In recent years, the demand for Weigh-in-Motion (WIM) systems has seen a significant increase worldwide. What determined this growing demand? Several factors contribute to this trend, including the introduction of new European regulations, growing attention to reducing emissions and improving transport efficiency.
The European Union has adopted strict regulations regarding the maximum mass for vehicles in transit and the emissions of heavy vehicles. These regulations aim on the one hand to guarantee greater road safety and on the other to reduce the environmental impact by promoting more efficient management of resources. From all this it follows that transport companies and the competent authorities are looking for advanced solutions for the continuous and automatic monitoring of the weight of vehicles in transit.
The WIM system is one of the answers to this growing demand. This innovative technology not only detects the weight of all passing vehicles in real time and precisely without the need to stop them, but also offers a series of valuable additional information. In fact, in addition to the total weight of the vehicle, the WIM system is able to detect the distances between the axles, thus classifying the vehicle, the weight of each semi-axle, of each axle and therefore of the entire vehicle. Recently, the ability to accurately detect axles equipped with double wheels, very common in heavy vehicles and exceptional transport, has been introduced.
The ability to detect dual wheels is of paramount importance for accurately monitoring the load of a heavy vehicle. The double wheel axle design offers greater load capacity and are often used in the freight transport and heavy machinery handling industries. Thanks to its sensors that use innovative fiber optic technology and which are installed on the road surface flush with the surface, the WIM system is able to detect precise data on the weight of each twin wheel. This allows you to obtain detailed information on load distribution and to verify compliance with weight regulations.
In addition to its specific mass transit capability, the WIM system offers additional benefits. The fiber optic sensor technology guarantees a high degree of precision in the measurements, absolute immunity to electromagnetic disturbances, insensitivity to even extreme temperature variations, minimizing inaccuracies and maintenance and thus guaranteeing reliable results over time. Furthermore, fiber optic sensors are extremely durable and resistant: they can withstand the weight and stress of heavy traffic, adverse weather conditions and the harsh environment that characterizes the road system, without compromising performance.
Road safety is another key priority. The WIM system helps reduce the risk of accidents caused by overloading or unbalanced loads. By early identification of these potentially dangerous situations, traffic operators and law enforcement agencies can intercept overloaded vehicles. Lastly, the presence of dynamic weighing systems on roads plays a powerful deterrent role by drastically reducing fraudulent actions aimed at violating the maximum weight limits permitted by the Highway Code.
