cooperation in the development of new products with its customers. Stoneridge Electronics is an integral part of the giant US Stoneridge Group, which is based in Warren, Ohio, and has 17 manufacturing and design centres worldwide.

The Group employs over 6000 people, of whom, around 600 are located at Stoneridge Electronics in Sweden. In 2010 the group achieved a turnover of more than $700 million.

Focus on heavy and off-road vehicles

The company’s focus on the heavy and off-road vehicle markets has provided it with the ability to satisfy the most demanding

requirements of its customers and to meet ever shorter lead times. Stoneridge develops and produces vital and unique high-tech equipment that is used in trucks, buses and off-road vehicles, as well as in industrial and agricultural machinery.

Stoneridge has two key business sectors: Vehicle Management and Power Distribution and Control Devices. The Vehicle Management and Power Distribution segment offers solutions that include electronic instrument clusters, electronic control units, driver information systems and electrical distribution systems. The company’s Control Devices sector focuses on products that monitor, measure or activate a specific function within the vehicle. They include electronic and electromechanical switches, control actuation devices and sensors.

Stoneridge provides world-class technology across a broad spectrum of automotive applications and strives to provide flawless, reliable electronics at the lowest possible global prices. Stoneridge is at the forefront of the trend towards multiplex vehicles with integrated power and data circuits. These highly sophisticated systems must be monitored and kept in perfect synchronisation at all times. In the process, this produces a lower cost ratio and more reliable vehicles, whilst at the same time providing a higher level of diagnostics and user information.

Leading the field

Stoneridge Electronics is the global leader when it comes to ‘tier-one’ suppliers of instrument clusters for commercial vehicles. Since 1988 the company has developed a large number of electronic systems for the world’s best-known commercial vehicle manufacturers, including Volvo, Daimler-Chrysler, Renault and Daewoo among many others.

Stoneridge R&D has developed the most advanced TFT technology with high-speed data systems and user-friendly human machine interfaces. In addition, the company has also pioneered the development of tachographs that have advanced from a traditional mechanical device to one which is digital and fully integrated with the on-board vehicle electronics and communication systems.

Staying ahead of the competition

Stonebridge is also at the cutting-edge of ECU design and manufacture, having developed ECUs for a large number of different applications, ranging from less

complex units to high-end, vehicle control electronics specifically designed to operate in an automotive environment.

New generation technology

For many years Stoneridge has worked in partnership with the world’s leading commercial vehicle manufacturers to push the boundaries of technology in order to achieve higher standards of quality and reliability. A recent technological breakthrough has been the result of the company’s work with Scania to develop the next generation of instrument clusters that allows greater concentration for truck and bus drivers.

This advanced instrument cluster is easier for the driver to use thanks to a newly developed ‘graphical interface’. At the same time the appearance of the instrument unit has been significantly upgraded using new material options and a 3D design format. This latest instrument cluster is available in three different versions, with a wide range of advanced functionality to choose from. The most advanced variant is called ‘Colour Plus’ by Scania and has a 6.5 inch TFT screen. It is currently the largest screen on the market in an instrument cluster for commercial vehicles.

In developing the new instrument cluster, Stoneridge has used the latest technology on the market. Two of the three versions have TFT type high-resolution colour screens, where the content can be adapted to suit the driver’s own specific needs. The new graphical interface supports both the advanced TFT screens as well as more simple types of matrix displays. The mechanical structure of the instrument cluster is also new, which means significant improvements in ergonomics and overall appearance. The gauge faces for the speedometer and tachometer have been lowered slightly and equipped with silver rings to give a more exclusive appearance, and work has also been carried out on developing an even more pleasant background lighting option for the instrument unit.

“We are very pleased with the cooperation with Stoneridge. The project has gone according to plan and the result is an easily manageable and attractive instrument unit that makes it easier for drivers to concentrate on driving. This gives us an edge on the market” said Anders Wilkman, Head of Information Systems at Scania. Today all Scania vehicles incorporate the new generation instrument clusters developed by Stoneridge. n