Muncie Power Products has released the MESP Series of electronic spreader packages to help municipalities, counties, private contractors and state departments keep roadways safe while conserving salt and staying within budget.
“Salt is extremely expensive, which makes it difficult to keep budgets constrained while also taking care of roadways,” said Kevin Woehler, assistant group manager, TSG. “It’s a constant struggle, and so what we try to do is create cost effective solutions to conserve salt.”
The MESP 300 Series consists of an electric controller, wiring harness, weather-resistant enclosure and cartridge valve manifold.
“What the MESP 300 does is it measures the ground speed of the truck and adjusts the output of the salt spreader to put down consistent material density in pounds per mile,” said Terry Crago, technology solutions group manager.
The MESP 300 Series ensures that salt is being distributed proportionately unlike with many manual spreader valves.
As Crago explained, “With electronic systems like the MESP 300 it’s consistent, which is near impossible to do with a manual because the driver can’t constantly be making adjustments. The driver has no reference besides what he is seeing in the mirror and what looks good to him.”
Roughly 40 percent of trucks still use manual spreader valves, which means salt continues to be distributed ill proportionately and wasted due to the lack of automation.
With electronic systems like the MESP 300 Series wasted salt at intersections is no longer a concern, as the system automatically shuts off when coming to a stop and spreads proportionately to the truck’s ground speed.
“Becoming more efficient saves millions of dollars,” Woehler said. “With the MESP 300 we utilized the technology effectively for cost optimization, finding the balance between cost and functionality.”
While the MESP 300 Series achieves this balance and serves as a solution, the system also offers many other key benefits including: simplicity of operation, driver safety and versatility.
The MESP 300 has been designed to fit just about any kind of truck in operation, is easy to retrofit and furthers driver safety with its remote unit, according to Crago and Woehler.
“The MESP 300’s remote unit promotes safety, as it prevents oil spills within the cab, eliminating harm posed to the operator by high pressure fluids,” said Woehler.