Views
6 years ago

MDA Technologies 4/2015

MDA Technologies 4/2015

MEASUREMENT AND CONTROL

MEASUREMENT AND CONTROL Telematics system enhances safety and efficiency of port fleets In recent years, port logistics have shown a steady market growth. But growth brings challenges. To live up to these challenges, Continental Commercial Specialty Tires developed the ContiFlexBox. Ports are the chokepoints of world trade and international logistic chains. Limited space often restrains additional growth potential. Constantly increasing cargo volumes have to be handled in tighter and tighter schedules. Big operational challenges for port operators. Mimizing tire failures Port fleets are a decisive factor for the smooth operation of harbors. And reliable tires are essential for their safety and operating stability. Especially tire failures frequently cause problems in the logistics chain. A tire puncture on an oversized heavy-duty vehicle such as a rubber tire gantry crane or a reach stacker can lead to severe accidents involving injuries and human fatalities and it can cause tremendous difficulties in the logistics chain. Even a simple tire related downtime of a vehicle can cost a lot of money and coordination efforts. To reduce tire failures and downtimes, Continental Commercial Specialty Tires (CST) developed a new telematic system: the ContiFlexBox. It complements the successful ContiPressureCheck tire pressure monitoring system, by collecting and deploying tire- and vehicle-referenced data, and forwarding it on to a central server. This new addition expands Continentals comprehensive product portfolio to include a telematics solution for the efficient management of vehicle fleets. The ContiFlexBox will be suitable for use in vehicles operating in a huge range of different industrial sectors. In particular port operations, where fast loading times and short downtimes times are vital, the new telematics system provides many advantages including minimizing costly tire and vehicle damage. The combined system, comprising of the ContiFlexBox and ContiPressure- Check, will be available from 2016. “Telematics rank among the growth drivers in port logistics. Efficient analysis and utilization of data enable fleet managers to optimize their processes and reduce their operating costs”, explains Julian Alexander, Business Line Manager Material Handling at Continental CST. “With our new combined package, the ContiFlexBox and ContiPressureCheck, we will offer ourcustomers a tailored system that synergizes the measurement of tire data with telematic capabilities to optimum effect, and ideally supplements our unique port tire portfolio.” Intelligently combined The ContiFlexBox is mounted in the driver’s cab of a vehicle, and powered via the engine’s ignition. The ContiPressureCheck tire pressure monitoring system provides automatic collection of data on tire pressure and temperature using sensors placed inside the tire. A GPS signal in the ContiFlexBox will enable additional 48 MDA Technologies 4/2015

01 The system allows collecting, making available and forwarding tire- and vehicle-referenced data for efficient fleet management 02 Growth sector port logistics: In recent years, port logistics have shown a growth of 7 % per year, the global port business is expected to double its capacity until 2024 vehicle-referenced data to be measured, like deployment duration and current location. Via WLAN or GSM, all information can be transmitted to a central server for analysis and editing. Fleet managers can then use the vehicle data collected to increase the efficiency of their fleet management operations. Data stored in the system is protected with individual access rights. Optimizing maintenance With the new telematics solution, fleet managers, drivers and the maintenance team are kept continuously informed of relevant tireand vehicle-referenced data. Provisions will also be made for forwarding the data to mobile terminals like tablets or mobile phones. This will allow drivers, technicians and fleet managers to be alerted by SMS or email when the air pressure has to be corrected. This reduces downtime since the risk of tire damage is minimized, and the workload involved in regular, time-intensive maintenance is lessened. As a result fleet operators are able to increase the efficiency of their fleets and significantly downsize their operating costs. At the same time, the environmental impact is reduced, thanks to lower CO 2 emissions and a lengthier useful lifetime of the tires. Another advantage of the telematics system is the simple installation procedure, which will be handled by a team of experienced technicians, ensuring fast deployment and minimized downtime in daily operations. The tire pressure monitoring system is, moreover, compatible with tubeless tires from all manufacturers’ brands, and for vehicles of every size, rendering it exceptionally versatile – the latter also applies for the ContiFlexBox. Photographs: CST, 02 fotolia www.continental-specialty-tires.com About Company name: Continental AG Division: Commercial Specialty Tires Headquarters: Hanover, Germany Turnover: € 3,7 bn (whole company) Employees: 175 000 (whole company) Products: telematics, tires, braking systems, drive and running gear systems THIS ARTICLE IS A CONTRIBUTION BY MDA Technologies 4/2015 49

E-PAPER KIOSK: