About the Customer
HED has been working with a U.S.-based original equipment manufacturer (OEM) that built its reputation on delivering specialized, custom truck bodies designed for the most demanding field applications. In its sector of heavy-duty service, reliability is more than a selling point — it’s a critical requirement.
From sophisticated mechanic trucks to high-capacity lube maintenance solutions, this company’s vehicles are the backbone of field service operations across various industries. To maintain its market leadership, it requires electrical control systems as rugged and dependable as the truck bodies it manufactures.
The Challenge
While the OEM had already transitioned to a CAN-based control system, the performance and reliability of its existing solution were falling short of the company’s high professional standards. The manufacturer’s team was struggling with a supplier that wasn’t delivering the quality and consistency it needed.
The technical bottlenecks were significant. The existing system relied on an older, seven-inch display that offered limited visibility and a cluttered user interface. Furthermore, the physical integration was problematic; the previous display mounting was cumbersome and characterized by overly complicated wiring. This complexity meant the OEM wasn’t actually reaping the true benefits of a CAN-bus architecture, such as simplified wiring and easy diagnostics.
Beyond the hardware, the previous components were not purpose-built for the high-vibration, high-dust environments typical of service truck applications. This lack of ruggedization, combined with a system architecture that lacked scalability, prevented advanced feature automation — such as crane and outrigger controls — that the company’s end-users needed to improve productivity.
The Solution
Seeking a simpler, higher-quality approach, the OEM turned to HED to lead the development of a cleaner system design that removed the unnecessary complexity of the previous installation.
At the core of the solution was the consolidation of hardware. HED replaced the fragmented components with a high-performance, ruggedized display that integrated CAN-bus communications and onboard inputs and outputs (I/O). By moving the control logic and the display into a single unit, HED simplified the installation process significantly. Legacy wiring challenges were eliminated, replaced by a single, high-reliability connector at the back of the display. This drastically reduces potential failure points and assembly time.
To ensure the system remained future-proof, the HED display featured an accessible USB port, enabling the OEM or end-users to perform easy system updates in the field. This collaboration allowed HED to act as an extension of the OEM’s engineering team, guiding the development of advanced features that would set the vehicle apart from the competition.
The Results
Transitioning to HED’s integrated system delivered immediate advantages across the vehicle’s lifecycle. From a manufacturing standpoint, the streamlined wire harness design led to a much cleaner system overall and reduced total vehicle cost by eliminating redundant components and labor-intensive wiring.
Beyond manufacturing efficiencies, the new architecture unlocked the technical scalability the OEM had been missing. The system enabled the OEM to automate crane stowing, envelope control, and other outrigging controls. These enhancements improved the safety and productivity of the end operator.
User experience improvements were equally significant. HED increased the screen size and enhanced the graphical capabilities, creating a more intuitive interface that allowed operators to monitor more information at a glance.
To support long-term ownership, the HED team created the base software system to get the project off the ground, while designing it to allow the OEM’s team to maintain and create its own customizations moving forward. By removing the limitations of the previous supplier, the OEM now has full control over its software roadmap, ensuring continued innovation and faster responses to customer needs.
Interested in seeing how HED can help you? Contact us and let’s find out together.