PRODUCT WATCH

MID-AMERICA BEGINS

The 2012 version of the Mid-America Trucking Show got underway last night with a Cummins press conference and dinner where the engine maker made several announcements, the most interesting of which is its development of a 15-litre engine fuelled by natural gas.

The ISX15 G will be on the street in 2014, with field testing to begin next year. A Cummins Westport project, it will use essentially the same technology seen on the recently introduced ISX12 G.

Cummins Turbo Technologies was to offer a glimpse of its advanced waste-heat expander prototype at the show. The system, which includes the Holset waste heat expander, can reduce fuel consumption by up to 6%, the company says. It captures what would otherwise be lost energy – in the form of heat – from a number of sources on board the vehicle and turns it into useful mechanical or electrical power. The net result is lower levels of environmental pollution and lower bills at the pump. It’s been seen as the key approach to meeting fuel economy standards in coming years.

Mitsubishi Fuso is showing its 2013 model-year medium-duty cabover trucks. The new Fuso Canters, in production now, will come standard with dual batteries, and will also include a factory-installed PTO wiring harness.

Parker Chelsea says its new 899 Series makes PTO and pump installation simpler and more reliable on oil-field exploration and maintenance trucks. Because of the large physical size of the pumps used in such applications, the company says, clearance has always been a challenge. The 899  was designed with this in mind.

Yokohama Tire  has launched an online tool that helps truck owners manage tire maintenance. Its inflation-pressure calculator recommends appropriate inflation levels, thus preventing under-inflation or over-inflation that are often the culprit behind the most common tire wear and tire damage.

TMD Friction of North America says its air-disc brake-pad friction material, Textar T3070, has met the FMVSS 121 dynamometer requirements of TMC’s Recommended Practice 628 – ‘Aftermarket Brake Lining Qualification’ -- as verified by SAE’s Performance Review Institute.  As a result, TMD says, its friction material for 225-size calipers is the first and only air-disc pad listed on TMC’s list of approved replacement linings.

Look for full Mid-America coverage in The Lockwood Report next week.

15-LITRE NG ENGINE

(March 20, 2012) -- Cummins announces development of the ISX15 G for OTR use

THE 2013 CANTER

(March 20, 2012) -- Mitsubishi Fuso introduces new 2013 model-year Canter trucks

ONLINE INFLATION CALCULATOR

(March 20, 2012) -- Yokohama creates web-based inflation-pressure calculator

AIR DISC FRICTION

(March 20, 2012) -- TMD offers first air-disc-brake friction material to meet TMC RP 628 for aftermarket linings

MIDDLEWEIGHT FIGHTER

(March 14, 2012) -- Mack's Granite 'medium heavy duty' said to save weight, cost less