The kingpin features a self-checking system to detect and alert when the specified kingpin wear threshold is reached or when a crack or failure occurs – whichever comes first.
The launch follows Ais research that found 15% of kingpins at two national fleet operators to be in an unroadworthy/illegal state, despite routine inspections.
Ais managing director Craig Anstee, said: “The ais Smart Kingpin gives owners and drivers peace of mind that the kingpin is in a safe and legal condition. We feel this is important because the monitoring of kingpins is a time consuming and onerous task that is open to neglection and human error.
“Monitoring kingpin condition not only demonstrates social responsibility by mitigating haulage risk but helps improve fleet performance to reduce the cost of premature part replacement.”
The H50-X kingpin, which has a D value rating of 162Kn and is designed for articulated trailers/semi-trailers, features an internally housed sensor to monitor condition. Alerts are displayed on a trailer-mounted light box and can be integrated with trailer tracking systems to provide remote status alerts.
The Ais Smart Kingpin is suitable for factory-fitting and retrofitting – ideally at the point of order of new trailers or during trailer refurbishment.