IUV 2007 TECHNOLOGY CONFERENCE
September 25 - 26
The Seelbach Hilton in Louisville, KY

Future directions in design and engineering

Details for Conference Registration and Hotel Booking Information
Available Now.

Final Extension for Early Registration Discount:
Register by August 15 for $200 off conference fee!

Book your hotel accommodations now: The Seelbach Hilton is offering a discounted room rate of $159, which expires on AUGUST 24! Visit the official conference site at http://www.iuvconference.com for details, agenda, speakers list and sponsorship/exhibition opportunities.

Sunpro Offers Turbo Diesel Gauge Set

Sunpro(r), "The Performance Legend," has introduced a Turbo Diesel Gauge Set (CP7050) that enables diesel pickup owners to keep an eye on their trucks' critical systems.
    
The gauge pack includes three Sport ST(tm) performance meters - exhaust gas temperature (EGT) (CP7019), transmission fluid temperature (CP7003) and boost (0-60 psi) (CP7027) - and a trim-to-fit universal triple gauge pod to mount them in.
    
"These gauges can help you identify small problems before they become big, costly repairs," said Joe Young, product manager, Sunpro.  "If you use your diesel pickup for work or to tow heavy loads, these gauges are especially important.  We've created a convenient package that includes everything you need."
     
Sunpro's EGT gauge measures exhaust gases as they exit the engine and helps identify rich or lean air/fuel ratios.  Too rich of a mixture, commonly caused by too much fuel or not enough air - such as a clogged air filter, restricted exhaust or sustained heavy load - will result in a higher exhaust temperature reading.  The gauge can also be used as a guide to lower fuel consumption.  Lower EGT temperatures can help maximize fuel economy.
     
The transmission fluid temperature gauge gives drivers early indication of an overheating transmission, often in advance of the vehicle's dashboard warning light and before any damage occurs. 
     
Sunpro's boost gauge measures the pressure created by the truck's turbocharger or supercharger.  Too much boost can have consequences ranging from bad timing to detonation to engine failure. 
     
The boost gauge also measures pressure at the intake manifold, unlike most stock gauges that "calculate" boost based on data collected by the vehicle's onboard computer systems.  An aftermarket boost gauge is especially important for diesel trucks that have undergone significant performance modifications.
     
Sunpro Sport ST gauges feature an attractive black dial face and illuminated pointer for easy viewing as well as through-the-dial for enhanced night visibility.  Factory calibrated and certified, they come with all hardware needed for installation and are backed by a full one-year warranty. 
     
To assist customers, Sunpro maintains a support center staffed by ASE-certified technicians to answer product questions - from proper use and installation to gauge calibration.  The support center can be contacted at 800.228.7667, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. (EST).
       
The Sunpro Turbo Diesel Gauge Set can be purchased from leading automotive performance suppliers.  For a location near you, visit www.sunpro.com and select the "Where to Buy" link.
     
Sunpro, a brand of SPX Service Solutions, is a leading engineer and manufacturer of aftermarket tachometers, gauges and accessories inspired by the company's rich racing heritage.  For more than 50 years, Sunpro has meant performance with such classic products as the Sun Super Tach II(r).  Sunpro is dedicated to delivering the products and value consumers want most.  
     
SPX Service Solutions designs, manufactures and markets a fully integrated family of global brands providing specialty service tools, advanced diagnostic and shop equipment, inspection and gauging systems, training and technical information for vehicle servicing and maintenance.
     
The SPX Corporation is a global provider of technical products and systems, industrial products and services, flow technology, cooling technologies and services, and service solutions.  The SPX Corporation is located online at www.spx.com.

SEL Product Receives UTC Wireless Product of the Year Award

The RadioRANGER™ Wireless Fault Indication System received the Utilities Telecommunications Council (UTC) Wireless Product of the Year Award during a UTC conference and exposition May 6-9. The conference, held in Austin, Texas, showcases current and emerging technology for critical infrastructure communication.

The RadioRANGER is a product of the Lake Zurich-based E. O. Schweitzer Manufacturing Division of Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc. (SEL). The RadioRANGER reduces the time required to find power failures by leading line crews to the location of underground faults.

“A key part of the UTC competition is getting the judges excited about the product,” SEL Research and Development Manager Ken Fodero said. “This year it was easy to build the excitement because the RadioRANGER system solves a big problem in a very innovative way. The RadioRANGER makes what is usually a time-consuming, expensive, and often hazardous task into a simple process a line crew can complete from a truck.”

Today, the fault-finding process often involves draining vaults of water and clearing them of debris and hazardous gases. With the RadioRANGER system, a crew uses a small, handheld device to identify the vault or span of underground cable between two vaults in which the fault occurred.

“The RadioRANGER sniffs out the fault indicators and shows you which ones are tripped so you know right where to get to work, only opening the enclosures you need to gain access to the positively identified faulted section,” said Dr. Edmund O. Schweitzer III, SEL president and CEO. “The system came out of our search for ways to find underground faults faster and more safely, and which pays back fast. Plus, it is an important part of SEL’s increasing number of solutions for distribution automation.”

E. O. Schweitzer Manufacturing is accepting orders now for RadioRANGER starter kits. The product is scheduled to release in June 2007. For more information on features, benefits, and applications, visit http://eosmfg.com/products/radio_ranger.html.

E. O. Schweitzer Manufacturing, the electric power industry’s market leader in fault-indicator and related sensor technology, became a division of SEL in 2006. It began manufacturing fault indicators in 1949 and today produces the widest variety of fault indicators in the industry.

SEL serves the electric power industry worldwide through the design, manufacture, supply, and support of products and services for power system protection, monitoring, control, automation, and metering. SEL offers unmatched local technical support, a worldwide, ten-year product warranty, and a commitment to making electric power safer, more reliable, and more economical.

For more information, contact SEL by phone (509) 332-1890; fax (509) 332-7990; or mail to 2350 NE Hopkins Court, Pullman, WA 99163-5603.  SEL is on-line at www.selinc.com.

Interacter Introduces Talking Battery Charger

Interacter Inc, a leading US manufacturer of Industrial Battery Chargers, based in Meriden CT, announces the new Talking Battery Charger module.

The majority of warranty failures of batteries are due to incorrect charging. Warranty claims and repair calls are preventable if the operator can be reminded to charge the battery promptly after use. But the operator may not read the instructions. The  Talking Battery Module provides speech prompts to remind the user to recharge the battery when needed. It announces battery status so the user knows if the battery is charged, and when the battery is low.

The module is self-contained and simple to install – just two wires to the Battery.  
It can be mounted in the Battery Pack, in the Charger or Control Panel. It can be supplied pre-fitted into a Battery Charger, or as a stand-alone module. Applications include materials handling equipment, emergency lighting, backup power supplies, medical devices, marine equipment and anywhere battery power is used, and is subject to lack of attention to charging.  Internal jumper links configure the module to work with batteries of 12V, 24V or 36V system voltage.  A complete starter kit is available now, priced at only $49.

The module includes a signal output connector which can drive an external relay or signal to indicate battery discharged, automatically disconnect the load, or to drive red/green panel indicator lamps to indicate battery status.

Various voice options are available to replace the standard English pronunciation (wav files are stored in a plug in eeprom). Custom wav files can be loaded into the module for OEM customers to announce YOUR company name every time the power is turned on!

INTERACTER Inc is a Connecticut based manufacturer of US made high technology cost-effective battery charging products, which are used widely in the health care, industrial and commercial markets where battery performance is critical. Our products are designed and built entirely at our Meriden Connecticut facility.

For more information, visit www.interacter.com or call 203-630-0199.

World's First AGV-Forklift Collision Avoidance System

Danaher Motion has formed a strategic relationship with Sky-Trax Inc. (Sky-Trax) to jointly develop and market the world’s first Indoor Collision Avoidance System (ICAS) for industrial vehicles.

The companies will strategically align their respective technologies and marketing efforts to address the growing number of costly accidents AGV’s incur when struck by free roaming forklift trucks and other mobile industrial equipment.  By design, AGV’s are precise in their execution of instructions, such as route, speed, and direction.  The random nature of free-roaming vehicles such as forklift trucks, however, can cause concern not only for potential AGV damage, but also for personnel safety and lost productivity.  The new system will also improve overall AGV route planning thanks to the knowledge of forklift truck locations.

“We look forward to introducing this technology as a means of enhancing operations in mixed manned and unmanned environments,” says Jonas Rahm, Director of Engineering for Danaher Motion.

Users will have their Automatic Guided Vehicles (AGV’s), forklift trucks, and other free-roaming or guided vehicles equipped with the Sky-Trax Indoor Positioning System™ (IPS). IPS determines each vehicle’s precise position and instantaneously broadcasts it to other vehicles in order to forewarn drivers or AGV navigation systems of impending collisions.

“We believe the global reach of the Danaher Motion brand and their leadership in driving innovation makes them an ideal technology partner for utilizing IPS technology into material handling safety applications.  Early feedback from customers indicates this solution will be eagerly embraced in modern material handling operations worldwide,” says Larry Mahan, Sky-Trax President.

The capital costs of repairing or replacing AGV’s disabled by collision are typically dwarfed by supply-chain disruption to warehouse operations. Together, Danaher Motion and Sky-Trax will endeavor to greatly reduce these costs and improve employee safety.

About Sky-Trax Inc.: Sky-Trax develops revolutionary inch-accurate tracking systems for warehouse vehicles. Safety and productivity applications employing IPS are economical and practical to deploy, allowing warehouse professionals to substantially increase safety and improve warehouse efficiency. The results are fewer safety incidents, much lower operating costs and greater throughput. For more information, please visit www.sky-trax.com

About Danaher Motion: Danaher Motion is a leading global manufacturer of motion control products that improve the efficiency and productivity of complex manufacturing operations.  Danaher Motion’s product innovations have been revolutionizing the motion control industry for over 60 years through trusted brand names including Dover, Kollmorgen and Thomson.  For more information, visit www.DanaherMotion.com.

Allmand Introduces Maxi-Lite® Light Towers

Allmand introduces customized Maxi-Lite® packages constructed to meet specific jobsite needs while continuing to offer superior light output and durability. The standard ML 6 and ML 8 models use 6- and 8-kilowatt generators, respectively, and each model comes in customized packages: the Maxi-Lite Arctic Special, Maxi-Lite CSA Approved and Maxi-Lite Hydraulic.

Tailored for use in cold-weather environments, the Arctic Special package includes a heavy-duty enclosure with a full floor and a 90-degree-angle air inlet duct, which prevent blowing snow from entering the cabinet. Other cold-weather features include an engine block heater, remote oil drain, tubes in the tires, a 12-volt interior compartment light and a heavy-duty battery with an electric battery blanket. The packages are available with Caterpillar or Kubota liquid-cooled diesel engines.

The CSA-Approved package meets Canadian Standards Association requirements, including a VIN package with tag and side marker lamps. The VIN package is optional on other Maxi-Lite models. Like the Arctic Special, it can be powered by either Caterpillar or Kubota, and both models feature a standard CSA-approved wiring harness.

Constructed for even easier set-up and preparation for travel, the Maxi-Lite Hydraulic package features a 30-foot telescoping hydraulic mast to raise and lower the fixtures. It is available with Lombardini, Caterpillar or Kubota power and a 6- or 8-kilowatt generator.

Both the standard and package Maxi-Lite models feature Allmand’s exclusive SHO parallel lamp fixtures, which generate up to 50 percent more lumens per fixture than competitive light towers. Using high-pressure sodium or metal halide lamp fixtures, Allmand Maxi-Lite light towers can produce up to 660,000 lumens. An optional Saf-T-Visor™ attachment set reflects previously wasted light directly onto the worksite.

Each Maxi-Lite® mast can be rotated 360 degrees to provide sufficient light for virtually any application. The heavy-duty 30-foot towers use three telescoping sections and are constructed of galvanized steel, which provides superior corrosion protection. If a galvanized surface is scratched, the coating will expand to protect the damaged area. Additionally, durable 10-gauge side panels and a 12-gauge hood enhance the models’ strength, and a low-oil-pressure and high-temperature automatic shutoff protects the engine from damage.

A four-point outrigger system with center-mounted tower assembly delivers stable operation in wind gusts up to 65 mph, and the outriggers and tower support feature a captive latch, eliminating the potential for lost pins. A removable 50-gallon polyethylene fuel tank allows up to 100 hours of continuous operation, while a 4-inch oversized filler neck provides for easy fueling. The towers’ electrical systems feature a “componentized” ballast assembly that is easily accessible for service, and each unit includes one 240-volt and two 120-volt convenience outlets.

All Maxi-Lite towers come with 15-inch tires, forklift pockets, a lifting eye, tie-down rings and a two-inch ball/three-inch pintle adjustable-height hitch for convenient moving. Additionally, each Allmand lamp is designed to allow the fixtures to be transported while installed, and to reduce damage that may occur during travel or lamp removal/replacement. Optional inside lamp storage provides better security of the fixtures when the lighting system is not in use. Other options include a sound attenuation package, engine block heater, bulldog hitch, interior compartment light and Allmand’s exclusive LSC100™ automatic light sequence commander. A bi-directional automatic cable reel also can be added to distribute and retract electrical cable when the tower is raised and lowered, preventing tangling or breaking.

Allmand Bros. Inc., established in 1938, is a leading manufacturer of portable light towers, compact tractor loader backhoes, Port-A-Lite™ light stands, solar arrow boards and jobsite heaters. For more information, contact Allmand Bros. Inc., P.O. Box 888, Holdrege, NE 68949, call (800) 562-1373, fax (308) 995-5887, e-mail info@allmand.com or visit the company's Web site at www.allmand.com.