FoxInsights has recently announced the launch of two new devices for advanced remote tank monitoring. Key features are the world’s first integrated display, up to 15 years of battery life and the overall flexibility when it comes to mounting. Lube Media Editor Tina Reading caught up with their CTO Dr Michael Kolb to find out more…
Dr Michael Kolb
What was the main goal when developing Gen 4 (FoxRadar and the new FoxPressure architecture)?
The goal was the most robust and intelligent telemetry system in the sector. System is the key word: hardware alone does not solve anything. Value starts when data is reliable, plausible and immediately usable. The biggest pain point for partners was clear: devices that look fine at installation, but later cause issues, return visits and lost trust. So we rebuilt everything – hardware, firmware and architecture – for a fit-and-forget system that runs reliably for years and can grow with future requirements.
What did you change to avoid installation mistakes and return visits?
Many problems don’t happen during operation, they happen during installation. Too often commissioning is guesswork: fit the device, leave site, hope it connects and measures correctly. Days later you find it never joined the network or the reading is off because the mounting angle was wrong. Gen 4 solves that with an integrated display that shows the reading and device status directly at the tank. It is the world’s first integrated display in a tank monitor, and the solution is patented. On FoxRadar, an integrated tilt sensor flags mounting errors immediately. That sounds simple, but making it reliable is the hard part.
Lubricants sites are operationally demanding. Where does Gen 4 help most in day-to-day work?
Commissioning is the critical moment in any device’s lifecycle, but the benefits continue throughout deliveries, on-site checks and service visits. The on-device display reduces confusion in multi-tank environments because a driver can see instantly which tank is at which level. And for lubricants specifically, our drum adapter is a major step forward: designed with customers, it is built to be simple and robust for everyday drum handling.
Where does the business case improve for distributors and lubricant suppliers?
It becomes very clear when looking at total cost of ownership. If installation quality is secured from the start and data is dependable, return visits, support effort and operating costs drop significantly. That means the solution scales: moving from hundreds to thousands of monitored tanks without costs rising proportionally. For many partners, that is what turns telemetry from a nice extra into operational infrastructure.
To find out more about the new Gen 4 hardware, click here
