Alcoa Wheels has introduced its new forged aluminum dual valve wheel to address the increased demand for the installation of tire pressure monitoring systems (TPMS) for fleets. The new dual valve wheel is being displayed for the first time this week at the American Trucking Association’s (ATA) Technology & Maintenance Council’s (TMC) Fall Meeting.
According to the company, with a second valve stem, the TPMS sensor can operate on one valve while air pressure is serviced on the other, and no disruption due to equipment removal during airing up or maintenance means added peace of mind and optimum efficiency.
“We had fleets approach us with an opportunity to make a significant impact on their operations, and we welcomed the challenge,” Amy Gross, marketing manager at Alcoa Wheels, said. “The sensor that goes on the valve stem is a critical component that directly connects the tire to a TPMS system. When you only have one valve stem to inflate the tire, you need to remove the sensor from the valve stem. This is time consuming for the operators. Moreover, sensors tend to get lost in the process, which is costly and can negate the effectiveness of the whole TPMS system. This has proven to be a significant pain point in the industry. Alcoa Dual Valve wheels overcome this barrier with a second valve stem allowing the TPMS sensor to operate on one valve while air pressure is serviced on the other.”
This latest product release is proving a successful collaboration between trucking customers and industry experts, such as Doran Manufacturing and the team at Alcoa Wheels who took on an opportunity to provide a longed-for solution that responded to a well-known industry need.
“What the Alcoa Wheels team brought to market for any customer now is a way to leave the sensor on one valve stem and have a flow-through cap on another stem on the dual valve stem wheel,” Lee Demis, VP of business development at Doran Manufacturing, said. “This really makes the inflation of the tire and the ongoing maintenance that much easier for our fleet customers. We appreciate collaborations with those that know and understand tire maintenance and technology, and who value partnerships in finding solutions. The Alcoa Dual Valve wheel drives more efficiency and saves significant time, making life easier for both technicians and drivers.”
Valve stem mounted TPMS sensors like those provided by Doran Manufacturing are offering fleets the opportunity to invest in a new solution that will drive efficiencies.
