11/2012
Reducing tyre-related breakdowns
Innovative transport companies like Gress + Zapp from Germany inspect their tyres by means of
the automatic tyre control system PNEUSCAN from VENTECH.
Driving over the sensor plate at merely walking
speed. Then checking display and print-out.
Finally refuelling and hitting the road again.
That´s how quickly tyre pressure and tread depth
can be checked on all axles of an articulated lorry.
The prerequisite for that is the installation of the
automatic tyre control system at the business
premises. The decision for a PNEUSCAN system
was an investment that the company Gress +
Zapp has never regretted for a single second.
“Especially in our division, transports of
construction materials, it is very important to
operate with reliable vehicles in perfect
condition. That also includes the right tyres with
correct tread depth and air pressure”, explains
Heinz Zapp and continues: “We cannot afford a
delay at the construction site, just because of a
flat tyre.”
Until two years ago, the drivers had to check the
tyre pressure manually and to guess or measure
tread depth. That took a lot of time and time is
money. Additionally, a gradual loss of pressure
was not recognised or recognised too late. Not to
mention the uncomfortable feeling of the driver.
But this was soon about to change. Both
company directors took professional advice from
the VENTECH specialists to meet their individual
needs and implemented the system into their
daily routines. Hubert Gress: “The main
argument besides the calculable economic
advantages was the subject of safety. Since we
have installed PNEUSCAN, tyre-related break-
downs on streets and construction sites declined
by 80 per cent. “
Thinking far-sighted, acting sustainably
With modern tractors as well as a large number
of trailers, the truck company takes care of
national and international transports in the fields
of construction material, automotive and
beverage. Most of the transport services are
performed just in time and just in sequence. To
ensure a smooth processing there is a disposition,
long opening hours of the workshop - if necessary
24/7 -, a petrol station working around the clock,
a spare parts warehouse and last but not least a
highly motivated and experienced personnel.
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By the way, the measurement results are used for
fleet management and the prompt availability of
data reveals the need of immediate action.
Inflation adjustments and other repairs can be
made quickly, to save expenses for fuel and
unnecessary and unsafe breakdowns. The
purchase of tyres referring to numbers and
trademarks can be planned efficiently as well.
“Based on the economic analysis it became clear,
that we reduce tyre wear, save fuel and protect
the environment”, Zapp sums it up.
“Since we have installed PNEUSCAN, tyre-related
breakdowns on streets and construction sites
declined by 80 per cent. “
Hubert Gress
Company Owner, Gress + Zapp Transports
Modular PNEUSCAN system
Automatic tyre control developed by VENTECH is
designed to work especially in the field of utility
11/2012
vehicles, trucks, such as transport fleets,
transport services and bus fleets. PNEUSCAN is of
modular design and thus enables the
combination of elements according to individual
needs.
By means of PNEUSCAN ATM and PNEUSCAN PRO
tyre pressure and tread depth are checked
automatically in just seconds without
maintenance personnel having to perform a time-
consuming or difficult manual inspection.
PNEUSCAN ID identifies the vehicle as well as the
trailer. With the addition of PNEUSCAN DAT,
comprehensive tyre pressure and tread analysis
data is shown in a user-friendly manner on a
display, and can also be sent immediately to the
existing fleet management database for real-time
exception reporting and trend analysis.
Important to know: PNEUSCAN does not require
adding anything to the vehicle or tyre. The
hardware, consisting of sensor plates designed
for each vehicle type, the system unit with a LCD
display for viewing red/green tyre condition
lights, and an optional receipt printer, can be
placed according to customer´s choice.
At the premises of Gress + Zapp a perfect solution
for installing PNEUSCAN was right before the gas
station. Heinz Zapp: “Every vehicle that needs
refuelling passes the automatic tyre control. For
the drivers tyre-inspection became second nature
that way.”
Due to their own beliefs and the growing
requests of transport companies nearby, Gress +
Zapp offers the automatic tyre control system
from VENTECH to third parties. “Those who
perform pioneering work and succeed with it
even in times of crisis do a good deed in sharing
innovations,” concludes Hubert Gress.