Winton: cut downtime with on-vehicle power
Onboard power specialist Winton Engineering has highlighted the role that on-vehicle compressor systems can play in reducing downtime and boosting efficiency for transport operators.
The company cites recent research which suggests that having a vehicle off the road is costing an estimated one in three small businesses as much as £500 a day.
“In order to keep vehicles on the road, and to minimise downtime, many transport operators rely on mobile maintenance, especially in regard to tyre repair,” said Paul Smith, commercial manager at Winton (pictured, below).
“This allows the technician to take the correct equipment to wherever the stranded vehicle is located and rectify many issues the same day. This reduces downtime, and potentially saves large sums of money for the transport operator.
“However, the efficiency of these mobile units can vary depending on the equipment used. When it comes to reliable mobile power solutions, on-vehicle power systems deliver a multitude of advantages.
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Perfect for mobile maintenance, tyre fitting, and fleet support, are FWD and RWD engine mounted on-vehicle compressor systems, as well as driveline PTO compressor and generator systems.
“Winton’s solutions are particularly unique in that they use Mattei rotary vane compressors in the design, resulting in the crucial reduction of fuel consumption.”
The technician can, of course, carry a separate compressor or generator in the back of their van – but this takes up valuable space and can be hazardous if not properly secured, Paul points out.
“They will also need to ensure a fuel or power source is available wherever the customer’s vehicle is located, which can be difficult if it’s on the side of a road,” he continued.
“On-vehicle power eliminates these inconveniences, thus ensuring downtime is kept to a minimum.”
Winton cites tyre fitting and repair business Carmarthenshire Tyre Services as an example of an operator benefiting from the technology.
The firm operates seven breakdown vans, which operate 24 hours a day, and rely on compressed air to deliver fast and efficient service.
“In the past, I have used conventional diesel compressors, but they were always very noisy and heavy,” Delme Owens, managing director at Carmarthenshire Tyre Services, said.
“When I opened my own business, I decided to try a number of different on-board systems. However, as I was familiar with Winton from a previous job, its solutions quickly became the natural choice for us.”
As is the case for any small, growing business, costs needed to be kept in check in the initial phase of the company’s development.
“When we considered the set-up costs of Winton on-board systems, compared to competitors, it was clear that there was only one winner” Delme Owens continued.
Carmarthenshire Tyre Services opted for Winton’s on-vehicle power system which included a compressor and generator. The benefit of this solution is that it provides the flexibility to work with a variety of vehicle sizes, from standard cars and vans to heavy goods vehicles.
The systems provide sufficient compressed air to remove, refit and inflate HGV tyres with pressures up to 175psi (12bar). A constant air supply is provided, without the need for additional air tanks that would require statutory testing.
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We supply and fit tyres for everything from a wheelbarrow to a crane, so we need a system that its flexible enough to cope with a variety of jobs,” Delme Owens said.
“Winton on-board systems are the market leader in my eyes and reliability is key. Winton gives me that, with a back-up service we can rely on. Air delivery is clean and instant all the time, with the added benefits of weight and space saving within the vans.”
Paul Smith concluded: “By choosing on-vehicle power for their mobile maintenance units, transport operators can benefit from reduced downtime, lower fuel usage, greater efficiency and complete reliability.
“No matter what the size of the business, these systems present a flexible solution which can improve operations, and help mobile maintenance teams complete jobs to the highest possible standard.”
