Tom Kampf, product manger for Thermo King, says, “Owners and operators of refrigerated truck and trailer fleets who say that looks do not matter have obviously never been to a truck show such as the 2013 Mid-America Trucking Show (MATS), which will be held March 21-23 in Louisville. Original equipment manufacturers of heavy-duty trucks will be pulling out all the stops to show off new rigs that are just as beautiful as they are reliable, fuel-efficient and high performing."
He goes on to say that the trucks are not the only good-looking equipment at the show. Manufacturers of transport refrigeration units (TRUs) also are showing leading-edge equipment designed to please the eye and the pocketbook.
For example, when Thermo King, a manufacturer of temperature control systems for a variety of mobile applications (and a brand of Ingersoll Rand), set out to develop an entirely new TRU for launch in January, the company set some very clear design tenants. Quality, reliability and fuel-efficiency were at the core of every design decision as form followed function.
However, Kampf notes, development team members also realized that they did not have to compromise. There was no reason that a high-performance, fuel-efficient and environmentally-compliant TRU could not be as good-looking as the new Class 8 tractors.
As a starting point, Kampf says, the design team created an aesthetic personality for the new Thermo King units. This included developing personality statements such as "Quality—Nobody delivers like me," "Reliability—You can count on me," "Performance—I’m a well-tuned machine," and "Significance—Because I matter."
The new unit is a significant departure from the traditional TRU, with modern design elements incorporated throughout the unit. To further enhance its appearance and allow for owner-operator customization, chrome packages and light emoting diode (LED) lighting are available. The use of LED lighting on a TRU is a first for the trailer refrigeration industry.
“Thermo King customers have been extremely positive about the look of these new units, which many will see for the first time at MATS, where the company will have both the SB series and the new Precedent platform on display,” Kampf adds.
