TPMS and RFID
point-S UK recently held its first member only TPMS seminar as a result of recognising the importance of impending legislation and increasing numbers of TPMS equipped cars on the road. TPMS and consumables supply partner Autogem hosted the half-day session at the company’s headquarters in London.
On 30 July, Infineon Technologies reported its receipt of a 2011 Technical Development Award from the automotive system supplier Denso Corporation. Denso recognised Infineon for its development of a specific tyre pressure sensor chip that enables Denso to realise a more cost effective system and which supports built-in autolocation. Infineon’s TPMS sensors support direct systems, where the tyre pressure is measured inside the tyre and the pressure value is transmitted via RF to the receiving unit of the car. In this regard, autolocation means that the system automatically correlates the four received pressure signals with the appropriate four tyre positions.
Last year's Tyre & Aftermarket Equipment Supplier of the Year winners (at their first attempt) Autogem Motor Concepts are joined this year by regular finalists Apaseal and Rema Tip Top Automotive. A new name is that of Pang UK and the final company in the shortlist is that of CAM Systems – very different from the others in that it provides software solutions as opposed to machinery and consumables.
Schrader shares that it has reached the milestone of producing its 200 millionth TPMS sensor. The sensor was produced at Schrader’s Antrim plant in Northern Ireland, and the company says it marked an “important date” in Schrader’s history.
Michelin Training Centre (MTC) has confirmed that it will make its first appearance at a Brityrex exhibition in Manchester this October. For more than 25 years the Stoke-on-Trent based organisation has been considered the reference point for tyre industry training in the UK and Ireland and the decision to attend October’s Brityrex event at Event City in Manchester is being seen as a boost to the tyre exhibition.
The top three UK tyre retailers have presented their views how TPMS will be implemented in the market following questions from Michelin’s Fleet Panel at the end of June. Their answers, which are the most comprehensive response to this topic yet, show that the while all three market leaders report they are ready for TPMS, their views on what this may mean for fleet customers and indeed consumers varies.
Now that its part of the MOT to fail cars that have warning lamps showing garages stand to gain extra work by not only diagnosing the problem but fixing it. That’s why Butts of Bawtry have released a new tool designed specifically for this task – the MOTpro.
Leading garage suppliers including Apaseal/Pang, DQN, Haweka UK, Hofmann Megaplan, Rema Tip Top Automotive and Supertracker will be demonstrating their latest technology at Brityrex in October.
Kwik Fit has identified a weak link in the tyre pressure monitoring systems fitted to modern vehicles – and that weak link is, it appears, you and I. The retail network commissioned a study to investigate motorist responses to vehicle warning lights – and discovered that almost a half of all drivers don’t know what a tyre pressure warning light means.
Michelin reports that it has written to ATS Euromaster, Kwik Fit and National Tyres to ask how the three largest tyre retailers in the UK will deal with the introduction of Tyre Pressure Monitoring Systems (TPMS). According to the company, the move was prompted by concerns raised by Michelin’s Fleet Panel. Panel members, who represent some of the biggest leasing companies in the UK, shared their views on the introduction of TPMS at a recent meeting and several said they do not believe they have been given enough information about the equipment which will be fitted to all new models of car from November this year.
Something virtually all the tyre manufacturers currently using RFID (Michelin, Goodyear, Bridgestone, Mesnac) have in common is a connection with UK-based sensor firm Transense Technologies plc. Following the announcement that this provider of sensor systems is supplying the tyre probes being used in Michelin's recently launched “communicating tyres” fitted to buses running during the London 2012 Olympics, it is worth taking a closer look at is both companies’ desire to see the wider market adopt this technology.
Transense Technologies plc reports that its Translogik Ltd trading division has received a further order for 60 of its truck tyre inspection kits from its French partner, EDP. The tools will be supplied as part of EDP's commercial fleet management systems. Jean-Luc Giusti, CEO of EDP commented: "We are continuing to develop our range of electronic tyre inspection solutions that integrate the Translogik tools with our commercial fleet management software. Our customers demand systems that can operate reliably and accurately, 24/7, and the best-in-class Translogik solution is the only tool we recommend."
In something of a coup for the UK, Michelin chose London as the venue for the global launch of its latest RFID/TPMS truck tyre technology on 19 June. The UK truck tyre business, which has previously been referred to as something of a model for other mature European markets, was selected because it is an area where the French tyre manufacturer is dominant in the truck and especially bus segments. This fact also provided Michelin with a clear opportunity to implement its technology on a large fleet and thereby also demonstrate the performance of its technology to fleets and the market as a whole. Tyres & Accessories visited West Ham Bus Garage in East London to attend the launch of technology and see it in action.
For the 30th Olympic Games, to be held in London from 27 July to 12 August, Michelin is unveiling its latest innovation – the “communicating" tyre. By combining a tyre pressure monitoring system and radio frequency identification chips, the tyre maker is enabling public transport operators in London to enhance the safety of the tyres fitted on their buses, thereby immediately improving the mobility of both vehicles and transport users.
Shares in Transense Technologies rose on Friday 15 June after the sensor systems maker announced its trading division secured a strategic distribution deal with a Saudi group. The group told investors that its IntelliSAW business, a provider of wireless sensor systems for smart grid applications, has entered into a strategic distribution agreement with the energy projects and services division of Saudi Arabia’s Al Mashariq Trading and Contracting Co. The company also makes systems and tools for use in tyre TPMS and RFID applications.
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