Bridgestone
There will be plenty of mobile phone app debuts at the NEC this year, and one will comes courtesy of Bridgestone. The company is introducing what it describes as the CV industry’s first ever re-torque safety app for all commercial vehicle operators.
The Bridgestone Retorque app was, it says, developed following an extensive data-gathering exercise with all bus, truck and trailer original equipment manufacturers. It enables the correct torque settings on all vehicles to be calculated, free of charge, at the swipe of a mobile phone or tablet.
Bridgestone Retorque will be of use to anyone, including competitors, who removes and replaces wheels – and Bridgestone says it will include van data in due course. Product and marketing manager Andy Mathias states that the transport industry needs a solution like its re-torque app, pointing to the fact that up to 12 people are killed on roads each year due to detaching wheels.
Brigade
Forty years after it made its debut at the CV Show, Brigade will be celebrating with a 1970s retro theme, exploring its history – with some promised fun and a few surprises.
In 1976, founder (now chairman) Chris Hanson-Abbott introduced the reversing alarm to underwhelmed show visitors – leading to not one single sale. Indeed, at the time the DfT announced that reversing alarms contravened the Construction & Use Regulations.
Latterly, Brigade has been instrumental in reducing vulnerable road user incidents, with a range of products to detect cyclists in blind spots, and warn CV drivers. Cutting edge technologies on show will include Backeye360, an intelligent camera system that provides a bird’s eye view of the vehicle’s surroundings.
Cartwright
This year sees Cartwright’s biggest-ever investment in the CV Show – with two stands stand, including one for recently launched Cartwright Conversions.
Cartwright will be displaying a 3.5-tonne rigid box van, 7.5-tonne fridge box van and an Asda-liveried trailer on its main stand. Also on display will its urban trailer in Culina livery. This insulated curtainsider, fitted with command steer, tail lift and a mono-temperature fridge, is claimed to be a first of its kind.
Meanwhile, Cartwright Conversions will be making its CV Show debut, launching vehicle racking products as well as atype approved welfare conversion built on a Peugeot Boxer, re-styled to optimise weight and load space.
Axtec
Axle weighing specialist Axtec returns to the CV Show to demonstrate its latest innovations. An in-motion, space-saving dynamic weighbridge, accurate to ±0.5% will be among stars on its stand. The platform, intended to last 40-plus years, weighs vehicles as they drive slowly over – so removing the weight transfers that stops and starts can have on compensating axles.
Axtec is the sole contractor to the DVSA, calibrating, certifying and maintaining its national network of enforcement weighbridges. Most of DVSA’s (Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency) units are Axtec dynamic weighbridges – the only system of its type accurate enough to be approved.
Falken
A new generation of truck tyres for regional traffic applications will take pride of place on the Falken Tyre stand. Show visitors will see two examples, both offering “exceptional mileage performance with even wear”. These are the RI 151, for steer axles, and BI 851 for drive axles.
Claimed features include top-class directional stability, stable braking on wet, dry or snow-covered roads, and good traction. These were achieved thanks to the use of 4D nano-simulation technology, which analyses of the effects of compound and construction on tyre performance.
FTA
The Freight Transport Association will launch its annual freight publication at the CV Show. The Logistics Report 2016 outlines challenges faced by the sector and the industry’s response.
Thanks to the participation of members, the 2016 report is well-grounded in day-to-day operations. It offers a thought provoking assessment of UK logistics, and will be launched on the first day (Tuesday 26 April) of the show.
FTA staff will also be on hand to demonstrate VisionFTA – its tachograph analysis software. Users will be able to view vehicle inspections and audit reports, making it faster and easier to manage, control and analyse data.
Goodyear
The latest in CV tyre technology will be on offer at the Goodyear stand. Featuring interactive exhibits, the manufacturer will demonstrate why fleets are turning to its tyres – in particular Kmax and Fuelmax.
Goodyear says Kmax was developed for improved mileage performance, without compromising fuel efficiency or traction. Similarly, Fuelmax is for operators seeking to optimise fuel efficiency and mileage.
Goodyear premium retreads TreadMax and the Goodyear’s 360 degree offer – which aims to reduce fleets’ total cost of ownership – will also be n show.
Kwik Fit
Automotive repair giant Kwik Fit will be promoting its light van capabilities, which include vehicle servicing and MoTs, alongside its traditional fast-fit services. The firm says staff will be on hand to help operators and drivers looking to make efficiency improvements.
Products and services offered include: premium, mid and budget tyres; LCV equipment; MOTs on Class 7 (3,000—3,500kg design gross weight) and Class 4 (up to 3000kg dgw) vehicles.
Red Forge
Red Forge is to debut its Omniweigh onboard weighing loadcells and the recently launched Axalert Excel and Limitlite Tradesman weighing systems. All units offer vehicle telemetry outputs for remote monitoring of overload conditions.
Axalert Excel retains the Axalert 20/20’s ability to be used on multi-axle vehicles, but offers a simple single-screen display. Limitlite Tradesman delivers the same features as the larger Limitlite Plus, but with a traffic light display.
Texa
Texa UK will be showcasing its latest range of vehicle diagnostic tools and air conditioning service stations alongside the company’s IDC4E software for mixed fleets. Texa also promises some “interesting upgrade paths” for existing workshop users. The company is also promising exclusive CV Show product offers and systems to boost workshops’ capabilities and efficiency.
Total
Total – best known for its lubricant ranges – says it will be displaying its wider range of fleet management solutions. Its ANAC diagnostic system, for example, can help fleets to: reduce operating costs; anticipate and plan maintenance; increase assert lifespan; improve equipment reliability and performance; and optimise oil change frequencies.
Meanwhile, Total Analysis checks the condition of the lubricant and calculates wear coefficients to deliver early warning of maintenance issues.
VDO
The big news from VDO is its introduction of the TIS-Web Fleet app, which allows users to record manual entries even when the driver is away from the vehicle. These are recorded in chronological order and are then transferred to the driver card.
A preset pattern can also be configured, which can be modified before transferring the data to a driver card when prompted by the manual entry.
The app is compatible with IOS and Android smartphones and offers: remote digital tachograph control; daily vehicle checks; current and past driving and rest time views; vehicle load and location data; and tyre pressure monitoring.
Cool Pavillion
The Cool Pavilion, in Hall 3a, will offer visitors the chance to see a wide variety of refrigerated products and services. Chereau, Coolertech, Coolkit, Gray & Adams, Paneltex and Solomon Commercials all have stands in this area. They will be joined by specialist refrigeration equipment suppliers Carrier Transicold, Thermo King and Frigoblock.
Workshop
The specialist Workshop area, in Hall 4, will be aimed at commercial vehicle and car maintenance and repair – with products and services for franchised dealers, independent garages, fleet workshops, body repair shops and wholesalers.
Exhibitors in this area include Eclipse Diagnostics, Gemco, Maha, Pro-Align, Tecalemit Garage Equipment, Totalkare Heavy Workshop Solutions, Valeo and V-Tech.