Trailer Building Materials/Components

Fastenings of the finest fettle

A&I FABRICATIONS (CUSTOM TRUCKS) RELIES UPON THE HIGH-QUALITY FASTENERS SUPPLIED BY THE WDS GROUP TO ATTACH THE TOP-SHELF STAINLESS STEEL PRODUCTS IT FABRICATES FOR CUSTOMERS’ TRUCKS.

When you’re on a good thing, stick to it – is a well-known adage that A&I Fabrications adheres to when it comes to the supply of all the hardware it uses to mount the ‘bling’ products to the trucks belonging to discerning clients. A&I Fabrications is a sister company to A&I Auto Electrics that was started nearly 31 years ago at Wetherill Park in Sydney’s western suburbs by Andrew Heathcote and his brother Ian who are both auto electricians by trade. The business was initially set up to supply the earthmoving and transport sectors in greater Sydney and beyond with a reliable and dependable auto electrical and airconditioning service. Today it includes a modern workshop and a number of mobile service trucks fully equipped for working in the field. Around 2004 the brothers saw an opportunity to expand into manufacturing bling accessories for the heavy truck market which led to the formation of A&I Fabrications. A dedicated workshop was established across the road and equipped with high-tech metal folding and cutting machinery and a number of skilled tradespeople were employed. As often happens in business, early in the piece the Heathcote brothers sought a reliable and reputable local supplier for their nut and bolt needs and The WDS Group, also located in Wetherill Park, was found to fill the bill admirably. At the time WDS Group was also a relatively new company, having kicked off in 1983 to supply the critical hardware needs of the transport, construction, steel fabrication, maintenance and manufacturing industries. Asked about his reasons for choosing The WDS Group, Andrew Heathcote’s response is succinct: “Service, quality and fair pricing. “We have two complimentary businesses – auto electrical and custom truck accessory fabrication,” Andrew explains. “In our Custom Truck fabrication shop we use a lot of stainless steel sheet, stainless nuts and bolts, as well as grinding wheels and belts, cutting discs and polishing wheels – all of which we buy from The WDS Group.” The company has a broad range of customers including Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM), fleets, smash repairers and earth moving contractors. “Most of our fabrication work involves customising and blinging up trucks and the quality of our work is second to none – which is why we have many repeat customers,” Andrew says. With quality being the cornerstone of the business, Andrew says it’s vital to have the utmost quality in everything – especially the fasteners that mount the accessories to the trucks. “We have built a solid relationship with The WDS Group and although both our businesses have grown significantly over the last 30 years, we have remained loyal to the company and it has never let us down. “They are great people to do business with,” Andrew concludes.

Fast Fact

The WDS Group supplies a wide range of high-quality stainless steel fasteners and other products that help give A&I Fabrications (Custom Trucks) the edge with its high-end truck customisation and accessories business.

A&I Fabrications turns to The WDS Group for service, quality and fair pricing.

Contact

The WDS Group 1357 The Horsley Drive Wetherill Park NSW 2164 Ph: 1300 937 349 Web: www.wds.com.au

An ongoing transformation

WITH MULTIPLE BRANDS, NEW LOCATIONS AND NEW PRODUCTS, LEADING AUSTRALIAN HEAVY VEHICLE ELECTRONICS MANUFACTURER REDARC CONTINUES TO FOCUS ON PRODUCT QUALITY AND CUSTOMER SERVICE EXCELLENCE.

Established in 1979, REDARC has transformed from a small South Australian business to an international brand with facilities in South Australia, Victoria and New South Wales, and staff in New Zealand, North America and Europe. The company exports to Canada, USA, Mexico, Europe, New Zealand, the Middle East, South Korea and South Africa. An initial product was the voltage reducer which was a must for trucks with 24-volt systems towing 12-volt trailers. Over the years the range has grown to include electronic voltage converters, gauges, solar, inverters, 12-volt lithium batteries, power supplies, vehicle lighting controls, timers, relays, alarms, battery chargers, brake controllers, trailer braking and heavy-vehicle safety products. Over the last five years, two new brands have joined the REDARC stable: Hummingbird Electronics and REDARC Defence Systems. REDARC’s 2015 acquisition of Hummingbird Electronics added a product range that includes audio-visual alarms, GPS trip meters and odometers, speedos and speed switches. The acquisition led to REDARC establishing its NSW branch at the Aerospace Centre in Williamtown in 2017. In 2019, REDARC Defence Systems was launched to advance the group’s global defence portfolio. In November 2020, REDARC established a new Commercial Division that specialises

REDARC General Manager Commercial Sales, Guy Nicholls. REDARC Sales Manager OEM, Sascha Heib. REDARC Sales Manager Mining and Industrial, Scott Montgomery.

in the transport, mining, civil construction, industrial and fleet management industries, appointing Guy Nicholls as General Manager Commercial Sales and Sascha Heib as Sales Manager OEM. They join Scott Montgomery, Sales Manager Mining and Industrial, and a team that comprises engineers, product managers, marketers, project leaders and sales staff. “Our REDARC industrial products, coupled with our Hummingbird sensing and monitoring products, place us in a unique position in the commercial solutions space,” says Guy Nicholls. “We have over 600 product lines comprising an array of Australian-made off-the-shelf and customised products to meet the needs of our customers. “We launched our DC-DC Charger BCDC1212T model to the USA in 2020 due to the demand for light-duty DC battery chargers and are due to release the product in Australia and New Zealand from March 2021. “The product is ideal for trailers such as dump trailers, boat trailers, car trailers and liftgate trucks,” Guy says. Meanwhile, REDARC’s Victorian branch, established in February 2021, heralds a new era in the company’s national expansion. Positioned within the Auto Innovation Centre in Melbourne, the Victorian location creates a new base for recruitment. “For more than four decades, the heavy vehicle industry has backed our Australianmade products and family-owned business and we highly value our heritage,” says Anthony Kittel, REDARC Managing Director. “We are committed to delivering new innovations for the sector and mobilising a new team to facilitate this outcome,” he says.

Contact

REDARC Electronics 23 Brodie Road (North), Lonsdale, SA, 5160, Australia Ph: 61+ 8 8322 4848 Web: www.redarc.com.au

certified

Going the extra mile

JD REFRIGERATED TRANSPORT OPERATES IN QUEENSLAND AND NORTHERN NEW SOUTH WALES. THE COMPANY HAS STANDARDISED ON BPW TRANSPEC AXLES DUE TO THE FIRM BELIEF THAT THERE IS NO BETTER TRAILER AXLE THAT SUITS ITS NEEDS IN THE MARKET TODAY AND INTO THE FUTURE.

The founder and Managing Director of JD Refrigerated Transport, Joe Joseph, has a somewhat unusual career history for the owner of a transport company. He started as an accountant and then spent 20 years in the consumer goods and private equity sectors in Sydney before deciding to make the move to Brisbane where he started a transport business. “I wanted to move back to Brisbane so our kids could grow up with their cousins – most of my family live in Queensland,” Joe says. He gained his Multi-Combination truck licence and spent six months driving in order to learn all he could at the coalface before committing to running his own business. “I use the analogy of crawl-walk-run – build the foundation strong and a sustainable business will follow,” he says. Starting out in 2011 with three-pallet capacity light-duty refrigerated trucks, Joe soon realised that the heavier end of the business was where he would do best and at that point started transitioning to heavy rigids, semis and B-doubles to form the backbone of the operation. The semi-trailers and B-double trailers are a mixture of MaxiCUBE and FTE and Joe says he is equally satisfied with both brands and the service provided by their respective Brisbane dealerships. Each of the trailers feature BPW Transpec axles and air suspension, with Joe explaining that using this brand is a nonnegotiable for him. “I don’t have a transport background and I’m not mechanically minded, but I do have a simple philosophy that we partner with the best suppliers to ensure our equipment is second to none in terms of reliability and uptime,” Joe says. “When I was first looking to buy trailers, I spoke with a few experienced operators

A desire to incorporate equipment of the highest quality has led to JD Refrigerated Transport specifying BPW axles and suspension on every new trailer it buys.

Mercedes-Benz and Kenworth prime movers are used in the linehaul operation that stretches from Bowen in North Queensland to Glen Innes in northern New South Wales.

who each focussed in on certain components that they deemed the best ones to have – and unanimously BPW axles and suspension was one of them. That was good enough for me,” he says. “All our trucks and trailers are under full service and maintenance contracts and with the trailers we also do preventative maintenance on a monthly or bi-monthly basis which includes cosmetic maintenance to ensure they are always looking their best – we take a lot of pride in the appearance of our fleet.” Joe explains that after his employees, the high calibre equipment is the best form of marketing for his business which, again, is why he seeks to partner with the best in the business when purchasing new equipment. The company’s current fleet comprises 21 vehicles split roughly 50-50 between rigid Isuzus and a mix of Mercedes-Benz and Kenworth prime movers pulling two 34-pallet B-double sets and five 22-pallet semi-trailers. Every vehicle in the fleet is refrigerated with the freight carried comprising produce, poultry, meat and eggs. While a good proportion of the rigid and semi-trailer work is concentrated in south-east Queensland, the B-doubles travel farther afield to Bowen in North Queensland and Glen Innes in northern New South Wales. Running on an aroundthe-clock basis sees the B-doubles rack up around 250,000km annually. According to Wayne Azzopardi, General Manager Commercial at JD Refrigerated Transport, the people at BPW Transpec have been exceptionally good to work with since he joined the company in 2019. “Since buying our first BPW axle-equipped trailer in 2018 we have had no issues and the staff at BPW Transpec have always been happy to assist us in any way they can,” Wayne says. “The people at FTE Brisbane and Trailer Sales (MaxiCUBE) have also been really good to deal with, helping us to ensure the trailers we buy are the best specified to suit our requirements.” Airing his thoughts about the company, Wayne says JD Refrigerated Transport is a great company to work for, with a passionate team of people who are committed to excellence. “Our pride in what we do is what sets us apart,” he says. “Providing a sustainably reliable service in cold chain logistics requires the combination of great equipment, experienced drivers, refined processes and cutting-edge technology. A genuine pride for what we do means that we consistently work hard at all of these elements for the benefit of our clients.” Working hand-in-hand with the industry to provide what are widely considered among the best trailer axles in the market is BPW Transpec, a company that also prides itself on supplying products and services that best meet the needs of its clientele.

Fast Fact

BPW Transpec provides a range of heavy-duty trailer axles, suspension and other quality components that help companies like JD Refrigerated Transport deliver top-shelf service to their customers.

Contact

BPW Transpec Pty Ltd 1-11 Cherry Lane Laverton North Vic. 3026 Ph:(03)9267 2434 Web:www.bpwtranspec.com.au

Made in Italy

HYDRAULIC EQUIPMENT SUPPLIER, OMFB, HAS A COMPLETE PORTFOLIO FOR AUSTRALIA’S ROAD TRANSPORT OPERATORS AND MANUFACTURERS. THE BUSINESS IS ALSO POISED FOR ITS NEXT FORAY INTO DIVERSIFICATION.

What started as a modest family business in 1950 – three bothers working out of a small mechanical workshop in the heart of Italy’s strongest industrial hub – rapidly transformed into what is now an international brand. Officina Meccanica Fratelli Bianchi (OMFB) (translated to Bianchi Brothers Mechanical Workshop) would, in the space of a year, begin manufacturing spare parts for Italian, American, English and German trucks which were used for post-war reconstruction efforts. OMFB, in 1951, became the first family business to produce Power Take-Off (PTO) units for various heavy vehicles. As the years went by, this humble operation in Brescia Province, Iseo Lake, invested in R&D, new technologies and equipment. The company expanded its portfolio and explored export opportunities throughout Europe and abroad during the late 1960s. In the past decade, OMFB has expanded with new production facilities (totalling 25,000 square metres) and has increased its storage capacity with the aim of strengthening its presence in various market segments. To this day, the business in Italy is still represented by Umberto, one of the three founding brothers, and his son, Amedeo. On the business’ 70th anniversary, to better support customer needs as well as facilitate product development, OMFB pushed into various international markets including Australia (OMFB Pacific), China and France. “We have maintained a strong relationship with Gough Transport Solutions in Australia, along with its parent company in New Zealand, Sime Darby,” says OMFB Pacific Managing Director, Simon Tortorici. “We have also increased product supply, service and installation points via Truck Hydraulic Solutions and Heavy Hydraulics.” OMFB , is fully committed to innovation to ensure that its range of products is continuously improving to accommodate the needs and demands of the market. “Many suppliers have a basic range of transport hydraulics components but what makes OMFB stand out is the extent of our range and the options and accessories that go with it,” Simon says. “We are able to deliver superior solutions in an efficient manner.” OMFB has an extensive product range that can cover all transport industry applications from vocational trucks (waste and concrete) and tippers to truck-mounted cranes and vacuum trucks. “OMFB has a complete range of PTOs for the worldwide market, covering all American, European and Asian transmissions,” Simon says. “A notable recent release is the ‘Precision’ series of PTOs for Allison transmissions, which offer a significant noise reduction compared with standard models and is said to be among the quietest on the market. The company also produces and distributes variable-displacement piston pumps in a range of sizes and controller options with tandem configuration capability. These are often used with cranes and spreading (agriculture) applications. “We also supply various configurations of bent-axis piston pumps, including dual-flow models for operating two circuits at once from a single oil supply – ideal for a range of multi-function applications,” Simon says. “All versions can be fitted with bypass valves for live-drive or engine PTO fitment.” The company also caters to the tipper market with its selection of valves, including models with a dual-pressure relief valve option. This, according to Simon, is ideal for trucks that interchange between towing semi-tipper and moving floor trailers. Bent-axis hydraulic motors are also available

Fast Fact

Officina Meccanica Fratelli Bianchi (OMFB) was founded in Italy in 1950 by three brothers, Umberto, Nicola and Alessandro Bianchi. Today, the hydraulics specialist has international reach with an established sales network that distributes hydraulic components to more than 90 countries.

OMFB’s headquarters in Italy, 1975.

OMFB products are 100 per cent tested at the manufacturing level prior to distribution.

Dual-pressure tipping valves.

Variable-displacement pump. Bent-axis piston motor.

from OMFB in ISO and SAE mounts, with a range of shaft and port options, that can be fitted directly with over-centre or anticavitation valves and speed sensors. Also, OFMB supplies industry with steel and aluminium hydraulic oil tanks which are available in a broad range of sizes and mounting types. “All of these have sight gauges and the ability to directly mount valves and/or return filters,” Simon says. “An innovative bracket available for rear-of-cabin models saves installation time while providing mounting locations for trailer connections and service lines.” In addition to its strong transport industry presence, OMFB aims to increase its product offering within industrial, marine, oil & gas and mining industry segments via a long-term business diversification strategy. “The company has a number of new products to be released throughout 2021,” Simon says. “So, stay tuned.”

Fast Fact

A pioneer in hydraulic and technical solutions, OMFB has a state-of-theart manufacturing plant in Italy that assures quality with its complete endto-end production capabilities.

OMFB oil tank.

Allison PTO.

Contact

OMFB Pacific 29 Mareno Road Tullamarine VIC 3043 Ph: 03 9330 2694 Web: www.omfb.com

A one-stop shop for trailer parts too!

WITH MORE THAN 350,000 PARTS ON FILE – INCLUDING AN EXTENSIVE RANGE OF TRAILER PARTS – PACCAR PARTS AUSTRALIA WORKS ON A GLOBAL SCALE TO ENSURE CUSTOMER UPTIME BY DELIVERING WHAT ITS CUSTOMERS NEED, WHEN THEY NEED IT, THROUGH ITS COMPREHENSIVE NATIONAL NETWORK OF 59 DEALER LOCATIONS.

Each month the business performs tens of thousands of parts transactions – and what may come as a surprise to some is that around 10 per cent of those are for trailer parts. “We’ve always had a very strong presence in the trailer market, but it’s probably been one of the world’s best kept secrets,” says PACCAR Parts Australia Product Marketing Manager, Niels Holm. “Now we’re starting to really unlock that and give our trailer products a greater presence. Amongst its many catalogues and product information bulletins, PACCAR Parts has a comprehensive trailer catalogue which lists over 5000 trailer parts. This catalogue features comprehensive product drawings and cross reference information, enabling quick parts selection all designed to help our dealers and customers easily find the parts they need. Our trailer parts range includes a great selection of axles, hubs, drums, brake hardware, airbrake systems, suspension components, couplings, landing legs and lighting products. The volume of product we sell, allows us to negotiate competitive pricing with our suppliers and manufacturers whilst still maintaining the highest standards of quality. We’re then able to pass those savings on to our customers through our dealer network.” Niels adds that the business stocks parts from many of the industries’ key suppliers in the trailer space, including the likes of SAF-Holland, York, Meritor, Fuwa K-Hitch, BPW and Hendrickson. PACCAR Parts Australia’s global scale is amplified through its ability to source parts through an international distribution network, with many products in its range sourced out of the US and Europe. PACCAR Parts is a division of PACCAR Inc. an American Fortune 500 company and counts among the largest manufacturers

Ringfeder coupling.

TRP brake chamber.

of medium- and heavy-duty commercial vehicles in the world. PACCAR is engaged in the design, manufacture and customer support of light-, medium- and heavyduty trucks sold in Australia under the Kenworth and DAF nameplates. PACCAR also designs and manufactures powertrains, provides financial services and information technology, and distributes truck parts related to its principal business. PACCAR has offices, manufacturing facilities and a strong engineering presence in many countries across the world. With the strong support of global manufacturers, PACCAR Parts has also developed a range of products under the TRP brand. TRP is a PACCAR brand that offers an affordable and reliable alternative to trailer customers through the extensive PACCAR dealer network. This makes the PACCAR dealer network a one-stop shop for trailer customers. “If we have a customer with a trailer and the components and parts are from different manufacturers, they can come into one of our dealers and get the parts they need for all of their trailer equipment,” Niels says. “We also carry a wide range of service parts for legacy axle such as ROR, Rockwell, Freighter, Fruehauf – no matter the age or make of your trailer axle, be sure to check with a PACCAR Parts Dealer for availability.” To support the dealer network and their end customers PACCAR Parts has distribution Centres in Victoria and Queensland and the business has also well-established training facilities in these locations. Through a comprehensive regular training program, Parts Managers, Parts Interpreters and Sales Representatives across Australia are kept up to date with the latest products and developments. With current COVID-19 restrictions in place, PACCAR Parts has continued to provide ongoing product support to its dealers – virtually – through a series of webinars that are held each month. PACCAR Parts’ national dealer network is supported by a technical services team that can provide answers to any product technical enquiries and supply information wherever it’s needed. Additionally a special markets manager, who is focused specifically on the trailer parts range is also on hand to provide technical and field support to dealers and end customers. PACCAR Parts’ strong dealer network also extends to New Zealand and Papua New Guinea.

Fuwa K-Hitch axle. BPW Transpec airbag.

TRP alloy wheel.

TRP brake drum.

Fast Fact

The number of active part numbers in PACCAR Parts Australia’s trailer category is close to 6,000. The range includes the products from the industry-leading brands, such as BPW Transpec, SAF-Holland, Hendrickson, Fuwa K-Hitch, Stemco, Timken, SKF, JOST, Meritor, Ancra, Narva, Hella,TrailLink, TRP and Air Brake Corporation to name a few.

Contact

PACCAR Parts Australia 20 Canterbury Road Bayswater VIC 3153 Ph: 1800 772 787 Web: www.paccarparts.com.au

Worth bearing in mind

GLOBAL BEARING SPECIALIST SKF HAS A WEALTH OF EXPERIENCE IN THE ENGINEERING OF PRODUCTS THAT LITERALLY KEEP THE WHEELS TURNING ON A WIDE RANGE OF VEHICLES AND EQUIPMENT THE WORLD OVER. TRAILER SPEAKS WITH CHRIS HAYES, SKF PRODUCT MANAGER, TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE COMPANY’S LATEST INNOVATIONS.

The origin of SKF dates back over a century. In the Swedish city of Gothenburg on 16 February 1907, one of the company’s founders Sven Gustaf Wingqvist applied for a patent on a multi-row self-aligning radial ball bearing he had invented. With the patent granted on 6 June the same year, Svenska Kullagerfabriken (SKF) – or Swedish Ball Bearing Factory in our language – was off and rolling. The revolutionary new bearing was an instant success and by 1910 the company employed 325 people and had established a subsidiary in the United Kingdom. By 1912, SKF was represented in 32 countries and by 1930, a staff of over 21,000 was employed in 12 manufacturing facilities worldwide. In an interesting twist, SKF Sales Manager Assar Gabrielsson and Managing Director Björn Prytz were also the founders of automotive company Volvo AB in 1926. The company funded the production run of the first thousand Volvo cars, built at Hisingen, Gothenburg, starting in 1927, using one of its previously trademarked names: AB Volvo, which appropriately for a bearing company derives from the Latin ‘I roll’. SKF’s involvement with Volvo lasted until 1935 when the final shares were divested. Today SKF employs around 44,000 people at 140 manufacturing facilities across the globe. It also has some 17,000 distributors

SKF produces a broad range of precision manufactured components including bearings, seals and air dryers to suit the heavy truck and trailer industries..

encompassing 130 countries. From the outset, a fundamental principle of the company has been to continually improve the products and services it offers; with Australia playing a major role in these efforts – due to having some of the harshest operating environments on Earth. According to Chris Hayes, one of the shining stars in the SKF lineup is the Scotseals range which covers the wheel end sealing needs of trucks and trailers. Scotseals were originally developed and patented by US seal specialist Chicago Rawhide – a company that was acquired by SKF in 1990. Chris says the modern-day unitised hubs – fitted to trailer axles from a number of prominent OE (Original Equipment) axle manufacturers – feature SKF bearings and seals designed for a one-million km service life. He adds that the ability of the components to stay the course over such a long lifespan in harsh Australian conditions is testament to the quality of the products and the effort and resources SKF puts into its research and development (R&D). “SKF’s unitised hub is the component of choice in the mining industry in northern Western Australia and has continued to grow in popularity in recent times,” Chris says. “It was developed in conjunction with a leading OE axle manufacturer and has become a predominant axle for heavy-duty applications in rugged mining operations.” Chris reiterates that it is an ongoing philosophy of SKF to continuously improve its products, ensuring the designs of materials and components are kept up to date with a fast- paced trucking industry with increasingly high demands. “Development of seals and bearings is always ongoing with SKF – changing of profiles and manufacturing techniques including the ingredient mix of the steel used to produce the bearings.” Chris explains that the fine bulldust encountered in outback WA has made the state an ideal proving ground for SKF’s seals. “The bulldust gets into everything which means if our seals work well in this environment, they will work well anywhere,” he says. The culmination of this development is SKF’s new Scotseal X-Treme wheel-end seal for trucks and trailers for which the company offers market-leading warranties. Also, in line with its ongoing product improvement strategy, SKF is developing an upgraded version of its wheel-end monitor that was originally released in 2010 to give operators an early warning of trailer and truck wheel bearing issues. Chris explains that the original design featured a red and green light system that gave the operator a visual cue of when a bearing set needed replacing. It did this by detecting vibrations caused by spalling of the bearing cup surface. The new version, currently under development, is far more high-tech and can be linked with the vehicle’s telematics or to a cloud-based app on a Smartphone. In this way it can deliver alerts to the operator in real time when abnormalities such as excessive heat or vibration are detected. According to Chris, the new product is designed for a longer service life than SKF’s original wheel-end monitor, which aligns with the company’s long-term strategy of reducing its environmental footprint. “One of SKF’s goals universally is to become a ‘greener’ company in the way it manufactures its products,” he says. “This encompasses using less nonrenewable energy in the processes as well as producing components of the highest quality standards that last as long as possible.” While it’s been well over 100 years since SKF’s beginning, a founding principle of continuous improvement remains as strong as ever; ensuring the company continues in its relentless quest to supply the highest quality products that precisely meet the needs of its customers.

The longevity of sealed-for-life roller bearings in SKF unitised hubs for trailer axles enables the company to offer a one-million km service life. The redesigned Scotseal range manufactured by SKF has been tested and proven in both on and off road applications in Australia and USA.

Fast Fact

One of SKF’s latest developments is a high-tech wheel-end monitoring system that is cloud-based and keeps the operator informed about bearing condition in real time.

Contact

SKF Australia 17-21 Stamford Road Oakleigh Vic 3166 Ph: 03 92690700 Web: www.vsm.skf.com

Illuminating international quality

HELLA IS COMMITTED TO MAXIMISING THE ADVANTAGES OF LED TECHNOLOGY TO DELIVER A WIDE RANGE OF INNOVATIVE, EFFICIENT AND HIGHLY DURABLE LIGHTING PRODUCTS THAT OFFER MAXIMUM PERFORMANCE, CLASS-LEADING RELIABILITY AND GENUINE LONGTERM VALUE FOR END-USERS. THIS IS ACHIEVED THROUGH A ZEROCOMPROMISE APPROACH WHEN IT COMES TO DESIGN, CHOICE OF MATERIALS AND MANUFACTURING STANDARDS.

Bruce Rock Engineering road train fitted with HELLA DuraLED lighting solution.

Fast Fact

‘Fit and Forget by Design’ is everything with DuraLED – it’s the ethos that gives DuraLED products their classleading strength and reliability as well as a unique DuraLED ‘Life Time Warranty’ (which warrants the products for the life of the vehicle they were originally fitted to). HELLA is a global leader in vehicle lighting across all platforms and is at the forefront of LED lighting solutions for trucks and trailers. It works with Special Original Equipment (SOE) customers who mainly specialise in vehicle and trailer builds and provides custom lighting solutions where required. The expansion of the DuraLED range, however, as new products are released, increases the number of options for trailer builders and fleets, allowing them to specify their optimum lighting solution. DuraLED was first designed in 1996, field trialled in 1998 and since 1999 has seen a transformation in terms of generational changes that are comparable to tech developments with mobiles phones. “The generational enhancements have primarily focused upon improvements in technology and material selection,” says HELLA National Manager – SOE On-Hwy, Cameron Hoy. “For example, using the very latest SMD (Surface Mount Device) electronics has allowed the lamps to offer the same performance yet with a slimmer lens design, which improves their structural strength and makes them less prone to impact damage.” DuraLED series lighting is used across a wide range of freight commercial vehicle applications – mostly for signal lighting and rear combination and marker lamps – however its reputation for being able to withstand some of the harshest conditions has also made it the ideal choice in sectors such as mining, fuel haul, livestock transportation and tippers. These lamps have many advantages over traditional bulbs including longevity. “As the average life of a general freight trailer is around 15 years, when embarking on the design of the first generation of DuraLED signal lamps in the mid 1990s, our design team at HELLA New Zealand adopted a philosophy of ‘Fit and Forget by Design’,” Cameron says. “Over the last two decades, with the success of the DuraLED series in the Australian market, this approach has become firmly embedded as a design ethos that’s evident in the design and development of all of the lighting products that originate from HELLA New Zealand.” The DuraLED range, according to Cameron, is continually expanding to provide trailer builders and fleets a wider choice of products, ensuring they have solutions for every commercial application. In recent years, HELLA has included ultrawide visibility optics, Enhanced Definition Technology (EDT), circuit protection and flexible, robust mounting systems.

Indicator.

Reverse.

Stop.

Tail.

Retro Reflector.

Fast Fact

For situations where extreme impact is likely, HELLA has the upgrade option available to specify Grilamid over its commercial vehicle grade High Impact Acrylic. Both offer excellent protection against UV exposure and resistance to commonly used chemicals and vehicle washes, however Grilamid is the gold standard.

Fast Fact

One of HELLA’s latest additions to the DuraLED product range include moulded-in-Deutsch (DT) Connectors. This means the builder can easily install the product without reworking the cable, plus the fleet can quickly change out the lamp should the light get broken due to unforeseen circumstances.

“The DuraLED series not only meets IP 6K6/IP 6k7 ratings but does so by using a hermetical sealing process which performs far beyond current industry standards during testing, ensuring complete protection of the critical electronics,” Cameron says. “All HELLA DuraLED signal lamps meet either local ADR (CTA) or European ECE type approval.” Heavy vehicle owners and operators across Australia hold safety in the highest regard. This influences their decision making processes when investing in the latest truck and trailer technologies. “The transport industry is all about safety, reliability and the best return on investment,” Cameron says. “Professional operators would never compromise on safety items like brakes, tyres or suspension. Lights are no different in that they are a critical safety item, too.” HELLA also has a ‘Fit and Forget’ lifetime warranty for its DuraLED lamps which goes to show how confident the lighting specialist is about its products being fitted to trailers operating in harsh environments and conditions. “DuraLED products have been in service on Australian roads for over two decades and this proven reliability, in continuous use in real world conditions and harsh environments, affirms our confidence in the product range and demonstrates to fleets that it’s more than up to the task,” Cameron says. HELLA is also committed to minimising the adverse environmental impacts of its activities and products, which, according to Cameron, is another reason why the company’s focus is on creating energy efficient, high quality products with a long lifespan rather than ‘disposable’ products that are cheaper or easier to discard when they fail. “We are very proud that DuraLED is designed and manufactured by our HELLA NZ plant which uses electricity from 100 per cent renewable sources, Cameron says. “Furthermore, local manufacturing means these products have a very low carbon footprint.” HELLA has a new product, the HELLA DuraLED Combi-SR Lamp, which incorporates a built-in retro reflector – ideal for vehicles with limited space to mount a separate reflector. “Spurred on by the success of the iconic DuraLED Combi (part number 2379), our designers were keen to find ways to further enhance the product and consulted with the industry as part of this process,” Cameron says. “The result is the new DuraLED CombiSR. The Combi-SR Lamp now incorporates a Grilamid Lens with all five-functions, including a built-in retro reflector, saving both time and money on installation. An integrated ‘plug and play’ six-way DT Connector option is also available for enhanced installation and flexibility.The additional benefits offered by the Combi-SR have been extremely well received.” HELLA Compatibility Solution (HCS) is an option available with the DuraLED Combi-SR. “HCS essentially means these lamps work seamlessly with many late model vehicle electrical systems where Indicator Failure Detection is present, commonly known in Australia as ‘tell tale warning’ ADR 13/00 6.5.8,” Cameron says. “This allows the vehicle to recognise an indicator failure and warn the driver.” HELLA products are proudly stocked by all leading auto electrical wholesalers and truck dealers across Australia and New Zealand, including NAPA, Ashdown Ingram, Paccar Kenworth, Vawdrey, Daimler Trucks, Multispares, Penski, MaxiParts and Bapcor.

Contact

HELLA Australia 4 Hargrave Place Mentone VIC 3194 Ph: 1800 061 729 Web: www.hella.com.au