ArvinMeritor and Pressure Systems International Inc. have agreed to a long-term collaborative arrangement to continue marketing and distributing automatic tire inflation systems. All key global commercial vehicle markets are included in the arrangement, first established in 1999.
Nearly two million Meritor Tire Inflation Systems have been sold since the original agreement was signed between the two companies seven years ago. The system is designed to automatically monitor and maintain consistent air pressure in heavy-duty trailer tires, helping to decrease tire blowouts and greatly reduce tire maintenance costs.
PSI manufactures the system at its facilities and test laboratory in San Antonio, and assists Meritor and its North American sales and service team with customer support and service issues.
“The ongoing close collaboration with PSI gives us the opportunity to continue offering our customers the industry-leading trailer tire inflation system and further differentiates our expanding axle product line with both OEMs and end-users,” says Tom Gosnell, president of ArvinMeritor’s Commercial Vehicle Systems business, based in Troy, Mich.
PSI says the system helps truck operators with problems such as in-service failure, increased fuel consumption and excessive tread wear. It uses compressed air from the trailer air system to inflate any tire that falls below a pre-set pressure while the trailer is moving.
“Our tire inflation system has helped countless fleets of all sizes to operate their trailers on proven cost-per-mile tire life benefits,” says Tim Musgrave, president and CEO of PSI, noting that new products are under development and will be launched in the next 12 months.
