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Monityre TPMS – Specifically Designed for Commercial Vehicles

With an estimated one third of all commercial vehicle tyres claimed to be incorrectly inflated, the failure to spot problems in truck and trailer tyre pressures can have catastrophic financial effects and damaging consequences for any operator. However, a practical cost effective solution to this problem is now at hand with the launch of Monityre from Safe Europe plc.

Monityre is a tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS) that, says Safe Europe, eliminates the issues associated with other monitoring systems, allowing operators to accurately and easily monitor tyre pressures within a fleet.

8th August 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Hidden [Auto]Gem

Product News, UK News

In the last few years Autogem Motor Concepts LLP has grown rapidly from a faltering supplier to an influential player in the tyre and workshop consumable business. The turning point came in September 2005 when the Invicta group of companies took over the reins at Autogem. Initially, the new owners embarked on the project with a team of just 10.

The first major move the new managing partners, brothers Prashant and Adit Chopra, made was to consolidate Invicta and Autogem’s existing four warehouses into one bespoke distribution centre in Park Royal, London. They have been in their current warehouse/offices since April 2006 and closed Autogem’s inefficient old Leeds telesales operation in July 2007, after winding down the business’s dependency on this location. Here, the staff of 50 was reduced to just two, with the rest taking redundancy. This rapid reduction in headcount could be seen as harsh, but from Autogem’s management’s perspective it just demonstrates how inefficient the company they took over had become.

24th July 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

TiDiCi Partners with TyreCheck

CIS-based tyre retail specialists TiDiCi have selected the TyreCheck system for paperless electronic tyre service management. The initial implementation is scheduled to start in July, after which it will be rolled out to an additional 27 sites across Ukraine, Russia and Belarus. The implementation will manage an estimated 150,000 vehicle inspections a year. According to a company statement on the news, TyreCheck was chosen for its scalability and due to the fact that it is available in more than 10 different languages.

The TyreCheck platform combines mobile and web-based components. The TyreCheck Mobile component provides the tools needed at the tyre. These include inspections and the tracking of work at the tyre, plus tracking of tyres going on and off vehicles. The TyreCheck Web component provides the management and reporting functionality that is required to centralise the data.

23rd July 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Old Versus New

When it comes to the low rolling resistance debate, the gloves are off. This is particularly the case amongst the world’s leading tyre manufacturers, who each have their own brand of high-level tyre technology to offer, but are very much at odds about the benefits and theoretical pay-offs their tyres’ exhibit. In July’s Tyres & Accessories we examined Michelin’s argument that it’s all a question of technology. Or to put it another way, there needn’t be a pay-off between strong wet braking performance and low rolling resistance characteristics if you research and development department is sufficiently advanced. Until recently this concept had been taken as read, but Michelin’s various generations of Energy saver tyres claim to have out-teched this dichotomy.

Last month there was something of a disagreement between Michelin and Bridgestone with regard to the energy saving properties of their tyres. The “discussion” followed tyre test results in the French press, which found that there was “no significant difference” between fuel consumption results on the two manufacturer’s truck and bus tyres. This month Tyres & Accessories reports from the ContinentalSafetyExperience – a showcase of Conti’s latest technology including the chance to see the company’s response to the pay-off question in action. Continental was demonstrating its technologies as part of a ContiSafetyExperience event, which the company held at the OAMTC (Austrian AA equivalent) centre in Teesdorf, Austria.

21st July 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

TPMS Maker Expands TIA Certified Ranks

Four more Schrader-Bridgeport International employees and representative agents have become TIA Certified Automotive Tire Service (ATS) instructors.

Schrader said it’s Certified ATS Instructors are available to educate technicians and improve their skills and expertise, reflecting the company’s commitment to providing professional, certified TPMS trainers.

Equipped with the proper training, technicians who are TIA Certified have the knowledge and skill to profitably service TPMS systems and avoid damaging critical components. (Tire Review/Akron)

16th July 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Techking Tires: New Products, Technology and Services in 2008

OTR tyre specialist Techking Tires came to the Reifen Essen show armed not only with new products, such as the 335/80R20 MPT (Multiple Purpose Tire) – the Chinese company brought news of impressive growth and numerous new programmes it is introducing. Techking marketing specialist Benjamin Zhang reported the latest developments to T&A.

“We have set up six private meeting rooms for existing and new customers at our stand,” he said. “For the whole week they are always busy.” This is hardly surprising considering Techking’s explosive growth during the past few years. Evidence of this can be seen from the fact that in 2006 Techking had 5 tyre specifications. Today it has 140, in 20 individual patterns. All tyres are manufactured at the company’s 35,000 square metre Dongying, Shandong Province factory, which was built in 1994.

Amongst Techking’s new offerings for 2008 are combined tyre and rim combination packages. “This has come as a result of customer feedback,” explains Mr. Zhang. “Customers asked for a tyre/rim package. It is easier for us to choose the right rim for a particular tyre.” The Techking marketing specialist reported that the building of a new 330,000 square metre factory for manufacturing OTR and TBR rims is currently in progress, The facility is due to be completed at the start of 2009 and within three years a capacity of 50,000 to 70,000 pieces per annum is planned.

Also new is Tire Watch, Techking’s TPMS project initiated last year. Testing for the Tire Watch project will continue until July and its market introduction is not far off. Tire Watch, Mr. Zhang explains, offers real time monitoring of tyre pressure. A third new product from Techking, introduced this year, is Tire Armor, protective chains for loader tyres, that can be easily damaged on rocks. “New items such as Tire Armor show we not only provide products; we also provide solutions,” said Mr. Zhang.

Yet another significant development for Techking is the introduction of the TSC – the Techking Service Center – Techking is building showrooms in conjunction with local partners in key markets and will provide training to local dealers. The TSCs will offer maintenance services and advice on correct tyre choice, while enhancing the Techking brand image in various local markets. “We have chosen Europe, Africa and Australia as the markets in which to begin rolling out the TSC concept, as in these regions we have stronger partnerships with local dealers,” Mr. Zhang added. The first TSC is scheduled to open in July 2008, and in addition to these centres the company continues to visit its global partners on site. In 2007 Techking representatives visited 50 such partners in various countries.

Techking tyres are sold in approximately 55 markets around the world, with Europe, South Africa and Australia the strongest. European sales account for 25 per cent of the total, Mr. Zhang comments, and currently South Africa is the market undergoing the fastest growth. A new market for Techking is Russia, and it is one that, says Mr. Zhang, presents its own challenges: “It is a different situation from our traditional key customers. The market in Russia is mostly for bias tyres, radials are only being introduced. In Russia we provide potential customers with our ‘Fuel Save Technology’ programme, which includes statistics on the fuel saving benefits of radial tyres.”

On the topic of world markets, much has been said recently about the US decision to impose duties upon Chinese manufactured OTR tyres. While Mr. Zhang confirms the duties charged on Techking products are not as high as for some other Chinese based manufacturers, he admits the US remains a smaller market for the company.

After conquering numerous world markets, Techking is now making itself at home, in its home market. In a situation that is completely in reverse to most Chinese manufacturers, Techking, a traditionally strong exporter of radial products, has only very recently launched its products onto the domestic Chinese market. “Most Chinese mining companies still use bias tyres,” Benjamin Zhang explains. “Most sales in China are for overseas brand equipment. We hope this situation will change soon but realise it takes time to adopt radial technology.” Even more amazingly, in April 2008 the company that has for so long embraced radial technology launched a range of bias OTR tyres. “The first tyres produced after heavy involvement from Techking will serve OE manufacturers in the domestic market,” stated company president Tech Wang in a Techking newsletter. A company representative further comments on the decision to introduce this older technology. “We are not in pursuit of high volume. We feel that giant bias OTR is a necessary supplement to the market at the moment.”

The testing of such new giant OTR tyres, like all the Techking range, can be performed on the company’s drum test machine, which can test up to 63-inch tyres; Techking is the only Chinese manufacturer to have such a machine. And in terms of tyre development, the process at Techking is very customer centred, adds Mr. Zhang: “Techking collects research and development feedback from different markets, and develops custom products for key markets, such as the 29.5R29 ETNT for Canada or 35/65R33 ETNT for Australia.”

26th June 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

ITS an Intelligent Tyre System

Continental AG has unveiled a new prototype cyber tyre technology, designed to demystify the tyre management process. The battery-less Intelligent Tyre System (ITS) fuses a range of existing TPMS functions with an RFID-like wireless communication facility that will enable the sensors in each tyre to communicate with a central processor inside the vehicle. The system’s tyre ID technology, coupled with a tyre age function is designed to advise motorists of their tyre’s suitability.

According to Continental representatives, the sensors will be installed into truck tyres initially, with the first Continental-produced cyber tyres rolling off the production line around 2010. Continental was exhibiting this and related technologies as part of a ContiSafetyExperience event, which the company held at the OAMTC (Austrian AA equivalent) centre in Teesdorf, Austria. ITS had its first outing as part of the Continental Truck Tyre Roadshow exhibit that visited the CV Show earlier this year.

24th June 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

PCL Inflating Its Market Presence in 2008

Sheffield based PCL Air Technology brought a wide range of its products to Reifen 2008, including its latest nitrogen inflation unit, the Accura Mobile. “It was introduced into the US last year,” commented company director and divisional general manager Simon Shorter. “Nitrogen inflation has become a big market there and the Accura Mobile is proving successful. Now it is also available in the UK.”

The Accura Mobile is a compact and robustly designed nitrogen inflation cart that can be operated either with a standard bottle or direct from a nitrogen generator. It permits operators to present the pressure for a standard inflation top up, or an N2 function for a purge and fill cycle. The unit can inflate up to six tyres simultaneously, and four hoses are supplied as standard. Power for the Accura Mobile comes via a rechargeable NiMH battery, and the unit can also operate directly from mains power.

18th June 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

K-Tool Publishes Catalogue, Reveals TPMS Upgrades

Wixom, Michigan-based tool manufacturer K-Tool International (KTI) has announced a number of new products, updates and promotions with the launch of their new 2008 AirAware Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPSM) Sensor and Service Pack Application Catalogue.

The catalogue, published by marketer Schrader-Bridgeport International, Inc, includes part listings and a tool and accessory section within its 44 100-per-cent-recycled pages. Among KTI’s new products are: software for TPM tools, enabling their usage on all vehicles in 2008, and for the programming interface module to support Microsoft Vista; the TPMS T-10 torque tool for the easy installation of replacement Schrader snap-in TPMS sensors; 23 new sensors covering 163 new applications; and a new TPMS quick reference kit.

16th June 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

TYM International Secures UK Techking OTR Franchise

TYM International recently reached a distribution agreement with Techking Tire Ltd that will see the Kings Lynn-based company distribute Techking OTR tyres in the UK. The distribution agreement follows discussions between Steve Eke (TYM International) and Techking’s Keith Johnston and James Wang in London and at the recent Essen show. Distribution of the new range will become effective in July 2008.

Commenting on the announcement, TYM International representatives said they will make sure that the UK becomes a successful market for Techking in the future: “We at TYM International are committed to offer the best possible service to each and every customer that uses the Techking product. We have a vast amount of storage space allowing us to stock more tyres and the sizes that are needed here and now in the UK market.”

16th June 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Conti Exec Discusses Success, Future Plans

After nearly a decade of decline, Continental Tire North America finally got into the black in 2007, success driven by a new focus on products, delivery and dealer relations. At its recent Gold Dealer meeting, held during a Caribbean cruise, Continental Tire North America outlined its expansion plans for the program. Andreas Gerstenberger, executive vice president of sales and marketing for CTNA’s consumer tyre group, sat down with Tire Review to discuss the company’s turnaround and future growth plans.

Since Continental bought out General in 1987, there have been numerous management changes. Now things seem to be clicking. What do you have in place now that you didn’t have before?

“The first thing that’s important, if you want to have stability in a team, is figuring out together what your strategy is in a given market. For a long time it wasn’t completely clear within the Continental group what the position of Continental Tire/General Tire should be in the US market.

29th May 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Lower Rolling Resistance, TPMS by 2012, says EU

A host of new vehicle safety and environmental requirements, including several tyre related measures, will become obligatory as of 2012. On May 23 the European Commission unveiled its timetable for the introduction of these measures, of which European Commission vice-president Günter Verheugen said: “We are simplifying legislation. We are improving road safety. We are promoting fuel efficiency. We are presenting a modern integrated policy approach beneficiary for citizens, for the environment and the industry.”

Low rolling resistance tyres (LRRT) are to become obligatory from 2012, and the European Commission notes that, in order to avoid any negative impact on safety, explicit safety requirements are to be introduced alongside new standards on noise. Tyre Pressure Monitoring Systems will also become obligatory from 2012. Deflated tyres, comments the Commission, can cause up to a 4 per cent increase in fuel consumption while reducing tyre lifespan by 45 per cent. Tyres can lose 3 to 6 per cent pressure per month, and this may not be noticed by the driver. According to research by TNO in the Netherlands, the fuel saving potential of LRRT and TPMS in passenger cars is 3 per cent and 2.5 per cent respectively. For new cars with expected engine test cycle performance of 130 g CO2/km this would mean additional reductions of more than 7 g CO2/km (3.9 LRRT and 3.25 TPMS). The CO2 reduction potential of LRRT+TPMS on a current car (with a test cycle of, for instance, 160g) would be greater than 7kg/tonne.

27th May 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Transense Negotiating with RFID Supplier

It has emerged that battery-less TPMS developer Transense Technologies is in “early discussions” with a UK-based aftermarket TPMS supplier. The company in questions has developed a vehicle management system providing “cradle to grave” tyre information, which is said to be of a particular interest to the OTR and truck markets. The system in question incorporates a hand-held reader which reads a tyre patch RFID tag and measures tyre tread depth and pressure on a manual basis. The companies are said to be currently working on ways to incorporate SAW technology into their product.

The news is set against a varied year for Transense. Eventful is an understatement for describing Transense Technologies’ last 12 months. Nevertheless, company chairman, David Kleeman, described the last year as “probably been the most eventful in Transense’s relatively short history.” First there was the proposed reverse takeover of the Bishop Technology Group, which shareholders rejected in November 2007. Then there was the difficult task of raising £4 million at the beginning of 2008, a time when financial markets were less than keen to lend.

9th May 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Aftermarket TPMS from Tyresure

Tyresure remind us that a car tyre’s contact with the road comes courtesy of a patch of rubber usually no bigger than a child’s footprint. Yet while we rely on them to transport our most precious of cargos, most of us rarely give them the attention they deserve. But an aftermarket solution is at hand; the company’s products allow crucial tyre pressure and temperature data to be displayed in an instant, enabling drivers to check its status without even leaving the driving seat.

Tyresure’s TPMS, says the company, utilises military-spec technology on each road wheel to display an accurate tyre pressure and temperature reading for each tyre, direct to the driver in real time. This can be accessed permanently, or set as a ‘pre-flight check’, which then updates the driver if preset safety parameters are breached. This is displayed through a compact display screen that shows safe pressures in green, changing to red if the pressure or temperature moves to a dangerous level. The system works on any type of vehicle, from family saloons to the full-size SUVs, and once the sensors have been fitted to the wheels the system is a true ‘Plug & Play’ fitment.

2nd May 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

TIA Formally Back R2R Bill Effort

The Right to Repair issue has been a hot button for the independent auto service industry for nearly a decade. And calls for such legislation have spread to Europe and Canada. Yesterday, TIA formally announced its support of the latest federal Right to Repair bill – Motor Vehicle Owners’ Right to Repair Act (HR 2694) – and “strongly urges Congress to pass the legislation in order to ensure that car owners and their trusted repair shops have the same access to safety alerts and repair information as the franchised new car dealer network.”

“We have always supported Right to Repair, but because most new vehicles are equipped with TPMS that are controlled by computers, we felt compelled to formally state our position,” said Roy Littlefield, TIA’s executive vice president. “Keeping these systems updated and in safe working condition requires ready access to complete and accurate information from the car companies.

17th April 2008/by Tyrepress Editors