From pioneering digital tire calibration to connected air machines and nationwide service, we’ve spent more than 25 years finding better ways to serve drivers and retailers.
When most people think about an air machine at a gas station, they probably picture a compressor, a hose, and a few minutes spent checking their tire pressure.
For a long time, that’s pretty much what the industry offered.
But when we entered the U.S. market more than 25 years ago, we saw an opportunity to do things differently. Instead of relying on drivers to manually inflate their tires and check the pressure themselves, we introduced technology that could automatically calibrate tire pressure to a precise setting.
It was a different approach to a familiar task, and it helped lay the foundation for what Excel Tire Gauge has become today.
Pioneering Digital Tire Calibration Technology
Early tire inflation equipment was largely mechanical. Drivers added air, checked the pressure, and repeated the process until they reached the desired PSI.
We believed there was a better way.
As our leadership team explains in our corporate video, our goal wasn’t simply to put air into tires. It was to calibrate them.
By incorporating electronic controls, pressure sensors, and solenoid valves, we developed digital tire calibration equipment that could automatically inflate or deflate a tire to the pressure selected by the driver.
That distinction matters. Whether a tire starts out overinflated or underinflated, our machines can adjust it to the selected pressure without the driver having to guess.
Of course, bringing that technology to the U.S. wasn’t an overnight success. It required years of product development, investment, and adjustments to meet the needs of the American market.
But we believed in what we were building, and we kept working to make it better.
How Smart Air Machines Changed Tire Inflation
Digital tire calibration was just the beginning.
As customer expectations evolved, so did our technology. We continued developing our air machines to make tire inflation more convenient for drivers and easier for retailers to manage.
One important advancement was cashless payment technology. Excel Tire Gauge was among the early companies to introduce credit card acceptance on air machine towers, giving drivers a convenient alternative to traditional coin-operated equipment.
But we saw an opportunity to go beyond payment convenience.
By incorporating connected technology into our equipment, we could transform a traditional air machine into something much more valuable: a remotely monitored asset.
Today, our smart air machines allow us to monitor equipment usage, track transactions, identify downtime, and manage service activity in real time.
That visibility helps us identify potential issues, respond to service needs, and keep equipment operating efficiently.
For retailers managing a single location or hundreds of sites, this technology can make a meaningful difference. Instead of wondering whether an air machine is working properly, they have a partner actively monitoring and supporting their equipment.
American-Made Air Machines Backed by Nationwide Service
Technology is important, but even the most advanced air machine needs reliable support.
That’s why we’ve built our business around much more than manufacturing equipment.
At Excel Tire Gauge, we design and manufacture our air machines in the United States. But our involvement doesn’t stop when a machine leaves our facility. We also provide installation, maintenance, technical support, and ongoing service.
Rather than relying on separate companies for each part of the process, we keep these responsibilities under one roof.
Our service technicians receive training directly from the manufacturer and have access to the parts and technical resources needed to complete repairs. Combined with real-time equipment monitoring, this approach helps us minimize downtime and reduce the operational burden on retailers.
For a gas station or convenience store operator, that means less time worrying about equipment maintenance and more time focusing on the business.
There’s another benefit to staying involved throughout the equipment’s lifecycle: we get to hear directly from our customers.
Their feedback helps us understand what’s working, where improvements are needed, and what challenges retailers are facing. Those insights play an important role in how we continue developing our products.
Helping Retailers Generate Revenue with Air Machines
An air machine might seem like a small part of a gas station or convenience store, but we’ve seen firsthand how it can contribute to the customer experience and a location’s profitability.
When developing our products and programs, we focus on three priorities: improving the driver experience, creating revenue opportunities, and reducing the operational burden on retailers.
That’s why we offer a range of digital tire calibration solutions, including free air machines, paid air machines, and hybrid systems that combine both options.
For retailers interested in generating additional income without purchasing equipment, we also offer our Air Excel Revenue Share Program.
Through this program, qualifying locations can have an air machine installed with no upfront equipment investment. We handle installation, maintenance, service, and collections while the retailer shares in the revenue generated.
It’s a way to turn an often-overlooked area of the forecourt into a potential source of recurring income, without adding another piece of equipment for store employees to manage.
And for retailers who prefer to offer free air as a customer convenience, our free air solutions can help differentiate their locations, enhance the customer experience, and give drivers another reason to return.
There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to tire inflation. The right solution depends on the location, its customers, and its business goals.
Our job is to help retailers find the air program that works best for them.
25+ Years of Innovation and Customer Relationships
More than 25 years later, we’re still guided by the same philosophy that shaped our earliest products: listen to our customers, identify opportunities, and develop better solutions.
What started with electronic tire pressure calibration has grown into something much bigger.
Today, with more than 180,000 machines installed, Excel Tire Gauge combines precision equipment, connected technology, data analytics, and nationwide service to help retailers get more from their air programs.
But while our technology has evolved, one thing hasn’t changed: the importance we place on relationships.
As our leadership team shares in our corporate video, many of our customer relationships have grown into lasting friendships. That personal connection is something we value, and it continues to influence how we do business.
We’re proud of how far we’ve come, but we’re even more excited about what’s ahead.
Because after more than 25 years, we’re still looking for better ways to make tire calibration easier for drivers and more valuable for retailers.
Looking for a better air solution for your locations?
Explore our digital tire calibration solutions and discover how Excel Tire Gauge can help you improve the customer experience, reduce maintenance responsibilities, and get more value from your forecourt.
