WARRENVILLE, Ill. — Navistar has announced it has formed a Custom Engineering group, which will work with customers to explore ways of modifying and improving many of its heavy-duty and severe-service trucks.

The group will examine and analyze customer requests and then develop a solid business case examining the costs and resources required to meet the customers’ needs, according to the company.

 “Every change to our trucks comes at a cost,” explained Tom Smith, Navistar’s director of Custom Engineering. “However, by taking a strategic approach to meeting unique requests, closely analyzing potential modifications and providing the appropriate engineering assistance, we can deliver a higher level of support for our customers.”

The group has already helped develop several new options and enhancements, according to Navistar, including: disc brakes; adaptive cruise control systems; electronics; controls’ and interior cabinetry.

“We have a highly motivated organization made up of manufacturing, purchasing, engineering, sales and others focused on customer requests that fall outside of our normal product development processes,” said Jim Hebe, senior vice-president of North American sales operations for Navistar. “We’re able to take on these projects quickly and effectively, making us responsive to our customers and easy to do business with.”