Trace Engineering and Xantrex Technology Combine Resources
13 September 2000
Trace Engineering and Xantrex Technology Merge; Combine AC-Power Resources for Trucking Industry BURNABY, British Columbia -- September 12, 2000 -- Trace Engineering and Xantrex Technology, the industry leaders in heavy-duty truck electrical inverter/charger technology, have merged. The merger will mean combined engineering resources to further expand AC-power options in the trucking industry. According to Mossadiq Umedaly, Xantrex Technology¹s president and CEO, AC-power is fast becoming a "must-have" for truckers who consider their trucks their home. "Driver comfort is a huge issue and AC power (produced by converting DC power to AC via an inverter/charger) provides the opportunity to run microwaves, computers, heaters, and other household items in the sleeper," said Umedaly. "It also offers the opportunity to plug into 'shore power' to run all the AC loads without the need to idle or use batteries. It's why we've seen many of the truck OEMs offering Trace and Xantrex inverter/chargers as a factory option." While Trace Engineering and Xantrex (under the Statpower brand) both worked with truck OEMs in developing on-board AC infrastructure, both companies also had strong sales in the aftermarket. "This will continue," said Umedaly. "Our Xantrex TRUCKPOWER line (previously marketed as Trace's Truck Series) has inverter/chargers ranging in power from 1,100 to 3,000 watts. They'll continue to be sold and installed at Volvo, International and Freightliner truck dealerships throughout North America. In addition, we'll still offer our popular 'do-it-yourself' installation system (1,100 watts), available at dealerships and through PartsSystems.com." According to Umedaly, the inverter/charger systems feature electrical wall outlets, plus 3-stage battery charging and shore power connection. Xantrex's primary sales are in truck stops with inverters ranging in power from 50 watts to 1,000 watts. "These units are excellent as well and are used for powering AC devices from lap-top computers on up to microwave ovens," said Umedaly. "Upwards of 100,000 small inverters are sold at truck stops each year, and Xantrex's Portawattz brand is a marketshare leader. Xantrex also supplies OE charger and inverter systems to Western Star Trucks under the Statpower TRUECHARGE and PROsine brand names. Umedaly expects the TRUCKPOWER, Statpower PROsine and Portawattz brands to remain highly competitive in their market niches. "In fact, we believe sales in the trucking industry will be the fastest growing of any of our business segments," he said. (Trace and Xantrex also make inverters and inverter/chargers for the RV, marine, and residential and commercial marketplaces.) "The growth will be brought by the move toward an AC infrastructure, plus our resources -- Trace and Xantrex engineering -- to continue to develop products that meet or exceed the requirements of the trucking industry." -30-