PFK ELECTRONICS TAKES HOME THE SILVER AWARD
PFK Electronics' Autowatch TAB 1000 Breathalyser Immobiliser Unit has been judged Silver Award Winner in Automechanika SA's inaugural Innovation Award Competition.
At the Automechanika Show held in Johannesburg from the 18th - 21st March 2009, PFK launched the Autowatch TAB, a tethered alcohol breathalyser based immobiliser that prevents driver's from starting a vehicle if over the legally allowed alcohol imit.
The Alcohol Interlock breathalyser blocking system (AIBBS) consist of two parts - the breathalyser unit and the immobiliser, which activates if the driver's breath sample is above the legal alcohol limit. The actual alcohol content, time and date of the sample is stored in the unit and can be retrieved by the fleet manager or can be relayed instantaneously via a GSM network to a control centre.
The actual limit is pre-set at the factory as the legally allowed blood alcohol level is country dependent. Up to 10 000 samples can be logged, the data providing an accurate record and profile of the driver's drinking habits. It is described as a useful tool for driver behaviour modification.
The unit has been designed to be installed by PFK's national network of Autowatch Aftermarket Fitment Centres, which will also conduct the required annual re-calibration, and has been specifically developed by the company to withstand harsh environmental conditions. It is capable of operating in temperatures ranging from - 40°C to + 70°C. The device meets Europe's CENELEC standards for Alcolocks.
The unit contains specific electronic counter measures to prevent circumvention by mechanical means - such as using compressed air or "clean" air stored in a balloon as a breath sample - and can be programmed to request random samples while the vehicle is in motion.
The Autowatch TAB - designed specifically for the heavy duty market - arguments the Autowatch WAB, a wireless alcohol blocking system which features a portable breathalyser.
Launched three years ago, the Autowatch WAB - described as the world's first wireless AIB system - is exported to Sweden, where it has captured a major share of the bus and taxi market, as well as countries such as Holland, France, Lithuania and the UK.
Donovan Devine (Elect. Design Eng. - PFK); Stephan Kurszawski (Global Automechanika Brand Manager); Colin Snyman (Group Sales & Marketing Director - PFK); Manuel Ferreira (Business Development Manager : Alcolocks - PFK)
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