Tecalemit works its magic in Monmouthshire
Monmouthshire County Council’s transport team has replaced a previous commercial vehicle brake tester with a new model from equipment provider Tecalemit.
Like many older, smaller models, the original unit was unable to cope with the demands of modern commercial vehicle braking systems, says Tecalemit; and the council also had many smaller Class 4 and 7 vehicles that it wished to include in its schedule of brake safety checks.
After studying the various models available on the market, Monmouthshire Council found that the Tecalemit DE/9700 matched their requirements. Benefits cited include robust 15kW motors, epicyclic gearbox with soft-start, and heavy-duty drive-train which would cope with the local authority’s heaviest vehicles, while also catering to the Class 4 and 7 fleet.
For the council’s transport team, replacing the commercial vehicle brake tester would be a significant project, explained Tecalemit.
“Sometimes, just modifying the existing floor recess with a conversion kit can accommodate a new DE/9700 unit,” said the company.
“However, their old unit was a small, low-capacity model which utilised a floor recess with relatively small dimensions. Significant excavations to create the new recesses would be required.
“Tecalemit’s Steve Barnfield has project-managed many commercial vehicle brake tester installations, and this site was one of his more straightforward jobs. Steve has over twenty years of expertise supplying CV equipment, fully understanding the DE/9700 features and installation requirements…
“The saying ‘measure twice, cut once’ is essential with all garage equipment groundworks. It is particularly relevant regarding the size of excavation required by a commercial vehicle brake tester.”
Tecalemit’s DE/9700 requires two 785mm deep recesses to be produced to accurate dimensions. As the project lead, Steve met with the civil contractor on-site to ensure the recess accuracy and cable ducting requirements were fully understood.
With the project preparation underway and the floor marked out accordingly, the excavation could commence. This was followed by pouring the recess base with accurate, well-braced shuttering forming the recess sides. When the concrete had cured, the brake tester frames and roller beds were installed, with the cable routing and final connection to a 3-phase power supply.
Tecalemit’s DE/9700 allows Monmouthshire County Council to test HGVs and PSVs alongside Class 4 and 7 vehicles. An integral vehicle database enables the workshop and fleet administration teams to record the brake safety checks undertaken.
Should the transport team move its workshop, the DE/9700 is easier to remove and refit than most other units, says Tecalemit; the unit’s frame is not cast into the concrete, so the complete brake tester and recess frame are easily relocatable, saving the cost of a replacement recess frame.
