Extending tyre life from above
GLOBAL Tyre Information (GTI) has been supporting the WA tyre industry for more than 33 years, and has applied that wealth of knowledge and experience gained into developing the GTI tyre monitoring system.
Development started in 2004 to design a tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS) that would be a standalone plug-and-play unit with no infrastructure needed on site.
A lot of trial and real time testing was carried out on one of GTI’s client mine sites to fine tune and create a robust and real time output tyre monitoring system.
Whether it is a mine site or a construction site, operations rely heavily on equipment, and equipment relies heavily on its tyres.
Employing a robust system such as the one GTI has developed will minimise equipment downtime, increase productivity and return savings to the end user.
GTI has developed a relationship with a WA company supplying high-end radio and satellite technology to the mining and oil and gas industries, to allow them to produce a user-friendly system that has performed successfully in trials in 793C Cat trucks in a mine in the state’s South West for three-years, with a zero transmission failure rate.
GTI designed and developed a system that is reliable in all weather conditions and that can be quickly installed for operational readiness on any mine site in the world.
The tyre monitoring system provides crucial information well beyond tyre pressure and temperature that can be utilised to optimise tyre performance, saving downtime and money.
The GTI Tyre monitoring system uses advanced satellite technology that negates the need for expensive infrastructure like repeaters, poles or Bluetooth and does not rely on other devices.
This provides a signal that is more reliable and more accurate than non-satellite based systems.
The GTI system is fully self-contained saving time on system setup and costs. This makes the GTI system truly mobile.
With sensors fitted to the inside of the tyre onto the rim, on vehicle movement the accelerometer inside the tracking device is triggered and data from that particular wheel is transmitted.
Every wheel is fitted with an individual sensor, which tracks tyre pressure, temperature and more, providing crucial information that can be utilised to reduce fuel consumption and optimize tyre life and performance.
The sensors have also been designed to run in liquid (eg: up to 50l of tyre coolant in a 40.00R57 tyre).
The ability to retrieve data remotely makes the system superior for safe tyre maintenance and eliminates the need to send maintenance teams into the field to retrieve readings.
GTI’s system reliably sends real time data from any remote location in the world, with no infrastructure needed, in all weather conditions.
Fully mobile, this system is not reliant on telecommunication systems like the 3G or 4G networks that may have minimal coverage in remote areas; it can operate anywhere in the world regardless of location and that means data can be accessed anywhere, anytime, anyplace via web and smart phone applications.
An audible alarm can also be installed inside the cab of a truck, which can alert the driver to any movement outside of set parameters, allowing the driver to stop the truck in a safe area and prevent any further damage from occurring.
GTI prefers to use the automated alert systems remote from an operator (email and smart phone) as they have enough technology to be aware of managing large OTR assets.
Rather than waiting for a tyre failure, by adapting a GTI system into a fleet, a proactive approach to tyre maintenance can be taken.
With the maintenance department receiving real time data via satellite, specific parameters can be set to suit specific customer requirements.
Once set, system alerts are automated and sent by SMS and email to multiple users as required.
Fleet managers have access to detailed graphical reports or spread sheets with data which can be easily exported and includes tyre temperatures; tyre pressures and triggered alarms; travelled hours; mounted hours; highest speed alarm; average workday speed; and GPS location on Google maps.
Through satellite diagnostics, mine staff are alerted when pressures or temperatures shift from optimum levels and because it is truly real time data, quick action can be taken to avert possible tyre failure, reducing tyre-related downtime and this contributes to a safer working environment.
This data is also sent via satellite to GTI’s secure servers and can be easily exported as graphical or spreadsheet reports to a client if required.
GTI’s tyre monitoring system also provides a detailed tread depth recording feature to manage tyre changes and rotations as required. A field technician can either use a digital Bluetooth-enabled tread depth tool to measure individual tread depths for each tyre on each machine.
This data is then sent wirelessly from a tablet or smart phone to the database selected.
As soon as a satellite signal is present, the data is automatically recorded and entered into the client’s database.
Where tyre usage and wear used to be done by analysis of historical data, the GTI tyre monitoring system provides easy access to real time data that can be acted on immediately and effectively for more responsive tyre management.
Factors such as tyre life can be monitored for each tyre on each machine, helping maintenance staff to plan tyre orders and machine service rotations to streamline production.
Tyre data can be interfaced with most tyre management systems: just mention your requirement and GTI systems will ensure you get the best outcome in this area.
Each unit can be purchased or hired which includes all software and hardware for installation and commissioning.
Reporting via satellite and secure information collection and storage is included, allowing for extensive onsite and remote reporting.
All information can be collected and reported on for historical information collection.
GTI is looking at the future of fibre optic technology as part of the next generation of sensor design.
This potentially would be more accurate than ever before, increase reliability tenfold, deliver cost savings to the end user and extend battery life to more than five years.
GTI has also designed a unique software tool which allows real mining data to be input into key fields to simulate specific mine conditions.
The tool takes into consideration many factors that can influence a tyre’s life and this enables the customer to gain an immediate understanding of the gains that can be achieved by incorporating a GTI system into their mining fleet.
Perhaps the main point to consider is that with GTI’s system and components, everything that can be made in Australia has been made in Australia – a refreshing change and an encouraging sign for Australian manufacturing.