Air Water Logistics (President Toshiyuki Mukai, Toyohira-ku, Sapporo) introduced a new back camera with a snow melting function that uses heater glass this winter. The products are the snowmelt cameras "C4075R" and "C5075R" developed by Ryowa (President Ken Yasuda, Fukushima-ku, Osaka) and started selling on November 1st last year. In Air Water Logistics, we were involved from the product verification stage, and after it was officially launched, we became the first company to introduce it in Japan. In the future, we are planning to install 400 to 500 units in the entire group by sequentially installing them in "all necessary vehicles" at the timing of increasing the number of vehicles and replacing them. Shigeyuki Mifune, director of Air Water Logistics and General Manager of the Safety Promotion Office (right photo), said, "It's a simple but very wonderful product. It was developed with our earnest thoughts in mind. Prevention of back accidents in winter and ensuring safety. For this reason, I hope that it will be widely used not only by Hokkaido but also by logistics companies nationwide. "
In Hokkaido, due to the effects of snow and freezing during the winter, even if a back camera is attached, it is normal that it is difficult to check the rear with a monitor, and many logistics companies are troubled with dealing with it. rice field. This is a common issue in snowy and cold regions, and in order to prevent such a situation, you are forced to do work such as "remove and melt the ice and snow on the camera before operation", "with shutter" and "housing". It was common to introduce a back camera with a function to warm the body itself. However, even if it takes time and effort to remove the ice and snow before the operation, it often disappears again due to the snow being rolled up while driving, and "the shutter freezes and becomes stuck" and "when removing the ice and snow". In some cases, it would break down due to the impact of the snow, etc. "" There is a problem with the heat dissipation of the housing, and sufficient visibility cannot be secured. "
To solve these problems, Ryowa developed the back camera for trucks that "heats the glass to melt snow and thaw" for the first time and put it on the market. Based on the conventional vehicle rear confirmation camera system "CAR VISION", the glass part of the back camera housing is warmed and the ice and snow adhering to the glass is melted in a few minutes. Hirohisa Kato of the Aftermarket Sales Department of the Second Division of the company said, "Usually, when the heater is turned on, the snow melts and melts in a few minutes. It looks clear while warming up. The heater can be turned on and off, the power consumption is not large, and no special operation is required. "
Mr. Kato said, "There was a deep-rooted request from other businesses in cold regions, including Air Water Logistics, to solve the problem of back-up cameras during the winter. Securing rear visibility such as cameras with shutters. There was a product that "aimed at the same effect" for the camera, but I heard that it was used as it was even if there was a problem. In fact, I saw a truck that used a broken shutter fixed with a rubber tape. It was a niche market, but there were certain needs, and we decided that it would be possible to commercialize it by combining existing technologies, so we decided to develop it. "
Ryowa started development around October of the year before last, and proceeded with commercialization by repeatedly devising ways such as setting the amount of increase in glass temperature, applying adhesive, and assembling. From January to March of the following year, Air Water Logistics cooperated in the field test. The camera was attached to the trucks at the bases of Kitami and Asahikawa, which are in the harshest environment of heavy snowfall and extremely cold weather, and the performance and effects were verified.
As a result, in addition to the expected effect that "the ice and snow attached to the glass melts in a short time and you can always see the rear view clearly" throughout the season, it is "effective for dew condensation that occurs while driving". Confirmed, there was no problem with durability. At the end of the test, the driver said, "Are you sure you want to remove it?" , Also introduced in the truck of Ishikari base. In the future, we plan to continue to introduce it at many bases and make capital investment over a long period of time.
Mr. Mifune said, "It is an excellent product that the driver does not want to remove. I feel that it is an epoch-making camera that can see the rear view even in winter. Deterioration of visibility in winter has been a long-standing issue. There was a feeling that it was "invisible". In particular, back accidents on the premises of the shipper and shipper were directly linked to quality and reliability. They were able to eliminate these issues. " He also said, "While the market in snowy and cold regions is not so big, I am very grateful for the earnest voice of the site to be picked up and developed. The appearance is very simple, but the development effort can be seen and it protects the driver. Personally, I would like it to be standard equipment on trucks. "
Koji Nakayama, General Manager of Purchasing Operations Department (center of the photo) of the Safety Promotion Office, said, "I told various manufacturers that" vehicle-related products for cold regions are not enough. " The reaction was "difficult." It was also effective as a countermeasure. During operation, the back camera may condense when entering a tunnel, but even in that case, the rear view became clear in a short time. It is also effective in humid areas, so it is a cold region. There may be needs nationwide, not just for the purpose of use. Also, it can be applied not only to back cameras but also to check the inside of frozen cars and to various fields such as side cameras. Isn't it? "
Mr. Nakayama, General Manager of Safety and Security Department (left photo) of the Safety Promotion Office, said, "We are hiring high school graduate drivers, but at that time, parents' biggest concern is about accidents. Safety including this back camera Active introduction of products to secure them will lead to safety materials. I can confidently explain that we are taking solid measures by introducing products with such safety assistance functions and fostering a mindset for safety. It is also an effective tool for recruiting human resources. "
In the future, when introducing new vehicles such as increasing or replacing vehicles, the company plans to install the product in the required areas and models, mainly box vehicles and lorry vehicles. In addition, even if it is an in-use vehicle, we plan to consider introducing it if there is a request from the site, and we expect that the target vehicle will be 400 to 500 units. Mr. Mifune said, "It will be a long-term capital investment, but if one accident occurs, it will cost a lot of money. We would like to actively introduce safety-related equipment to prevent accidents. Also, only our company and businesses in cold regions Instead, I want the entire industry to use it widely. "
The product is open price, but the reference price is 48,800 yen for the "C4075R" for medium-sized and large-sized vehicles, and 41,800 yen for the "C5075R" for small and medium-sized vehicles (both camera body only, excluding tax and construction costs). There is.
◎ Related links → Air Water Logistics Co., Ltd.
◎ Related links → Ryowa Co., Ltd.