Falconer-based Truck-Lite has made inroads with another big truck manufacturer that could boost its production.
Illinois-based Navistar has decided to make Truck-Lite’s custom LED, or light-emitting diode, headlights its factory standard for forward lighting on its International Pro-Star on-highway Class 8 heavy trucks – the type of long haul tractor-trailers motorists encounter on the highway.
The Navistar agreement echoes an announcement Truck-Lite made last summer involving supplying LED headlamps to Freightliner.
Truck-Lite and Navistar engineers worked together to develop the LED forward-lighting assembly.
Navistar has been offering the LED lights as an option on its International ProStar trucks for several months but is now making them standard equipment on the vehicles.
Katie Wynn, a Truck-Lite spokeswoman, said the headlamps will be produced either at the Chautauqua County plant or at one of the company’s factories in Pennsylvania.
“We’re hoping to see a jump in our production due to this contract,” she said.
Truck-Lite and Navistar said the LEDs emit more white light on the road, helping truck drivers see better while reducing eye strain.
And LEDs have a longer product lifespan than the halogen versions, company officials said.
Navistar said most of the exterior lights on its trucks already use LED technology.
Elissa Maurer, a Navistar spokeswoman, said the ProStar Class 8 is a mainstay of its truck lineup.
“This is somewhat of our flagship,” she said.
Truck-Lite, whose parent company is Penske Corp., has about 330 employees in Falconer, among roughly 1,000 employees in all.
It has annual sales of about $500 million.
email: mglynn@buffnews.com
Illinois-based Navistar has decided to make Truck-Lite’s custom LED, or light-emitting diode, headlights its factory standard for forward lighting on its International Pro-Star on-highway Class 8 heavy trucks – the type of long haul tractor-trailers motorists encounter on the highway.
The Navistar agreement echoes an announcement Truck-Lite made last summer involving supplying LED headlamps to Freightliner.
Truck-Lite and Navistar engineers worked together to develop the LED forward-lighting assembly.
Navistar has been offering the LED lights as an option on its International ProStar trucks for several months but is now making them standard equipment on the vehicles.
Katie Wynn, a Truck-Lite spokeswoman, said the headlamps will be produced either at the Chautauqua County plant or at one of the company’s factories in Pennsylvania.
“We’re hoping to see a jump in our production due to this contract,” she said.
Truck-Lite and Navistar said the LEDs emit more white light on the road, helping truck drivers see better while reducing eye strain.
And LEDs have a longer product lifespan than the halogen versions, company officials said.
Navistar said most of the exterior lights on its trucks already use LED technology.
Elissa Maurer, a Navistar spokeswoman, said the ProStar Class 8 is a mainstay of its truck lineup.
“This is somewhat of our flagship,” she said.
Truck-Lite, whose parent company is Penske Corp., has about 330 employees in Falconer, among roughly 1,000 employees in all.
It has annual sales of about $500 million.
email: mglynn@buffnews.com