Meritor and Pressure Systems International (PSI) celebrated a milestone this week when the 1-millionth Meritor Tire Inflation System (MTIS) by PSI rolled off the assembly line in San Antonio.
As part of the celebration, 31 different trailers from Meritor’s fleet customers will be equipped with a part from the 1-millionth MTIS by PSI. The finished milestone unit was unpackaged and disassembled into different components, which were incorporated into 31 units coming off the line and will be installed by seven key OEM manufacturers, the companies say.
“In 1993, it would have been impossible to measure the impact an automatic tire inflation system would have on the trucking industry. The fact that now over one million systems have been produced is a true testament to the safety and environmental impact automatic tire inflation systems are having on transportation,” says American Trucking Association President and CEO Bill Graves, keynote speaker at the celebration.
“More than thirty trailers will travel the continent equipped with the MTIS by PSI system containing a part from the 1-millionth system,” says Brett Penzkofer, vice president and general manager, Trailer, at Meritor “MTIS by PSI is the preferred automatic tire inflation system among fleets due to its durability, reliability and overall simplicity. It’s an exceptional product that has been bringing great value to them for the last 23 years.”
MTIS by PSI is manufactured exclusively for Meritor by PSI in San Antonio.
“Manufacturing 1 million units is a milestone that far exceeds our competitors and speaks to our market leadership for a product with a growing customer base,” says Tim Musgrave, president and CEO for PSI.
Since 1993, MTIS by PSI has eliminated concerns about tire pressure loss by automatically maintaining proper and even pressure at all times. MTIS by PSI can be installed on all major trailer axle models in North America, the companies say.
MTIS by PSI connects all tires on the trailer to a controlled air supply to fill and maintain tires at the desired pressure setting, even while the vehicle is moving. As air pressure drops below the tire manufacturer’s recommended level, MTIS by PSI automatically routes air through a control box and the trailer axles to refill any underinflated tires, the companies say.
By maintaining proper pressure, MTIS by PSI is said to help extend tire life by 10 percent and reduce maintenance costs, as well as the risk of roadside tire issues. MTIS by PSI also increases fuel economy by an average of 1.4 percent, according to a Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration study.
