Ametek

About Ametek

Vehicular Instrumentation Systems (VIS), a business unit of AMETEK Instrumentation and Specialty Controls, is a world leader in the design and manufacture of precision instrumentation, controllers, and display systems. ISO9001:2008 quality standards, Lean-Sigma manufacturing methodology, professional sales and engineering team, and a strong commitment to customer satisfaction make VIS an industry leader in the global vehicle instrumentation marketplace.

VIS began as a privately held company called Dixson in 1964 designing, manufacturing and selling automotive and heavy truck gauges. In 1995, Dixson was acquired by AMETEK. AMETEK, Inc. (NYSE: AME) is a leading global manufacturer of electronic instruments and electromechanical devices with annualized sales of $2.5 billion.

VIS headquarters are in Grand Junction,Colorado and include Sales, Engineering, and Manufacturing. Facilities in Reynosa, Mexico provide additional manufacturing capability. An international network of distributors and representatives provides products and services throughout North and South America, Europe, and Asia. A stable, cooperative, experienced, and highly successful management team provides quick, positive responses and timely solutions in an ever-changing global economy. 

VIS is fully committed to new and innovative applications of technological breakthroughs in its products. Its primary products are instrumentation, gauges, and driver information panels for over-the-road trucks, RVs, buses, military and off-highway vehicles. Customers include PACCAR, Freightliner, Peterbilt, Kenworth, Caterpillar, CNH Corporation, American La France, Thomas Built Buses, Spartan Chassis, and several others. Additional products include message centers, LCD displays, light bars, modular instrumentation, and control/­display modules for farm and construction vehicles and military applications. Smaller market segments include bargraph panel meters and controllers for process control rooms and automated control units for the food processing industry.

Key Growth Strategies 

• Operational Excellence—the catalyst for achieving its other strategies
• Strategic Acquisitions and Alliances—that strengthen its core businesses, extend global reach, and improve market positions
• Global and Market Expansion—to increase penetration into growing Asian, European, and Latin American markets
• New Products—to bolster its market positions and extend its reach into new markets

Vision

VIS will be an internationally recognized and respected company that produces the highest value products and services for the markets it serves, such that:

• Investors actively seek the Company for investment;
• Customers and suppliers are eager to do business with the Company;
• The company’s employees actively participate and flourish in their work;
• Communities welcome the Company openly.

Manufacturing

Manufacturing facilities in Colorado and Mexico exceed 110,000 square feet. Fully equipped machine shops and four injection molding machines ranging from 55 to 440 tons allow complete control of piece part production. Surface mount and automated soldering technologies produce both conventional and high-density printed circuit boards. Computerized test stations using vision technology provide fast, accurate, and efficient testing.

Engineering

New products incorporate emerging technologies whenever feasible. Pro-Engineer and SLA design capabilities complement VIS ’s CAD facilities to achieve a quick response in product design and prototyping. New designs are extensively tested using numerous in-house environmental chambers, shock and vibration tables, and EMI/RFI equipment to insure compliance with customer specifications and national engineering standards.

Quality Assurance

VIS received MIL-I-45208 and MIL-Q-9858 government approval in 1985. In 1986, 10CFR50 requirements were implemented for nuclear bargraph products. ISO 9001 certification was attained in 1994 followed by QS 9000 certification in 1996. All test and measuring equipment complies with MIL-STD-45662, and all facilities comply fully with OSHA requirements.

Implementing the principles of operational excellence and a Lean-Sigma quality program, VIS is committed to providing products and services that exceed customer expectations for quality, delivery, and service.

Product Support

VIS's Product Support Department is fully committed to customer satisfaction, and works closely with customers to provide timely and satisfactory resolutions to all technical issues. Electronic data interchange (EDI) is used throughout to achieve accurate order processing, efficient manufacturing, and on-time delivery. Sales engineers can answer all application questions, and its customer-oriented engineering staff is ready to help when special needs arise.

VIS is proud to be a world leader in the design and manufacture of information display and control systems. VIS has the resources, the will, and the proven ability to provide the highest performance and most cost-effective solutions available, and looks forward to the opportunity of working with you to provide the best product possible for your particular application.

Our Products

Next Generation Instrumentation (NGI Products)

The  Next Generation Instrumentation System (NGI) is designed as a highly adaptable, modular system for your instrumentation needs. The NGI system interfaces with the vehicle using a combination of data from the vehicle data bus and discrete analog or switched inputs. Application specific systems are easily developed with existing or custom decals, various LED backlighting colors, and software configurations designed specifically for your vehicle.

Features:

• Accepts J1939 (CAN), J1587, analog and switched inputs
• LED backlighting and tip-to-hub red-orange pointers
• Intergral warning LEDs with black dead-fronts on gauges
• Various LED backlighting colors, including amber, white, blue, red, green
• Built-in diagnostics
• Ability to broadcast data on databus for connected sensors (i.e. air pressure, fuel level)
• Display custom, user-specified warning messages
• Display fault codes from J1587 and J1939 databus
• Display user-specified parametric data values

Custom Instrumentation

Custom solutions that offer

• Fast, flexible, cost-effective solutions
• Design, development and tested - state of the art testing facility
• Full support with product development
• Innovative designs

Bargraph & Analog Gauges