PSI inflates tire-airing business

Now keeping air in over 1.5 million truck tires, the Meritor Tire Inflation System recorded a 45% sales increase in 2004, according to Pressure Systems International (PSI). The automatic tire inflation system has been marketed since 1999 in 22 countries through an exclusive distribution agreement with ArvinMeritor Inc.

The largest contributor to the 2004 sales increase was original equipment installation by trailer manufacturers, said Frank Sonzala, PSI executive vp.

Later this year, PSI says it will introduce a wheel-end high-temperature sensor and alert. The new warning system will allow fleets to detect developing wheel-end failures before they put a vehicle out of service.