function MM_preloadImages() { //v3.0
  var d=document; if(d.images){ if(!d.MM_p) d.MM_p=new Array();
    var i,j=d.MM_p.length,a=MM_preloadImages.arguments; for(i=0; i<a.length; i++)
    if (a[i].indexOf("#")!=0){ d.MM_p[j]=new Image; d.MM_p[j++].src=a[i];}}
}

function preload() {
MM_preloadImages('i/menu/hover/about_us.gif'); 
MM_preloadImages('i/menu/hover/contact_us.gif'); 
MM_preloadImages('i/menu/hover/faqs.gif');
MM_preloadImages('i/menu/hover/home.gif');
MM_preloadImages('i/menu/hover/products.gif');
MM_preloadImages('i/menu/hover/services.gif');
MM_preloadImages('i/menu/hover/shop_online.gif'); 
MM_preloadImages('i/menu/hover/specialist_equipment.gif');
}