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SmarTire Appoints New Interim CFO

TPMS provider SmarTire Systems has named David A. Dodge as the company’s interim chief financial officer following the resignation of Jeff Finkelstein, who had served in the role since 2002 before leaving to “pursue a new opportunity”, to quote SmarTire. Mr. Dodge, whose appointment was announced on April 10, was formerly vice president and CFO of software development company NeoMedia Technologies, a position he held between 2002 and 2007. Before joining NeoMedia, Mr. Dodge was an auditor with Ernst & Young LLP. Dodge, aged 33, holds a B.A. in economics from Yale University and an M.S. in accounting from the University of Hartford, and is also a certified public accountant.

15th April 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Shanghai Baolong Supplies Leading OEMs

International News, News, UK News

As an official supplier of tyre service products to Ford, GM and Chrysler, Shanghai Baolong Automotive Corporation hopes to maximise the value of these contracts when it comes to marketing its Digitire aftermarket TPMS products.

Baolong started its business working with the trade, and now after 10 years of development the company has grown into a corporation covering R&D, investment, production and trade. As a way of offering top quality products to our customers, Shanghai Baolong Automotive Corporation and its subsidiaries follow the requirements of ISO9002, QS9000, VAD6.1, ISO/TS16949 and established a strict QC system.

7th April 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Worcestershire Company Makes Self-Powering TPMS

Worcestershire-based Morgan Electro Ceramic, has developed technology which can power car tyre pressure monitoring systems (TPMS) using wheel movement instead of batteries. The technology, described as a piezoelectric bimorph, enables TPMS manufacturers to design self-powered remote sensors that accurately measure tyre pressure, with none of the lifetime and disposal issues associated with batteries.

Morgan Electro’s “bimorphs” are based on established that uses the movement of the wheel and pressure of the tyre as it hits the ground, transforming it into electrical energy. The bimorphs generate enough electrical energy to power a wireless signal that transmits valuable data about the pressure in the tyre to an on-car receiver.

4th April 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

OmiTire Plus Vehicle TPM Valve Tester Re-launched

Omitec, the independent diagnostic and test equipment manufacturer, has re-launched its OmiTire Plus tyre pressure monitoring valve tester. The kit contains both OmiTire and OmiDetect handsets enabling activation, registration or re-registration of tyre pressure monitoring valves on the vehicle ECU. With TPMS becoming a rapidly growing feature on modern vehicles, it is useful for such valves to be tested before refitting the wheel to the vehicle, just in case the valve has been damaged in the tyre fitting process. This avoids the inconvenience of removing the wheel a further time from the vehicle. In some cases the valve needs to be activated to set the system up if wheels have been rotated around the vehicle.

27th March 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Revenue Down, Losses Up at SmarTire

Manufacturer of active TPMS systems, SmarTire Systems Inc, has announced that company revenue in the second quarter of the 2008 financial year decreased to US$740,848 from the $946,665 attained in the second quarter of last year. Six-month revenue for the period ending January 31, 2008 also decreased from a year earlier, down to $1,663,874 from $1,798,444.

SmarTire’s net loss for quarter two 2008 was $8.2 million or ($0.01) per share compared to a net loss of $5.3 million or ($0.02) per share in the same quarter of 2007. Net loss for the six months ended January 31, 2008 was $13.5 million or ($0.02) per share as compared to a net loss of $10.6 million or ($0.05) per share for the six months ended January 31, 2007. In the second quarter of 2008, SmarTire’s net loss from operations decreased by 33 per cent to $1.4 million from $2.1 million in quarter two of 2007. Net loss from operations for the six months ended January 31, 2008 decreased by 41 per cent to $2.6 million from $4.4 million for the six months ended January 31, 2007. SmarTire’s net other expenses increased by $3.6 million in the second quarter 2008 to $6.8 million. Net other expenses increased by $4.8 million to $11.0 million for the six months ended January 31, 2008, primarily due to an increase in non-cash interest and financing charges.

25th March 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Hella Joins TPMS Market

Hella Inc., best know for its automotive lighting and electronics, has entered the TPMS market. The company introduced the TC-400 TPMS system, which the company said “meets or exceeds the same specifications as all OE-installed systems.” In addition to monitoring tyre inflation pressure, the new Hella unit also monitors tire temperature. Hella said its TPMS “is extremely flexible and can be installed in any vehicle that is not originally equipped with an OE system or has been fitted with upgraded or custom wheels.”

18th March 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

North American Retreading Conference Grows in 2008

According to statistics released by TRIB, approximately 18.6 million retreaded tyres were sold in the North America region (US, Canada & Mexico) in 2006, generating sales exceeding US$3 billion. Other sources indicate that the US retreading market alone generated revenues of $1.25 billion in 2006, growing to $1.5 billion the following year. The majority of these were medium truck tyres, and in this market nearly half of all replacement truck tyres fitted to vehicles are now retreads. To keep abreast of developments in this lucrative industry – 2007 gross profit in the US retreading market was estimated at 13 per cent of sales – a number of those associated with the 900 or so retreading facilities operating in North America attended this year’s Commercial Tire, Retread & Recycling Conference (CTRRC) in Florida between February 5 and 8.

14th February 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Advanced ID Announces Several New Innovations

The UK based subsidiary of Advanced ID Corporation, Pneu-Logic Ltd., has ventured further into the tyre industry through its signing of an initial contract to supply data capture tools to French firm Electronic Data Process (EDP). The initial 2008 contract, valued at US$150,000, will see the data capture tools integrated with EDP’s tyre management software in order to provide what Advanced ID is calling a “complete tyre management solution.”

EDP managing director, Mr. Jean-Luc Giusti, commented: “We continue to experience strong growth in European sales of our Fleet Check software solutions and Pneu-Logic tools. Based on this progress, we plan for EDP to expand its presence into the United States in 2008 in an effort to market our combined tyre products offering to the many large global tyre manufacturers and service providers located in the country.” Quoting statistics released by Tire Review magazine, Advanced ID reports that the US market for all medium and light trucks in 2006 was in excess of 77 million units. The total US and European market approaches $10 billion annually.

14th February 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Beru f1Systems’ New Truck TPMS

With all eyes on green issues at the moment, Beru f1Systems is pointing out that tyres are the second or third largest expense for most truck fleet operators. Tests by tyre manufacturers have shown that under-inflation by 15 per cent reduces fuel economy by 2.5 per cent. Incorrectly inflated tyres also wear faster and are more prone to premature failure. That’s where BERU f1systems’ new Truck Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS).

The new system has been engineered specifically for the challenges of tyre pressure monitoring on large, multi-wheeled vehicles operating in fast-moving logistics environments. It is capable of automatically detecting trailer changes, and re-calibrating itself to keep the driver informed.

7th February 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Companies Announce Real Time TPMS

Par Logistics Management Systems, a subsidiary of Par Technology, along with Advantage PressurePro LLC, have announced the introduction of what has been called first real time tyre pressure management system for the transportation industry. For the first time trailer managers can be given real time information on trailer location, temperature, fuel levels and door activity while also receiving critical alerts on reefer failures, rapid fuel loss and now, insufficient tyre pressure. Automated alerts can be sent via e-mail or text message.

“We are proud to be integrating our technology with that of Par’s,” commented Phillip Zaroor, president and CEO of PressurePro. “PressurePro continues to be committed to bringing the best possible TPM Solutions to the market, with the latest in cutting edge technologies. This partnership allows us to do just that, bringing to the market a genuinely complete solution.”

6th February 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

TireStamp Launches Wireless CV TPMS

TireStamp Corporation has released a wireless tyre pressure monitoring system aimed specifically at trailer tyres. According to TireStamp trailer tyres comprise 75 per cent of enroute tyre failures which are caused by chronic underinflation and penetrating objects. This impacts fleets not only in their tyre budgets as trailers in single trailer configurations account for 45 per cent of the tractor-trailer’s fuel consumption, and 65 per cent in a doubles configurations, according to the company.

6th February 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Tyremakers, Safety Group Cannot Appeal TPMS Decision

An attempt to challenge a NHTSA rule that allows vehicle manufacturers to fit US market cars with indirect TPMS systems rather than a direct system has been dismissed by the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. The plaintiffs – consumer advocacy group Public Citizen, tyre manufacturers Goodyear, Bridgestone Firestone, Cooper and Pirelli, plus the Tire Industry Association, argued that the final NHTSA regulations fell far short of those intended by Congress. However, after examining paperwork submitted by Public Citizen following a similar decision six months ago, the court on January 22 again decided that it can see no compelling evidence that the shortcomings of indirect systems – the additional time taken to signal a loss of pressure, and compatibility issues – would create an injury risk for consumers.

25th January 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Sealant, TPMS to be Marketed Together

TPMS-maker Advantage PressurePro and Inovex Industries, manufacturer of Ride-On Tire Sealant, have joined forces to co-market their products. “This joint marketing relationship just makes sense,’ said Mark Farkhan, Inovex president. “PressurePro and Ride-On share the same goals of safety, asset protection and environmental protection.”

“Working together, PressurePro and Ride-On provide a very cost effective and thorough way for everyone, from companies with large fleets to individual car owners, to add safety, savings and peace-of-mind to their travels, while also helping cut on road and tire waste by adding tread life to tires,” said Phillip Zaroor, president of Advantage PressurePro.

The parties claim Ride-On is the only tire sealant proven to work in conjunction with PressurePro TPMS units. (Tire Review/Akron)

14th January 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

TIA Sets Plan for Commercial Tyre Event

TIA has outlined its agenda for the upcoming Commercial Tire, Retread & Recycling Conference, which will be held in conjunction with ATA’s TMC Show in Orlando. TIA’s program will run February 5-7. The event opens on Tuesday, February 5 with the TMC Exhibition & Reception at the Orange County Convention Center from 5:30 to 8 p.m.

TIA’s program continues on Wednesday, February 6 with the TMC trade show from 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., followed by the opening session from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. featuring speeches by Tavio Headley of ATA who will look at the economy, and Don Shea, president of the RMA, who will provide an outlook for the tyre industry. This session and following seminars will be held at the Rosen Centre Hotel, adjacent to the convention centre.

10th January 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Lionax Reaches DPS Development ‘Milestone’

Lionax, the first Chinese company listed on the Euronext pan-European stock exchange, announced on January 7 that it has reached a ‘key milestone’ in its quest to develop the industry’s leading next generation Digital Pressure Sensor (DPS), a critical component in TPMS systems in terms of both function and cost.

Presently, comments Lionax, TPMS manufacturers purchase DPS units from third party suppliers such as Motorola, Siemens and GE, adding what the Chinese company calls a ‘significant cost’ to TPMS products. Leveraging on proprietary innovative “Ring Oscillation” technology, Lionax’s Silicon Valley office is working with scientists and researchers from Scotland’s SemeFab and Tsinghua University in China to jointly pursue a superior and more cost effective solution. Based on recently available preliminary results, Lionax claims it will have access to the next generation DPS technology at half to one-third of the current market price.

10th January 2008/by Tyrepress Editors