Hunter Engineering Company, an American multinational company specialising in wheel alignment, balancing, tyre disassembly and assembly, and vehicle inspection equipment, is celebrating 75 years in the business, marked by innovation, design and construction of equipment for the automotive sector.
Hunter has been at the forefront of the evolution of wheel alignment, a tool that is now fundamental to body shop work, by developing a target system that optimises its use even on the tester.
DSP400 systems have been equipped with durable and easy-to-handle reflective targets since 1998. Four cameras mounted on an aligner frame in front of the vehicle measure the position and orientation of each target mounted on the wheel, providing instant measurements of the car’s alignment.
Hunter Engineering’s digital image alignment systems are approved by BMW, Daimler Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen Audi Group (VAG). Hunter remains the only alignment supplier with all three approvals from German car manufacturers.
With the introduction of the HE421 HawkEye Elite with TD targets, true three-dimensional targets, Hunter eliminates metal-to-metal contact and the need to accurately centre the target. This system proves faster, lighter, more durable and changes the way shops line up vehicles, allowing for different uses with different installations.
Constant research and technological innovation, rewarded with several awards, have resulted in the true transportable target system. With the Cabinet Mounted version, Hunter has integrated the camera bars to the mobile PC, making it perfectly transportable. In fact, Hunter’s technology allows the set-up to be moved to various workstations, and the vehicle measured in a matter of seconds. The main advantage of this system, therefore, is that it can also be used on the
test bench, turning it into a real wheel alignment bridge. Being able to check the vehicle directly on its drawbench, before and after repair work, allows you to optimise time and correct assembly and damage problems in real time.
The special Quick Grip passive targets have an innovative anchoring system to the tyre, which prevents any damage to the rim even when it has just been painted.
In the latest version of the WinAlign 17 software installed on the Hawkeye Elite set-ups, Hunter has included a procedure to improve and speed up the diagnosis phase, with particular attention to problems related to the chassis, suspension and steering components. With a few guided steps, it is possible to check roll, pitch and yaw of the body relative to the plane of the wheels, with the help of special height gauges. By means of quick and easy diagnostic procedures, it is possible to determine the condition of the chassis, detect any deformations to the slides and suspension, and determine damage to wheel spindles, shock absorbers and springs.
With Hunter, it is also possible to stabilise any problems in the car’s steering components caused by an accident, which has led to deformations in the arms, heads and axle shafts, and it is possible to determine whether the steering box is not perfectly centred and the engine support cradle is not in the correct position. With the help of special attachments it is
possible to perform geometry angle measurements without the wheel, being able to work live without the encumbrance of the rim and tyre, thus helping with the movement of the chassis via the tester.
The precision, speed and repeatability of the system allow Hawkeye Elite to optimise work in the workshop, to use several stations for checking and adjusting the car’s set-up, and to check the vehicle’s geometry angles in a matter of seconds. With this system, it is possible to directly zero the steering angle sensor, with a printout of successful calibration.
The new A.D.A.S. systems (cameras and radar), require, as a basic requirement before calibration, that the vehicle has been checked and adjusted for alignment. With Hawkeye Elite, it is possible to carry out the preparation, diagnosis, alignment and centring of A.D.A.S. static calibrators, directly with a single instrument, using
directly on the same alignment bridge, without moving the car, or in a dedicated location. Using the same passive rear sensors, used for the alignment phase, it is possible to centre the after-market ADAS Static Calibrator, with respect to the thrust line of the vehicle, with maximum precision and speed.
Hunter Engineering Company products are distributed exclusively in Italy by Commerciale LMV S.r.l., based in Due Carrare, Padua. The Padua-based company, founded in 1974 as a vulcanising material laboratory, has been operating for years throughout Italy with its own sales and service network.
Source: PneusNews.it