Wheely-Safe is making its intelligent tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS) available to operators and manufacturers of agricultural, construction and materials handling machinery for the first time after launching a brand-new range of connected devices.
The company’s patented sensor technology already protects thousands of vans, trucks and buses in the UK against tyre underinflation, which can increase running costs, CO2 emissions, stopping distances and result in sudden tyre failure.
“We’ve won multiple awards for our sensor technology in the commercial vehicle industry,” Wheely-Safe managing director Steve Jackson said. “Now we’re bringing the same benefits to operators and manufacturers of plant and machinery.
“We can offer stand-alone kits that provide alerts directly to the driver, or fully connected open-platform systems that plug into a machine’s telematics or CANbus. This means that both the driver and fleet manager or workshop can receive an alert the instant a potential tyre issue is detected – no matter what speed they’re travelling, on what terrain or in what weather conditions.
“Operators increasingly want everything running through their telematics and that brings huge advantages for the Wheely-Safe product. It means we can also provide access to real-time pressure data remotely, which can help to prevent breakdowns and takes the guesswork out of organising tyre maintenance.”
Wheely-Safe’s technology can be set up to suit an operator’s precise requirements. For example, non-critical events, such as when a tyre has dropped just below optimum inflation pressure, can be reported purely to the workshop team, enabling rectification work to be organised at the end of a shift, without interrupting the driver.
Patented sensor technology sits at the heart of Wheely-Safe’s offering, and now includes an auto-calibrating internal TPMS sensor that adheres to the rim of any size wheel. This unique sensor can distinguish between intentional pressure adjustments, and genuine underinflation or leakage, and offers an extended battery life of 5-10 years, depending on machine utilisation.
It’s manufactured from a flexible engineering-grade material, and being incredibly thin and light – weighing just 21g – offers the maximum versatility for all vehicle types.
Sensors auto-pair with the receiver, making it hassle-free for machines which regularly pull different trailers. However, Wheely-Safe is also offering a new manual pairing solution for plant which operates in close proximity to other machines – such as forklifts or skid-steers – avoiding the risk of alerts from one sensor being picked up by another vehicle.
“We’ve built a huge amount of intelligence into our sensors, and these new internal ones are the jewel in our crown,” Mr Jackson added. “They’re perfect for the original equipment market (OEM), plus can be quickly and easily retrofitted by a tyre technician. Once affixed to the wheel rim, they’re protected from the elements and bring distinct advantages for vehicles in off-road environments.”
Wheely-Safe has also expanded its range with a new keyring-sized WalkAround Checker. Designed for use as part of a driver’s daily inspections, it can be held against any Wheely-Safe TPMS sensor and a series of red, amber and green lights report the latest sensor status – with red highlighting an issue that requires immediate attention.
Connected devices record a log of the completed walkaround inspections, while standalone in-cab receivers feature a dedicated symbol which illuminates to confirm if an inspection has been completed in the previous 24-hours – enabling managers to check inspections are being carried out daily.
An updated Pressure Checker is also available for workshop staff, giving them access to fast and accurate tyre pressure readings when held next to a TPMS sensor.
A next-generation range of wired and solar-powered receivers completes the launch, for displaying driver alerts in the cab.
Prices for an intelligent TPMS solution for agricultural, construction and materials handling plant starts at less than £200 (price correct at February 2021). Systems are available directly from Wheely-Safe, and selected tyre dealerships, and all products in the range come with a 12-month manufacturer’s warranty.
