City Lifting has seen cost savings and improved workshop efficiency since the introduction of a Josam Laser AM wheel alignment system, supplied by the workshop equipment provider, AES UK.
City Lifting, based in Purfleet, operates a fleet of mobile cranes and trucks, many of which feature multi-axle configurations.
Previously reliant on external contractors for wheel alignment, the company faced growing costs, scheduling delays, and tyre wear due to mis-alignment and vehicles being dispatched before alignment could be completed.
Simon Sanderson, Workshop Manager at City Lifting, explained: “We were spending a lot on contractor alignments, and when timing didn’t line up, we’d end up sending out vehicles before they could be aligned properly. That sometimes meant we’d ruin tyres that can cost around £1,600 each. We knew we needed to take control of the process.”
AES UK provided an on-site demonstration of the Josam Laser AM, an analogue laser-based wheel alignment and chassis measurement system designed specifically for heavy-duty commercial vehicles.
The alignment system works by projecting precise laser beams from mounted brackets on each axle to measure toe and camber angles. Technicians can then compare the readings against manufacturer specifications and make accurate adjustments.
Simon continued: “We saw an immediate improvement and the ability to carry out alignments in-house has led to major savings on tyres alone, even before factoring in the cost of using external contractors. Significant savings were evident from the start and we estimate the system paid for itself in about 6 months.”
Simon also reported with correctly aligned axles, tyre wear has dropped dramatically, and fuel efficiency has improved thanks to reduced rolling resistance.
Simon added: “Our decision to invest in the Josam wheel alignment system is a good example of how bringing key services in-house, and using the right equipment from experts such as AES UK, delivers both cost savings and performance improvements across the board.”
