UK building materials supplier CEMEX has announced it is fitting its fleet with an automated Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) from Continental to reduce the risk of trucks suffering punctures and sustaining other related damage while working in quarry and site conditions.
CEMEX first trialled six trucks with the ContiPressure-Check system. Two were MAN TGS.440 tractor 6×2 units pulling 40 m3 tri-axle Feldbinder cement tanks on regional distribution work out of its Rugby cement works. A further four DAF CF85 four-axle tippers were used in different operating conditions in quarries as far apart as Shap in Cumbria and Wotton-under-Edge in Gloucestershire.
CEMEX said positive results came early, with ContiPressureCheck picking up a leaking valve on a drive axle as soon as the system was installed on the truck, and a puncture on a tank trailer being detected before any structural failure occurred.
“These two events alone proved automatic tyre pressure monitoring is the way to go with its potential to improve safety, cost and downtime,” said CEMEX regional logistics manager, Carl Milton. “A significant number of our blow-outs are from slow punctures leading to overheating and tyre failure. Detecting these early will reduce expensive roadside repairs and disruption.”
