For more information on this innovative new product click here.

HDT Names SmartValve Among Top 20 Products for 2014

February 2014, TruckingInfo.com – Feature
by Deborah Lockridge
Hadley Products, known for air horns, is making it easier and safer for drivers to connect the tractor and trailer. SmartValve, a multi-function height adjustment valve for tractor air suspensions, raises and lowers a tractor’s chassis to match that of the trailer’s upper coupler and kingpin, saving drivers time and effort. It helps reduce back and leg injuries because it can eliminate the hard labor of raising and lowering trailer noses when their heights don’t match a tractor’s. In high-frequency drop-and-hook operations, SmartValve saves each driver a week’s worth of time every year, says the company.

[nggallery id=22]

Read full page at HDT

Frost & Sullivan Honors Hadley for its SmartValve Solution that Enhances Driver Convenience and Safety in Commercial Vehicles

Date Published: 8 Jan 2014

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. – January 08, 2014 – Based on its recent analysis of the commercial vehicle driver safety and convenience market, Frost & Sullivan recognizes Hadley with the 2013 North America Frost & Sullivan Award for Customer Value Leadership. Hadley’s SmartValve offers unrivaled value to fleets by significantly increasing driver safety and comfort, reducing the time needed for drop-and-hook operations and improving fleet fuel economy. Using this innovative system, fleets can also limit driver shortages, enhance driver job satisfaction, and reduce injuries, therefore lowering insurance claims.

SmartValve is built upon the same platform as Hadley’s well-established Smart Air Management System. Traditionally, electronic height control systems have had a separate sensor, electronic control unit (ECU) and valve manifold, and have required considerable space and labor for installation. SmartValve eliminates the need for either by integrating the sensor, electronics, and valve in a compact single device. It is also versatile, offering multiple lever lengths and orientations to cater to a wide range of tractor-trailer combinations.

“SmartValve can raise the tractor frame over ride height, reducing the effort needed by drivers to couple the trailers at many different ride heights,” said Frost & Sullivan Analyst Saideep Sudhakar. “New hours-of-service regulations place a premium on drivers’ time, so the product provides key value to fleets through superior utilization of time and effort.”

SmartValve also makes more efficient use of the air supply, which decreases compressor run time. It provides original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) scope to design more aerodynamic tractors, which automatically lower vehicle ride heights at highway speeds. Hadley validated this technology with extensive SAE J1321 Type II Fuel Economy Testing. The results show a 0.7 percent improvement over the specific tractor model tested at low ride height. With new tractor designs, this can translate to an annual savings of $700 or more for every tractor in the fleet.

The raising and lowering of landing gear is one of the top reasons for injuries in trucking. Non-fatal injuries from this operation cost employers, on average, $11,880 per incident. With mechanical valves, the weight of the trailer fully rests on the landing gear, creating a need for strenuous cranking, which can ultimately result in back strains for the driver. It also leads to fatigue, as the driver has to frequently get in and out of the cab to set the coupling.

Hadley’s SmartValve product is not only ergonomically designed, but also prevents damage to the landing gear by simply raising or lowering the tractor over the ride height when coupling the tractor and trailer. This eliminates repairs in the range of $850-875 per set. With SmartValve, drivers no longer have to struggle against the weight of the trailer, even if it is fully loaded.

“Given that driver shortages and injuries are the major challenges facing fleets, any product that improves driver productivity and reduces driver fatigue will be well received by the market,” noted Sudhakar. “SmartValve brings additional value to the table by improving fuel efficiency and, thereby, offering an added advantage to fleets in today’s volatile fuel environment.”

Each year, Frost & Sullivan presents this award to the company that has demonstrated excellence in implementing strategies that proactively create value for its customers. The award recognizes the company’s focus on enhancing the value that its customers receive, beyond simply good customer service, leading to improved customer retention and, ultimately, customer base expansion.

Frost & Sullivan Best Practices Awards recognize companies in a variety of regional and global markets for demonstrating outstanding achievement and superior performance in areas such as leadership, technological innovation, customer service and strategic product development. Industry analysts compare market participants and measure performance through in-depth interviews, analysis and extensive secondary research to identify best practices in the industry.

About Hadley

Hadley is a supplier of quality components and solutions for commercial vehicles, tractor-trailers, transit and shuttle buses, RVs, motor coaches, specialty vehicle markets, and associated aftermarket distribution. Hadley was the first market participant to develop the Freon-powered dual trumpet horn known as the Hadley horn in 1945, which helped it gain market prominence. Later in 1960, it launched new product lines, including vacuum compressors and leveling valves for luxury passenger vehicles. Over the next decade it became the market leader in the luxury passenger car market for these products. Hadley then leveraged its expertise in air management to introduce a height control system for commercial vehicles in 1985. Hadley’s ability to continuously innovate and cater to customer requirements enabled it to launch the SmartValve product, a one-stop solution for reducing effort and injury to drivers and improving fuel efficiency of class 8 trucks and tractor-trailers in North America. Learn more at www.hadleyadvantage.com.

About Frost & Sullivan

Frost & Sullivan, the Growth Partnership Company, works in collaboration with clients to leverage visionary innovation that addresses the global challenges and related growth opportunities that will make or break today’s market participants.

Our “Growth Partnership” supports clients by addressing these opportunities and incorporating two key elements driving visionary innovation: The Integrated Value Proposition and The Partnership Infrastructure.

• The Integrated Value Proposition provides support to our clients throughout all phases of their journey to visionary innovation including: research, analysis, strategy, vision, innovation and implementation.
• The Partnership Infrastructure is entirely unique as it constructs the foundation upon which visionary innovation becomes possible. This includes our 360 degree research, comprehensive industry coverage, career best practices as well as our global footprint of more than 40 offices.

For more than 50 years, we have been developing growth strategies for the global 1000, emerging businesses, the public sector and the investment community. Is your organization prepared for the next profound wave of industry convergence, disruptive technologies, increasing competitive intensity, Mega Trends, breakthrough best practices, changing customer dynamics and emerging economies?

Contact:
Frost & Sullivan
Mireya Espinoza P: 210. 247.3870 F: 210.348.1003
E: mireya.espinoza@frost.com

Hadley
Bob Zirlin, Director of Marketing P: 314.825.2552
E: bzirlin@hadleyadvantage.com

Frost & Sullivan Gala Honoring 2013 Excellence in Best Practices Award Recipients