It was a mixed bag for what topics were popular in 2014. Industries and topics were widespread, reaching from on-highway trucking to design optimization techniques, and from fuel cells to diversification strategy. As expected, market analysis such as those provided by our Market Forecaster, Frank Manfredi, were in high demand. What topics would you like to see covered in 2015?
1. SuperTruck rides towards completion
by Sara Jensen
http://www.oemoffhighway.com/article/11269209/supertruck-progam-nears-completion
- Originally appeared in the January/February 2014 issue
- FUN FACT: The SuperTruck program has consistently been one of www.OEMOffHighway.com’s most popular topics since its beginning in 2010.
Summary:
Started in 2010, the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) SuperTruck program is challenging four teams from the heavy-duty Class 8 trucking industry to develop a truck which demonstrates a 50% improvement in overall freight efficiency compared to 2009 truck models.
Each team is tasked with improving efficiency 30% on the tractor and trailer, and 20% on the engine to achieve the overall 50% freight efficiency, which is measured in ton-miles per gallon. The vehicle’s engine also needs to demonstrate 50% brake thermal efficiency and a path towards 55% brake thermal efficiency. Final demonstration vehicles are due in 2015.
2. Design for excellence
by Joe Barkai
http://www.oemoffhighway.com/article/11354344/how-manufacturers-reduce-costly-design-mistakes
- Originally appeared in the July/August 2014 “E” issue
Summary:
In the course of designing and manufacturing new products, engineers can make costly mistakes such as selecting components and materials that do not meet reliability requirements, or creating products that are difficult to manufacture and service. All too often, in an effort to correct these mistakes, they miss schedule and budget targets. A method to gain an insight into the frequency, causes and severity of these mistakes is to examine the changes engineers make to the design and the manufacturing process during the early phases of the product lifecycle, before volume production commences. These changes are typically recorded as engineering change orders (ECOs) which can be extremely disruptive and resource intensive, and essentially represent the waste that mature organizations strive to eliminate.
3. Agriculture goes alternative
by Sara Jensen
http://www.oemoffhighway.com/article/11357274/agricultural-equipment-running-on-alternative-energy
- Origianlly appeared as a digital exclusive first promoted in the April 2014 issue
Summary:
The trend towards developing equipment which runs on alternative forms of energy—such as hybrid technology or biofuels—continues within the heavy equipment industry, including agriculture. New Holland, for example, showcased a methane-powered concept tractor at Agritechnica 2013. AGCO Corp. has also developed a tractor which runs on biogas; the tractor, which uses dual-fuel technology to enable operation using either gas or diesel, is currently available in a few markets in Europe.
4. The unwanted aftertreatment
by Curt Bennink
http://www.oemoffhighway.com/article/11317668/removing-tier-4-aftertreatment-devices
- Originally appeared in the April 2014 issue
Summary:
Manufacturers have spent billions to meet emissions targets, which has driven up the initial price of diesel engines. The higher costs are not for the engines alone, but also for the redesign of the engine compartment to make room for aftertreatment devices and more cooling capacity. Many equipment manufacturers have also taken the opportunity to redesign models from the ground up and upgrade performance features. The net result is that Tier 4 equipped machines are approximately 15 to 20% more expensive to purchase. In industrialized countries, it has been typical for new equipment buyers to dispose of used units by trading them in when they purchase new ones.
5. A field of comfort
by Sara Jensen
http://www.oemoffhighway.com/article/11351264/trends-in-agricultural-operator-cabs
- Originally appeared in the April 2014 issue
Summary:
OEMs and cab manufacturers are continually working to find the best materials, cab layouts and ventilation systems to keep operators comfortable—especially farmers working long days in the field. Cab features such as operator visibility are vital to a farmer’s comfort and consequently productivity, leading to manufacturers constantly looking for new design methods to improve visibility, such as increasing the amount of glass a cab has. Market demand is also driving a more high-tech cab interface, meaning more function in a more ergonomic design.
6. Run flat on purpose
by Michelle EauClaire-Kopier
http://www.oemoffhighway.com/article/11354878/track-and-tire-technology-improves-fuel-economy
- Originally appeared as a digital exclusive first promoted in the April 2014 issue
Summary:
The Mitas PneuTrac brings together the best of both pneumatic tires and rubber tracks into one technology. The PneuTrac appears as though it is flat and can work continuously at 0 psi. A normal tire deforms when air escapes which can cause steering control problems. With the PneuTrac’s design, the deflated form is the tire’s natural state allowing a tractor to go from a soft field to the road without worrying about tire damage. When the tire’s air pressure drops, the sidewall folds instead of collapsing as a standard tire would, which provides an estimated three times increase in the ground contact area over standard radial tires. This is when the tire performs as a track.
7. Market expectations in 2015 a mixed bag
by Frank Manfredi
http://www.oemoffhighway.com/article/12006500/construction-up-farming-down
- Originally appeared in the October 2014 “State of the Industry” issue
Summary:
Manfredi & Associates has compiled the financial results of many publicly traded companies associated with construction and mining equipment to get a gauge on how the market fared in the second quarter of 2014. The industry was divided into three groups: manufacturers, distributors and rental companies. There were major performance differences among the three groups. It appears that organizations closest to their customers perform better than others involved in the industry.
8. Plug and play fuel cells
by Sara Jensen
- Originally appeared in the January/February 2014 issue
Summary:
The widespread use of fuel cells to power vehicles has yet to occur in the heavy-duty marketplace. US Hybrid Corp. designs and manufactures power conversion systems for electric, hybrid and fuel cell vehicles, as well as the auxiliary components used to make fuel cells run. US Hybrid took over a contract provided by CALSTART to develop and commercialize the next generation of cost-effective fuel cells for transit buses. The company’s goal is to make fuel cell buses pay for themselves within 3 to 5 years while providing zero emission transportation.
9. Expansion into the realm of componentry
by Sara Jensen
- Originally appeared in the March 2014 “CONEXPO” issue
Summary:
Liebherr Construction Equipment Co displayed the various components it manufactures both for its own group and other OEMs, including roller bearing slewing rings and gearboxes, as well as the company’s new Tier 4 Final engine using an SCR-only aftertreatment system. In 2012, the central sales and service company Liebherr-Components AG was formed to manage Liebherr’s components business worldwide, focusing on sales to customers outside of the Liebherr Group. Construction, mining and other specialty equipment OEMs are the target customers for the division.
10. Farm tractor market forecast: A tale of two or more markets, not one
by Frank Manfredi
- Originally appeared as a digital exclusive first promoted in the October 2014 “State of the Industry” issue
Summary:
The farm tractor market is often thought of as one market; however, there are at least two distinct markets, each influenced by its own economic demand drivers and applications. The tractors sold to farmers to produce food and work around the farm represent one market. They usually have 100 hp or more and are used to tow implements. Demand for this size category closely follows a statistic called farmers’ net cash receipts, which is the amount farmers have left over after paying for all their input costs that include seed, fertilizers and fuel. Sales of units under 100 hp are influenced by housing-related statistics.
