Freudenberg Sealing innovates around off-road tire pressure system

WEINHEIM, Germany—In the fields or on the roads, tires depend on correct pressurization.

As such, Freudenberg Sealing Technologies has upgraded its seals for central tire inflation systems for off-highway vehicles.

With Freudenberg's innovative CTIS, seals for construction and agricultural machinery tires automatically adjust tire pressure with the press of a button, optimizing the vehicle for different loads and terrain.

The system reduces CO2 emissions and extends the service life of tires, according to Freudenberg.

"Freudenberg's seals for central tire inflation systems conveniently adjust the tire pressure to ground conditions, eliminating the need for drivers to leave their cabs to operate manual CTIS systems. This saves time and significantly improves driver safety," said Jens Wolfram, global segment director, mobile machinery agriculture, Freudenberg Sealing Technologies. "Current systems with external cables are vulnerable to premature failure, as any damage to the system or cables puts their components at risk."

Wolfram said Freudenberg's CTIS sealing solutions are housed within the wheel hub, which protects them.

"This is a distinct advantage and unique selling point compared to external systems from competitors," Wolfram said.

When tires are inflated properly, they can reduce soil compaction and conserve fuel, according to Freudenberg.

The company's design "separates the oil in the wheel hub from the compressed air entering the tire, absorbing the compressed air flowing to and from the tire."

"Freudenberg's system offers the lowest power loss compared to conventional tire inflation systems, as the air pressure is equalized on both sides of the sealing lip," the company stated in an Aug. 15 release. "The resulting force minimizes the radial load on the sealing lip."

Freudenberg Sealing offers a portfolio of seals for CTIS applications in heavy-duty vehicles that are installed directly in axle applications on the vehicle manufacturers' assembly lines.

"The North American heavy-duty vehicle market in particular has been seeking solutions to system aging caused by high speeds and temperatures in heavy-duty applications," Wolfram said. "We are the right partner with the right technology to offer our customers the solutions they need. Freudenberg's CTIS solutions save fuel, reduce carbon dioxide emissions and extend service life—all at the push of a button. It's a real benefit to our customers."

The CTIS system is produced at various manufacturing plants worldwide.

Freudenberg Sealing Technologies saw net sales of about $2.87 billion in 2023 and employs about 13,000 people.

The company is major division of the Freudenberg Group, which saw net sales of about $13.2 billion.