The investment brings MWSD’s annual tyre and wheel fitting capacity up to 100,000 units.
Matthew Mardle, chief operating officer for MWSD, says the company is aiming at achieving order-to-delivery times of three to five days in line with OE trailer manufacturers requirements and those of the truck and trailer aftermarket.
“Wheel safety is paramount in every decision we make, and here the benefits are twofold,” explains Mardle.
“Foremost, there is the danger of fitting and inflating commercial vehicle tyres without the proper safety equipment, the terrible consequences of which we hear about every year,” he continues.
“Furthermore, the operational benefits of purchasing the wheel and tyre as one item are compelling: we can ensure the right selection of products on every axle … and operators can prove they are fully compliant with the forthcoming Roadworthiness Act.”
The EU Roadworthiness Act became law in May 2014 and must be implemented by all companies by May 2017.
For the first time, wheels are now classified as ‘safety critical, which has implications when purchasing wheels – including ensuring compatibility between wheel and hub, and that wheel size, technical design, and type must match type approval at first registration or first entry into service.
Failure to do so will be classed as a major defect.