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 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 U.S. 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 U.S. market for all medium and light trucks in 2006 was in excess of 77 million units. The total U.S. and European market approaches $10 billion annually.

“Fleet Check has been adopted in Europe as the industry leading system for effective tyre management and we have worked very closely with EDP to ensure that our hardware and technology developments continue to open new revenue opportunities for both companies,” said Ken Field, Pneu-Logic sales director for Europe, Middle East and Africa.

Separately, Advanced ID also announced that its Pneu-Logic subsidiary has developed an electronic earthmover (EM) or OTR tyre measurement system. This segment of the market continues to experience high demand while suffering from severe shortages on a global scale due in large part, comments Advanced ID, to requirements relating to infrastructure build outs and energy consumption in emerging growth countries. As a result, there is a need for a specialised tyre management system to increase the useful life of these high cost and relatively scarce products.  

“Because of the limited supply of EM/OTR tyres, end users are demanding greater useful casing life through improved management of the asset. Better management starts by accurate and timely inspections that optimise the tyre operating condition and any subsequent maintenance and service work,” said Laren Yeomans, managing director of Pneu-Logic, who also participated in the development of the new EM/OTR tyre measurement system. “Providing accurate information on tread depth, operating pressure and temperature along with the visual condition of the tyre allows for significant improvement in maintenance that will have a dramatic effect on optimising tyre longevity and performance.”

Pneu-Logic’s new measurement system includes an electronic tyre inspection probe specifically designed for EM/OTR tyres. The system, available in late March 2008, is said to be ideally suited for use with a complete range of vehicles operating at ports, quarries, construction sites, and in underground and open cast mining environments.  

A third development effort announced by Advanced ID and Pneu-Logic is a TPMS system for truck, bus and earthmover tyres. The latest solution from Pneu-Logic is part of its plan for new product launches in 2008, and is based on surface acoustic wave (SAW) technology. Pneu-Logic reports the system is at an advanced stage of development.

 In partnership with an industry leader in the SAW technology field, Pneu-Logic believes its TPMS product will be the first commercially available and affordable solution that measures tyre temperature and pressure without disturbing the valve. Pneu-Logic is confident that, when integrated with existing tools for measuring tread depth and reading RFID tags and patches, tyre service organisations and managers will be provided with the most complete technology platform for identifying, inspecting and managing tyres throughout their total life.

“It is an exciting time for the technology development team at Pneu-Logic, which is partnering with software design specialists, tire industry constituents and customers to expand our leading tyre maintenance and management platform,” noted Yeomans. “Our new products will revolutionise the products and services offered to the tyre industry supply chain and enable improved performance of tyres, more efficient management of tyres and automotive personnel, and an improved return on tyre assets.” (Tyres & Accessories/Staffordshire, U.K.)