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CloseA heavy-duty vehicle inspection center cannot be viewed simply as a larger version of a light-duty vehicle inspection center: loads, dimensions, and maneuvering requirements completely change the entire setup. Here’s how to frame the project.
A heavy-duty vehicle inspection center is not defined simply by a tonnage limit: it is defined by the diversity of vehicles it must accommodate and by the facility requirements that this diversity imposes.
This variety is what most clearly distinguishes a heavy-duty vehicle center from a light-duty vehicle center: a single lane must remain usable for vehicles ranging from the shortest to the longest.
The equipment categories are the same as on a light-duty vehicle inspection line, but each station is sized differently—and this difference in sizing affects the layout.
Braking and Suspension
The heavy-duty brake tester is the centerpiece of the line: high load ranges, wide lanes, and a long approach length. Depending on the configuration, it is accompanied by skid plates and clearance plates sized for the same loads.
See the brake test stand product lines, skid plates and clearance plates.
Emissions and Pollution Control
Diesel engines dominate the heavy-duty vehicle fleet: opacimeters and, depending on the market, particle counters play a central role. Access to the exhaust, which is often high and on the side, must be taken into account when setting up the testing station.
See the opacimeters and particle counters product lines.
Lighting
The height of the headlights on a heavy-duty truck requires a wider measurement range and greater instrument stability than those of a light-duty vehicle. The measurement area must be sized to accommodate the length of the vehicles being tested.
See the headlight leveling product line and our guide how to choose a headlight leveling device.
Diagnostics and Additional Measurements
EOBD readers, sound level meters, decelerometers, and speedometers round out the product line according to the applicable protocols and approved categories.
See the product lines EOBD scanners and decelerometers.
Designed to handle the loads, lane configurations, and variety of heavy-duty vehicles.
At a heavy-duty vehicle inspection center, the most challenging aspect isn’t choosing the equipment—it’s integrating it into the building layout. Four key factors come into play.
A through-traffic layout is almost always preferable in a truck terminal: reversing maneuvers by a tractor-trailer combination consume considerable time and space.
Scope of Operations
Types of vehicles inspected, expected volume, and projected growth of the vehicle fleet undergoing inspection.
Workstation Configuration
Equipment sized to accommodate the loads and dimensions specific to your business.
Location and Traffic
Line length, external maneuvers, ground clearance, and headroom.
Installation and Commissioning
Site preparation, installation, configuration, and operator training.
Design office and factory together in Montpellier: you deal directly with the designer and manufacturer of your equipment, from design to maintenance. Equipment in use on every continent, with subsidiaries in Germany and India.
designing and manufacturing measuring equipment
certified production, every unit checked at the end of the line
of revenue invested in research and development
to receive a proposal tailored to your project
A heavy-duty vehicle inspection center and a heavy-duty vehicle repair shop do not have the same business activities or the same setup. If your project involves a repair shop—maintenance, repairs, fleet management—please see our page Installing a Brake Tester in a Heavy-Duty Truck Repair Shop.
Which brake tester is best for a heavy-duty vehicle inspection center?
The CAP9110 test stand supports up to 20 metric tons per axle, measures up to 40,000 daN, and accommodates track widths from 80 to 280 cm. Compact (135 × 80 × 57 cm), it fits into any civil engineering facility.
Which test plates are used for heavy-duty vehicles?
The CAP9200 PEH and CAP9210 PEH hydraulic test plates are installed on either side of a pit and inspect the suspension systems of heavy-duty trucks, buses, and commercial vehicles weighing over 4 metric tons. The CAP9210 PEH models are CDC 7A-compatible.
Which opacimeter is best for a heavy-duty vehicle inspection center?
The CAP3600 O connected opacimeter is used in light-duty and heavy-duty vehicle inspection centers: results comply with the NFR 10025-2016 standard and are transmitted via encrypted communication.
Can light-duty and heavy-duty vehicle services be combined at the same facility?
The equipment families are the same, but each heavy-duty vehicle station is sized differently. The configuration and layout are determined based on the actual vehicles received.
Please provide us with the vehicles you plan to inspect and a floor plan of your facility: we will evaluate the appropriate configuration and layout.
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