Pressure Systems International and ArvinMeritor hosted a fleet technology event in San Antonio on Oct. 16 and 17 attended by more than 25 fleet decisionmakers wanting to learn more about the Meritor Tire Inflation System by PSI and the added ThermAlert wheel end heat sensing technology now available. The attendees also participated in a plant tour of PSI’s San Antonio facility that showcased the company’s continuous improvement philosophy, new lean manufacturing work cells and quality control processes.
Frank Sonzala, executive vice president, and Al Cohn, director of new market development and engineering support, presented the features of MTIS and the ThermAlert option to the participants. Kevin Henning, vice president of product development and technical services, demonstrated the capabilities of ThermAlert by simulating a high wheel end heat incident on the company’s technology trailer. John May, manager of maintenance for PLM Trailer Leasing, was invited to sit in the driver’s seat of the attached power unit to observe the warnings triggered by this event. This visual warning, along with an audible warning heard next to the wheel end, signals the driver that he has a potential situation which, if not dealt with, could result in catastrophic wheel loss or a trailer fire.
Tim Musgrave, president and chief executive officer of PSI, prefaced the plant tour by inviting participants to ask questions and engage the factory floor employees in discussion about their efforts in producing the Meritor Tire Inflation System by PSI. “We incorporate them in everything we do – they are what we are, and we recognize that we wouldn’t be where we are today without their dedication and hard work,” Musgrave says. The tour, lead by Mike McIver, production manager, covered every phase of production, quality control and materials management and offered the participants a close-up opportunity to view the processes.
