The concept of nitrogen inflation is nothing new. In fact, consumers have become even more familiar with the benefits – including better fuel economy – of filling their tires with the gas, especially in light of the economic downturn and rising gas prices.

Whether tire dealers offer nitrogen free as a value-added service or charge their customers a small fee per tire, it pays to stay up-to-date on new developments in this segment. To help get you started, here is a rundown of the latest products and services on the market today.

Parker Hannifin
With more than 10,000 nitrogen inflation systems installed worldwide, Parker Hannifin Corp.’s TireSaver nitrogen generator (tiresavernitrogen.com) “has become the standard for tire filling,” the company said.

New to the line is a portable inflation system, designed for easy transport throughout service bays. The TireSaver Model TS051-0ABCBR will produce 95% pure nitrogen from standard compressed air, according to Parker Hannifin.

The portable model, which features a 30-gallon storage tank, has a built-in auto inflator that purges and fills up to six tires simultaneously, as well as a built-in counter to keep track of a shop’s nitrogen business. The unit also includes two pressure gauges to monitor inlet and outlet pressure, and a plastic bezel design to eliminate any potential for damage from accidental contact with a vehicle. The system is cart-mounted for ease of portability and includes a handheld nitrogen analyzer, according to the company.

Also new from Parker Hannifin is the TireSaver TS018-Wand, “a robust, lightweight, portable nitrogen tire inflator that can be used to inflate the tires on a wide variety of vehicles, including cars and light trucks, motorcycles, powersports and trailers,” the company said.

The wand connects directly to a shop’s existing compressed air line. Its exchangeable membrane cartridge technology, developed by Parker Hannifin, is designed to inflate more than 5,000 tires – roughly 1,000 vehicles – with nitrogen, or top-off more than 25,000 nitrogen-filled tires, according to the company.

Parker Hannifin said the Tiresaver TS018-Wand will yield multiple benefits to dealers, including minimal investment cost, attractive profit margin and a high sales potential.

The company also offers a variety of point-of-purchase materials to help tire dealers maximize their nitrogen profits. Some popular items include a countertop tri-fold display that explains the benefits of nitrogen and custom cap kits to distinguish a particular shop’s nitrogen offering.

NitroFill
Already with many nitrogen equipment options to choose from, NitroFill (nitrofillnow.com) recently introduced several new products.

The first is the E-170 generation and conversion station, which converts up to six tires simultaneously. The complete, turn-key system comes fully assembled and includes a programmable micro processor-controlled conversion system. The E-170 also offers comprehensive error reporting and self-diagnostic features, plus a large, back-lit LCD display. The unit, which has a five-year warranty, provides instant and uninterrupted flow with guaranteed purity up to 99.9%, according to NitroFill.

The unit’s 13.5 cfm output and optional storage tank make it a fit for almost any size facility, the company said. NitroFill’s E-160 station offers the same features, but provides a more modest 6 cfm output. It converts up to four tires at once.

The company’s new E-1135 generator is specifically designed for locations that do not perform nitrogen conversions but need a solution to enable them to service nitrogen-filled tires. The unit is best used as a source for quickly and easily calibrating nitrogen-filled tires. NitroFill said the E-1135 is also a perfect fit for busy shops looking for multiple “top-off” stations or a unit that can calibrate tires without tying up the main generator.

A similar unit, the E-135 generator/inflator, offers the same functions, as well as an integrated automatic inflator. “Simply select the desired inflation value, connect the air chuck to the tire valve and wait for the beep. The E-135 automatically inflates or deflates any tire to the desired value in seconds,” NitroFill said.

Both the E-1135 and E-135 offer a five-year warranty.

NitroFill also offers dealers its comprehensive Tire Inflation Maintenance Program, which includes service reminders, newsletters and customer contact tools, as well as a benefits package, to keep customers coming back.

The tire dealer staff – or the customers themselves – register when a NitroFill conversion is purchased. The registration process captures the customer’s e-mail address and personal and vehicle information, “codes” it to a particular shop for proper delivery of newsletters, text messages and other customer correspondence, and stores it in a database dedicated to that business. Dealers are able to customize the program to suit individual customers.

Gardner Denver
New from Gardner Denver is the Champion Nitrogen Advantage 6-3P (championpneumatic.com), which comes complete with four 25-foot inflation hoses, six auxiliary ports, a handheld nitrogen analyzer, pre-filters, a 30-gallon vertical air receiver, and industrial type casters. The portable unit is designed for easy installation by a connection to an existing compressed air supply, and is ready to generate nitrogen in minutes, according to the company.

The system automatically purges all four tires, refills them with nitrogen to the set pressure, purges the tires again, and then refills the tires again for the second time. The resulting purity levels are between 95% and 98%, the company said.

An automatic shut-off halts air consumption while the unit is not in operation. The controller is located on the top of the unit for easy readability. Additional ports are for dual wheels or a spare tire.  

Champion products includes a five-year limited membrane warranty and 24/7 customer service.

Branick
New from Branick Industries (branick.com) is the Model 485, which the company said is an ideal solution for passenger and light truck facilities where it’s easier to bring nitrogen to the vehicle instead of the vehicle to the nitrogen.

The unit, which has retractable hose reels and a 30-gallon storage tank, comes with four hoses, can deliver 98% purity and can convert an entire tractor in less than 45 minutes, Branick said. The Model 485 also features an automatic “purge’n flate” system that allows users to inflate up to six tires at a single time.

“It’s not about the best price. It’s about the best value, dependable performance, lowest maintenance costs and personal service after the sale,” said Phil Giallombardo, director of sales for Branick.