TPMS and RFID
Canadian TPMS specialist SmarTire Systems Inc. has announced that its revenue for the first quarter of the 2007 fiscal year has increased by 44% to $851,770 (£436,476), up from $592,866 (£303,805) in the first quarter of the 2006 fiscal year. At the same time net loss for the quarter decreased to $5.3 million (£2.7 million), or $0,02 per share, for the fiscal year’s first quarter, down from $17.8 million (£9.1 million) or $0.06 a year earlier.
Oxfordshire based Transense Technologies PLC has announced that it has entered into an agreement with Honeywell International Inc to extend the use of Transense’s Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS).
(Akron/Tire Review) Schrader Bridgeport International has added technical and installation information for its lines of AirAware TPMS products on its Web site – www.schrader-bridgeport.com/airaware. “Schrader wants to make it as easy as possible for technicians to find the information they need, when they need it,” said David Weber, Schrader TPMS project manager. “Our expanded Web site provides answers to the most frequently asked questions regarding TPMS. And if they require further assistance, technical specialists are available at our TPMS hotline number to answer their questions.”
Xenos Technologies, part of the Pricol gorup, has launched a Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS), suitable for passenger cars, sports utility vehicles and light motor vehicles. The Xenos TPMS consists of two units, a display and sensor. The sensors are fitted to car tyres. In case of low pressure, high temperature or rapid deflation these sensors alert the driver. The display unit is stuck below the rear view mirror and is priced at 12,500 rupees (£145).
SmarTire Systems Inc. announced that Spartan Chassis, Inc, a subsidiary of Spartan Motors, Inc. now offers SmarTire’s tyre pressure monitoring systems (TPMS) as options for its fire truck and motorhome customers. Spartan currently has 36 models riding on its custom chassis and supplies 100 per cent of the custom motorhome chassis for Newmar, Travel Supreme and the American Division of Fleetwood. Spartan also manufactures fire truck chassis and features SmarTire’s products in its catalogue.
SmarTire President and Chief Executive Officer Dave Warkentin said: “We are pleased that Spartan has selected our SmartWave wireless sensing system to fulfil their TPMS requirements. Spartan’s decision supports our market research that owners of recreational vehicles, fire trucks, ambulance and emergency-rescue vehicles are beginning to demand TPMS.”
(Akron/Tire Review) Schrader Bridgeport International, Inc. has introduced two new AirAware TPMS retrofit kits. “The new retrofit kits allow TPMS to be installed on vehicles that are not equipped with OE TPMS,” said Schrader TPMS Project Manager David Weber. Weber said that Schrader’s new aftermarket TPMS kits monitor all four vehicle tyres, and detect underinflation of 25 per cent or higher.
After several years of intensive research and development Michelin’s US R&D department and Honeywell, one of the world’s leading automotive technology suppliers, have announced the launch of the eTire II battery-less TPMS for commercial vehicles. The eTire II system is based on Transense’s surface acoustic wave (‘SAW’) technology, which Michelin licensed in 2001 for in- and on-tyre applications. The news follows intense market speculation about the nature of Michelin’s product release. Some reports even suggested the technology could later be transferred to passenger car tyres.
Michelin is to announce plans to incorporate Transense TPMS technology into its next generation of truck tyres at a press conference later this week. The news broke after a report in the Independent suggested that UK company Transense’s battery-less design would be used. There were also suggestions from industry insiders that Michelin may go further and announce the use of the system in car tyres as well.
Infineon Technologies has introduced the SP35 Tyre Pressure Sensor, said to be the first device to incorporate all the major active functions of a wheel-mounted Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) module into a single package. The highly integrated device, which is mounted on a PCB (printed circuit board) with a battery and antenna to form a complete TPMS module, enables automotive industry suppliers to cost-effectively meet the requirements of U.S. safety regulations, and to address the growing worldwide demand for TPMS in new passenger cars and light trucks.
UK-based company PCL received an excellent reception at last year’s SEMA show when it initiated its drive to conquer the US market. Since then, PCL’s high quality “Made in Sheffield” products for Tyre Inflation are becoming increasingly recognised internationally, backed up by excellent customer service and training. At SEMA 2006, visitors looking for swift and cost-effective solutions for tyre shops, garages, workshops, car dealerships, transportation companies, industrial applications, vehicle fleets and racing outfits can view a range of new and established tyre inflation products.
Automotive supplier Lear Corp. has signed an agreement with Transense Technologies PLC to develop a tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS) that does not require batteries and will comply with US federal regulations. Financial terms have not been disclosed.
(Akron/Tire Review) TIA is keeping a tight focus on the tyre pressure monitoring system issue, and is using its Tires at Two seminars at the upcoming SEMA Show to help attendees better understand the technology and service of these units. In addition, TIA is again presenting its highly popular panel discussion “Successful Tire Dealers Share Their Secrets.” TIA’s Tires at Two seminars will be held at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday – Oct. 31-Nov. 2 – of this year’s SEMA Show.
In the USA, SmarTire has been selected by ABC Companies to supply its SmartWave tyre pressure and temperature monitoring systems (TPMS) on the company’s Van Hool motorcoaches, for whom ABC is the exclusive US distributor. ABC is a leader in the sale and leasing of new and pre-owned highway coaches.
A team of four students from Anglia Ruskin University beat nine other entries on 31 July to be declared the champion of i10 Innovators: The Business Plan Competition with a plan for a self powering tyre pressure monitoring system TPMS. Andrew Lyall, Carine Kruger, David Boardman and the absent Jan Vondras (currently working in America) made up the winning ‘Innoflate’ team. The former students met while completing their MBAs at the university in Cambridge. Their idea is to produce an innovative tyre pressure monitor called ‘AirCzecher’, which is named for the Czech-born Jan Vondras who had the initial idea.
(Akron/Tire Review) The Tire Industry Association (TIA) has announced the members of the 2006 Tire Industry Hall of Fame. The new inductees are Jaques Bajer, president of Tire Systems Engineering Inc. and Armando Tornel Murillo, executive president at Empresas Tornel.
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