Page 17 - CTB N11 - 2015-03

TYRE PRESSURE MONITORING
CEMEX Integrates ContiPressureCheck as Part of Tyre Management Policy
Cement, concrete and aggregates supplier CEMEX UK is in the process of integrating Continental’s ContiPressureCheck tyre pressure monitoring system in its fleet of vehicles as part of the company’s overall tyre policy. We spoke to the
there was little interaction on tyre performance,” says Milton.
Now the company has a fixed price tyre policy with Continental. However, that does not mean the company has no interest in tyre performance. Far from it. “We care
designs in conjunction with the manufacturer to ascertain which tyres give the best performance. This, says Milton, is a major challenge for CEMEX because the company’s vehicles travel 95% on road and 5% in arduous off-road conditions. The challenge is to achieve the best balance of on-road fuel economy with grip and durability off road.
The off-road challenge also varies from area to area depending on the off-road surface which can vary from granite to flint. “We try and match the tyres to the environment,” says Milton.
CEMEX apply a comprehensive tyre policy document, which contains all information regarding procedures, pressures, regrooving etc. This is only amended by the steering committee with input from the main group. This policy is in a
although clearly not the only one. Says Milton: “Our interest in TPMS arose because it’s ver y difficult for drivers to pick up on slow punctures. We see ContiPressureCheck as a further expansion of how to manage tyres properly, maintaining optimum pressures across the fleet.” As a result of the introduction of ContiPressureCheck motorway blowouts have been almost eradicated. In addition benefits include fuel saving and the optimisation of tyre wear.
The next step, says Milton, is telematics whereby the tyre provider with know the exact location of a vehicle and can manage a situation before the driver becomes involved. The programme of adding ContiPressureCheck is slowly being introduced throughout CEMEX’s fleet. At present ca. 50 vehicles have
company’s Northern Regional Logistics Manager, Carl Milton, who explained that the addition of ContiPressureCheck forms part of a process of improving the company’s overall tyre management, which was begun as far back as 2011.
about the performance of our tyres,” says Milton. “If we don’t look after the tyres, we’ll pay for them eventually. We see ourselves as a proactive partner in the tyre management process.”
CEMEX’s tyre management policy
Before that time CEMEX relied on its tyre manufacturing partner to run the company’s tyre policy and there was little interaction other than on price. The result, says Milton , was that CEMEX would negotiate a price with a supplier and then three years later they would simply switch to someone else.
“At that time we had a mixed variety of tyres and patterns and were totally reliant on the tyre manufacturer. Our policy was reactive rather than proactive, and
involves the creation of a pyramid structure with a steering group to manage the overall policy. Under this is a management group, which works out in the field with service providers, Continental and CEMEX teams to assure information flows in both directions.
As part of this the company has also initiated an education programme to educate managers about tyres and a training course for drivers teaching them about tyre pressures, tyre damage etc.
In addition, work is done on tyre
constant state of change as new products are brought in. For example, all the company’s cement tankers were recently put onto fuel saving tyres because the company realised the fuel saving that could be achieved. This, stresses Milton, was carried out in a controlled programme over time.
Managers analyse how tyres perform and this is then fed back to determine potential amendments to the service agreement.
Milton is also keen to point out the importance of safety within the CEMEX organisation; “Safety is paramount,” he says, “and tyres are a part of that. We work in an arduous environment, so this is a challenge. We make sure, for example, that all tyre fitters we use have a REACT card.”
To a certain degree the need to constantly optimise safety was a factor in CEMEX’s decision to implement a TPMS programme,
been fitted with the system. This includes the whole of CEMEX’s London based fleet, where the company has a particular issue with tyre damage caused by flinty surfaces.
“Introducing ContiPressureCheck has definitely resulted in a reduction in blowouts and therefore a reduction in high-risk tyre repairs,” said Milton. “We will roll the programme out across the fleet but will also look at integrating telematics in the future.”
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