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Elkhart, Ind. — Premier Products has officially launched their new, patent-pending rooftop HVAC system, which they have nicknamed “The Beast.” Manufactured for use on buses and coaches of all sizes, the 95K-BTU system utilizes only American-made coils, Spal motors and fans from Italy, and a commercial-grade expansion valve. All electronics are built into the chassis and can be accessed from the inside of the vehicle. The Beast’s configuration is unique in that it is the only system produced today that can be used in a free-blow or ducted configuration.
According to CEO Eric Alpert, “This product is the most complex system we have ever created and is the culmination of hundreds of hours of R&D, engineering, and testing over the past year and a half. When we began this project, our goal was clear in that we wanted to create an all-in-one rooftop system that provided unmatched performance, absolute reliability, ease of installation, and serviceability in the field. We did not want to copy anything that existed on the market and we wanted to design it from the ground up.”
The first production system hit the road earlier this month on Executive Coach Builders’ (ECB) new 45-foot, 51-passenger Super Coach.
“The Beast” HVAC units on the roof of ECB’s 51-passenger Super Coach “This system is the only one on the market where all the needs of the bus manufacturer and end-user were engineered into the unit from the start,” says Carter Read, manufacturing manager of ECB. “More and more customers today want ducted air for optimal distribution for their passengers. I have tried every system on the market and nothing exists that will provide ideal climate for every passenger until now. The Beast is the best-designed HVAC system that I have ever installed by far and will perform in any climate throughout the country.”
Premier’s philosophy from day one has been always to lead through innovation, and Alpert believes that The Beast is just the latest example of that way of thinking.
“Our team truly did an amazing job. The system is a game changer, and we are confident that it will quickly become the new standard in bus HVAC. We will be unleashing the Beast into mass production by the end of the year.”
Visit premierproducts.net for more information, or call 855.881.1800.
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Tampa Bay, Fla. — Destination MCO is pleased to announce the successful opening of its new Tampa location. The company has recently acquired Network Transportation Worldwide Services' assets from CEO & founder Sheri Boesch.
Destination MCO sees the expansion into the Tampa Market as a strategic move that fits within its long-term roadmap. The new Tampa office will operate under the brand of Network Transportation Solutions, and will be managed by Heather Allen.
Network Transportation Founder Sheri Boesch and Destination MCO President & CEO Nour Elotmani
"For us, the Tampa Bay market has been a logical expansion target for a few years,” says Sami Elotmani, Destination MCO’s VP of Operations & Director of Global Partnerships. “In order to achieve operational efficiencies, we are starting with a fleet of ten vehicles in Tampa—sedans, SUVs, limos, Mercedes-Benz Sprinters, and Grech buses—and we plan to cross-utilize our resources between the two markets depending on operational needs. We are excited that the complete fleet mix will allow us to pursue a variety of client segments while simultaneously and efficiently serving both markets. We look forward to introducing our unique blend of transportation logistics expertise to the Tampa market and working closely with our established affiliate partners there.”
Based in Orlando since 2001, Destination MCO Transportation Logistics & Management currently operates a fleet of over fifty vehicles and employs a team of thirty office staff.
Visit destinationmco.com for more information
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Sainte Claire, Q.C. — Coach-builder Prevost is pleased to announce a partnership with Icomera U.S. of Rockville, Md., a manufacturer of onboard Internet connectivity and electronic entertainment systems. Through this partnership, Prevost makes Icomera’s solid-state integrated mobile router available for high-performance onboard wireless services and a wide range of content options through an array of cellular providers. Developed specifically for a mobile environment, this system allows passengers to connect to Wi-Fi on their individual devices and access movies and Internet content.
“This feature is particularly compelling for operators covering different regions within the US and Canada. The benefit here is having several cellular providers packaged into this one system using separate cards for each location which keeps roaming costs at a minimum.”
The Icomera solution is available factory-installed on new Prevost coaches. Through an exclusive agreement, Prevost also is Icomera’s Certified Partner for aftermarket and will install the Icomera unit at any of its 14 service centers throughout North America. The entire process takes about four hours.
““In this day and age, Wi-Fi usage on coaches can become absolutely crazy,” said Robert Hitt, director, Prevost Aftermarket Training, during the recent Ride and Drive 2018 event in Hagerstown, MD. “Wi-Fi and Internet costs will only go up as coach passengers get more comfortable streaming on their own devices. No more arguing over whether passengers are going to watch romcom, sci-fi, or action adventure. They will be able to make their choices and enjoy them in their own space.”
“Icomera solutions operate on Open Architecture principles that allow flexible and upgradeable services to meet the requirements of the customers using the product; and keep within any set budget for Internet access.” says Icomera Sales Director Gabriel Lopez-Bernal. “The Icomera unit works off the Wi-Fi inside the coach without reaching out to the network and running up the cost of service.”
“The standard package for Prevost coaches offers about 15 movies and 15 hours of television,” adds Lopez-Bernal. “However, we are working with Prevost to add more content to include classic films, and still keep it at the same price.”
Pro and Premium packages are also available from Icomera that include a greater selection of content. Lopez-Bernal says the system provides one-solution management of onboard connectivity and entertainment.
“The computer propagates the Wi-Fi network on the vehicle,” he says. “Passengers connect and are redirected to a captive portal. We have worked with Prevost to develop where all the available content is stored for easy access.”
The Icomera system can block bandwidth-intensive websites and restrict all inappropriate content. A CRM (Customer Relationship Mgt) tool allows operators to collect passenger information and email addresses from passengers who opt in for direct-marketing.
Further, the unit is fully browser-based; no third-party application to download or update. The system is backward-compatible with several generations of browsers for Android, Windows and Apple. Icomera can provide a list of compatible devices it has tested.
Visit prevostcar.com for more information.
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