TPMS and RFID
Leading tyre pressure monitoring solutions provider WheelRight has achieved a top five placing at the UK’s first intellectual property (IP) league table. The company, which has developed a ground-breaking ‘drive over’ tyre pressure monitoring technology used by both motorists and HGV drivers, was ranked fifth in the ‘best trade secret’ intellectual property asset class.
First came Tyresure’s Starter Kit 1, which was designed to encompass the most popular service parts in the European TPMS market, containing a selection of valves, service kits, caps, and cores.
At the start of October in Paris Michelin launched Michelin Tire Care, a suite of connected software solutions designed to help hauliers get the most out of their tyres. The idea is that fleets get more performance (and therefore financial value) from their tyre purchases as they use the mobile/tablet-based software, and in doing so see the benefit of premium and especially Michelin truck tyre products. While software is clearly at the heart of this latest announcement, Tyres & Accessories considers whether we should be using the term “strategy” instead.
The average UK driver is currently being outsmarted by their own car, according to new research. The survey of 1,000 British car owners, carried out by BookMyGarage.com, found that 73 per cent don’t understand how to use all of the high tech gadgets and safety features in their vehicle. This is despite over half (54 per cent) of British adults admitting they were sold on the car they bought because of the features it offered.
Pocket App, the UK’s largest independent app developer, has announced that a new vehicle tyre pressure monitoring system for smartphones is now available for download. The new app, which has been designed for Bridgestone Europe, captures pressure readings from Bridgestone’s TPMS sensors using a Bluetooth Transceiver.
Stapleton’s investment in recent years has been focused on its nationwide distribution operation – including new regional hubs and a larger delivery fleet – the wholesaler said. “It’s all been in response to the retailers’ needs – and we’re gratified by their response to the flexible and responsive operation we’ve created, with faster and more frequent deliveries,” comments Nigel O’Hara, Stapleton’s wholesale director. Retailer feedback has confirmed Stapleton’s customers want to stock a variety of tyre solutions at every price point, but especially in the fiercely competitive mid-market sector. The wholesaler has a range of exclusive brands in this segment, including Maxxis, Nexen, Matador, Event and Riken.
Autodata has added the largest amount of new content to its system in the organisation’s 40-year history. The technical information supplier reports it has made over 36,000 core updates to new and existing vehicles so far in 2015, representing the highest annual figure since its founding in 1975. The firm’s new online platform, launched towards […]
Today Michelin launched Michelin Tire Care, a suite of connected software solutions designed to help hauliers get the most out of their tyres. The idea is that as fleets use the mobile/tablet-based software they both get more performance (and therefore financial value) from their tyre purchases and in doing so see the value of premium and especially Michelin truck tyre products.
Leading alloy and steel wheel distributor Wheelwright has evolved its programme with a comprehensive range of TPMS products, falling in line with the ever changing landscape of wheel and tyre legislation. Wheelwright’s alloy and steel wheels are “TPMS-fit”, accepting the OEM and aftermarket TPMS sensor valves, and now the firm has added an all-encompassing range of TPMS solutions. The company states that the range is aimed at helping retailers to offer a set of winter (or second) wheels and tyres without affecting the functionality of the tyre pressure monitoring system on the vehicle.
An increasing number of independent garages are carrying out routine servicing and repairs on electric, hybrid and other alternatively fuelled vehicles (AVFs), according to Autodata. The data firm has reported a 104 per increase in access to data relating to models in this category over the last quarter. The most popular information requested by Autodata subscribers included service schedules, interactive coloured wiring diagrams and wheel alignment specifications.
Hamaton is launching a new sensor for the European aftermarket this summer. The EU-PRO 2 sensor is the latest generation from Hamaton and designed to complement the existing EU-PRO sensor
According to the company, the second sensor in the Hamaton range significantly raises the EU-Pro and EU-Pro 2 combined coverage of current TPMS equipped, vehicles to almost 97 per cent. Hamaton reports that the new EU-Pro 2, like the current EU-Pro, can be configured in only two to three seconds and can now be configured by Ateq, Teconomotor, Texa and very soon Brain Bee, TPMS diagnostic tools. Therefore the EU-Pro is said to configure 10 times faster than some popular sensors.
Some car infotainment systems are vulnerable to a hack attack that could put lives at risk. The vulnerability was exposed by NCC Group after it found a way to carry out attacks by sending data using digital audio broadcasting (DAB) radio signals.
Damage to tyre pressure monitoring system sensors caused during the tyre removal and refit process can be an expensive problem, but a UK garage equipment supplier believes the Hunter Revolution can prevent this unfortunate side effect from occurring. Pro-Align launched the new (almost) fully automated tyre changer from Hunter last year – Tyres & Accessories was able to preview the machine as it went on sale – and the system’s process actively works to prevent sensor damage. The Revolution also allows tyres to be changed effortlessly in exactly the same way every time, requiring the same amount of time regardless of tyre size or type. As well as helping workshops avoid damage to customers’ TPMS sensors, the machine can also improve workshop efficiency and effectiveness, Pro-Align adds.
Schrader international has appointed Markus Schmid, as “Head of Marketing Aftermarket“, effective 1 April 2015. In his new role Schmid has taken over responsibility for all marketing activities in Europe at the Tyre Pressure Monitoring Systems (TPMS) specialist company.
With Autopromotec just around the corner, Alligator Valve Group reports that the firm’s show presence will emphasize its sens.it family of products, a complete solution for replacement sensors in the automotive area. In particular sens.it-Statistics will get debut at Autopromotec. According to the company, this program module provides the operator (e.g. a tyre workshop) a quick overview of all sensors programmed at their service point to date. The newly developed print-out function also enables direct printing of the tyre pressure sensor diagnostic service record; if desired, this document can be handed over to the customer with the service bill, or entered into the customer file at the service company.
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