Explore the power of 3-d printing, truck lightweighting and advanced technology at Work Truck Show

FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich. - Feb. 9, 2016 - PRLog -- Three new features give attendees at The Work Truck Show^® 2016 (http://www.ntea.com/worktruckshow/) solid insights into the future of vocational trucks. A demo truck displayed near the Show entrance highlights the life cycle cost benefits of spec’ing trucks that weigh less and use less fuel. A bright red, life-size Shelby Cobra convertible replica on the Show floor will draw attention to the power of 3-D printing to reduce manufacturing and R&D costs, and maximize innovation. And outside, attendees can test drive commercial vehicles incorporating the latest advanced technologies and alternative fuel applications to identify those that might work in their fleets.

The Work Truck Show is North America’s largest work truck event. Produced annually by NTEA – The Association for the Work Truck Industry, the 2016 Show will be held March 1–4 at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis, Indiana. Educational sessions begin March 1, and exhibits open March 2.

Lightweight and Advanced Technology Demo Truck display
“It’s one thing to talk about advanced work truck technology. It’s another to build a truck and be able to show people, here, this is it, and this is what it can do,” says Doyle Sumrall, NTEA managing director. “The idea is to configure a vehicle that will do the same or more work than a typically configured truck, but will weigh less and use considerably less fuel. This display is a visible, tangible example of the Green Truck Association (GTA) and its Lightweight Materials Technology Council bringing together the industry — upfitter companies, OEMs and government — to show the possibilities for fleets and truck buyers to significantly improve both their fuel utilization and the environmental aspects of their commercial vehicles.”

The Lightweight and Advanced Technology Demo Truck display consists of an Isuzu NRR diesel Class 5 truck upfitted with lightweight components. The truck itself is lightweight — weighing 760 pounds less than a conventional cab — and equipped with a driver feedback reporting system, speed limiting and idle shutdown to maximize fuel efficiency.

GTA, an NTEA affiliate division, teamed up with its Lightweight Materials Technology Council to build the lightweight concept truck. To analyze the vehicle’s life cycle costs, GTA worked with the National Renewable Energy Lab, which is part of the Department of Energy and is associated with the Clean Cities program that seeks to cut petroleum use in transportation. The results of the National Renewable Energy Lab’s in-depth analysis will be available in the display at The Work Truck Show.

Large-scale 3-D printing feature area
“Additive manufacturing” or “3-D printing” is the process of making a three-dimensional solid object of virtually any shape from a computer-designed model. The printer uses an additive process where successive layers of material, usually structural plastic, are laid down in different shapes a little at a time, building up to a final three-dimensional model.

“When you consider that roughly 60 percent of everything built in the work truck industry is customized in some way, it’s easy to see the advantages of 3-D printing,” says Sumrall. “Manufacturers can use their CAD system to design a component and then use the 3-D printer to make a life-size component model which they can look at from all angles and test fit into its space. That’s a huge potential cost saving that can also drive innovative R&D.”

To demonstrate the incredible potential of this technology, The Work Truck Show will feature a full-size 3-D-printed replica of a Shelby Cobra convertible and an SAF Holland truck and bus suspension in Booth 3400 next to NTEA’s booth. Both models were built by Cincinnati Incorporated. The company will have representatives on hand to answer questions about 3-D printing and its Big Area Additive Manufacturing (BAAM) product line.

The Work Truck Show Ride-and-Drive
Formerly known as the Green Truck Ride-and-Drive, NTEA is expanding the focus of this popular Show feature to include the latest advanced productivity technologies as well as alternative fuel applications. The Work Truck Show Ride-and-Drive is open to all Show attendees on Wednesday, March 2, and Thursday, March 3, from noon–4:30 p.m. The event gives Show attendees the opportunity to drive a variety of vehicles on city streets or in a closed course.

A complete list of participating vehicles can be found at ntea.com/2016ridedrivevehicles (http://www.ntea.com/2016ridedrivevehicles/). Manufacturers’ representatives will be on hand to answer questions.

Participation in The Work Truck Show Ride-and-Drive is free, and no advance registration is required. The Ride-and-Drive is sponsored by Hino Trucks.

About The Work Truck Show
The Work Truck Show, one of the top 100 trade shows in the U.S., brings together more than 11,000 truck fleet managers, dealers and equipment distributors annually. It features the newest vocational trucks, vans and equipment, a ride-and-drive, and opportunities to network with other work truck industry professionals on an exhibit floor covering more than 500,000 square feet, as well as a comprehensive educational conference.

Registration for The Work Truck Show 2016 is available at worktruckshow.com or call 800-441-6832. Join the conversation on Facebook at facebook.com/TheWorkTruckShow and on Twitter at @WorkTruckShow (https://twitter.com/worktruckshow)with the official Work Truck Show hashtag #worktrucks16 and Green Truck Summit hashtag #greentrucks16.

Maximize your experience using the free Work Truck Show 2016 app. Download it at guidebook.com/g/WTS16.

Editor’s note: High-resolution photos of the Lightweight and Advanced Technology Demo Truck, 3-D-printed Shelby Cobra convertible and ride-and-drive are available for download in the online pressroom atntea.com/worktruckshow/photoslogos (https://www.ntea.com/worktruckshow/index.aspx?id=3564).