News from Kenworth: Innovative Truck-Lite Headlamp Standard on T2000
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CONTACTS: Jeff Parietti, (425) 828-5196 jparietti@paccar.com Truck-Lite: Sherry White (716) 661-1167
Kenworth Makes Innovative Truck-Lite Headlamp Standard on T2000 Model
LOUISVILLE, Ky., March 21, 2001 - Kenworth Truck Co. announced today that it has chosen Truck-Lite's new 7-inch round, complex reflector headlamp to become standard on the Kenworth T2000 model. Kenworth made the announcement during the Mid-America Trucking Show.
The Truck-Lite headlamp features a complex optical system that reduces driver fatigue and improves reliability resulting from the increased amount and distribution of the light on the road compared to a sealed-beam system. At the same time, it lowers lighting costs and enhances styling.
"Kenworth's field trials of Truck-Lite's complex reflector headlamp have produced a resounding, positive report," said Kurt Freitag, Kenworth product marketing manager. "The light is of superior quality and a definite benefit in the operation of vehicles over the highway."
"The complex reflector technology used in the new headlamp is derived from computer-aided optical design technology," said Brad Van Riper, Truck-Lite vice president of research and development. "With improved light output and a more focused beam pattern, the round lamp takes advantage of all light collecting areas, thus vastly outperforming standard sealed beam headlamps and reflectors.
"Our development team was determined to produce a headlamp that projected more useable light on the highway, allowing drivers to better see what's ahead and assuring them of safety in most environmental conditions," Van Riper said.
This high performance, lightweight headlamp uses the robust 9007 replaceable halogen bulb readily available at all automotive and heavy-duty parts outlets. These are rated up to 1,200 hours on low beam and 250 hours on high beam. The bulb uses an axial filament for high optical efficiency. This style of filament increases the amount of light projected on the highway by increasing the length and fullness of the beam pattern. The 9007 bulbs have very strong internal support structures assuring long life, especially on heavy-duty vehicles.
Bulb replacement is easier and quicker than replacing a whole unit, offering cost-saving advantages over the glass-sealed beam. When a sealed-beam headlamp is replaced, several mounting ring screws, the ring, and the sealed beam lamp itself must be removed. The process must be reversed to install the new lamp. Usually, the lamp needs to be re-aimed. With the Truck-Lite headlamp, simply remove the bulb from the rear of the headlamp assembly and replace it. No special tools and no re-aiming required. In minutes, the truck is on its way.
Advantages of the 7" round plastic headlamp include:
--The polycarbonate lens, protected by Truck-Lite's Diamond Shell hardcoating, is up to 30 times more impact resistant than glass. --Total weight of the all-plastic headlamp assembly is about half that of glass - 12 ounces compared to 20 ounces. --Replacement is quick and easy because only the bulb is changed - not the complete headlamp. No re-aim or special tools are required. --The return on your initial investment increases because of decreased expenses in service, labor and overhead due to the longer life cycle this new technology provides.
Truck-Lite Co., Inc. is a leading designer and manufacturer of lighting and harness systems for the transportation industry. Truck-Lite's Internet home page is www.truck-lite.com.
Kenworth Truck Company is a leading manufacturer of heavy and medium duty trucks based in Kirkland, Wash. Kenworth's Internet home page is www.kenworth.com.
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