Tyre Pressure Monitoring System for Small-to-Medium-Sized Operators Revolutionary Tyre Pressure Monitoring

MICHELIN MEMS LITE is Michelin Tyre Company’s latest entry-level Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS). It meets the contemporary needs of small-to-medium surface mine operators and contractors with smaller dump trucks. So far, recent data gathered from a gold mine in South Africa shows that, when deployed as specified, the MICHELIN MEMS LITE system increases tyre life, enhances safety and optimises productivity. Boldened by the results from the mine and emerging from other projects globally, Michelin is eager to replicate this success in the African mining sector.

One of the pervasive challenges encountered in surface mining operations is dump truck downtime. Poor tyre pressure monitoring is often cited as one of the main causes. Given that material from dump trucks is needed in comminution processes, among others, from a productivity viewpoint, downtime can have a huge impact. For instance, tyre damage resulting from poor monitoring can ground a dump truck. The ensuing loss of productivity can translate into a huge revenue.

The need for sound tyre pressure monitoring

For this reason, it is paramount for mining companies to invest in sound tyre pressure monitoring systems (TPMS). Blue-chip entities, with huge financial resources, can afford the most advanced alternative technologies

Unfortunately, with competing needs on their limited financial resources, small-to-mediumsized operators and contractors do not have that luxury. Hence, with no option, they stick to conventional tyre pressure monitoring.

Timely Response

Michelin, a global tyre solutions giant, recognises the need for affordable tyre pressure monitoring among small-to-medium operators and contractor with smaller dump trucks typically below 150 tonnes. And so, in a timely response, recently, the company unveiled MICHELIN MEMS LITE, an entry-level TPMS which first went live in an African mine.

In a brief to surface mine operators through Mining Business Africa, Fabien Taillardat, Mining Commercial Director for Africa, India, and the Middle East underlines the relevance of the revolutionary tyre pressure monitoring solution. Specifically, he explains that MICHELIN MEMS LITE addresses the shortcomings of the conventional technique of using a manual pressure gauge, which results in poor tyre monitoring and attendant challenges. He attributes this to its unique elements, particularly, the liquid-proof sensors and the reading station, which offer incredible convenience.

Shortcomings of Conventional Pressure Monitoring

The main shortcomings of the manual pressure gauge are limited interval usage, as well as inconsistency and unreliability.

• Limited intervals

Typically, a manual tyre pressure gauge is limited. Labour-intensive, it only allows an operator to monitor one truck per week. Furthermore, it is always a challenge for the tyre crew to track and access trucks without slowing production.

• Inconsistency and unreliability

A manual tyre pressure gauge is not consistent. “A manual manometer is not designed to measure the internal temperature of a tyre. Consequently, as the pressure of a tyre changes due to temperature changes, an inspector cannot accurately measure the changes and will have to rely on subjective perception,“ Taillardat expounds.

Additionally, other shortcomings that cause unreliable and inconsistent tyre pressure monitoring are the calibration of the pressure gauge, continuous training of tyre inspectors, and the human error factor.

Impact of Poor Pressure Monitoring

Ultimately, the aforementioned shortcomings impact dump truck operations significantly. Markedly, this is in the areas of safety, accelerated tyre wear, and unscheduled downtime.

• Safety challenges

Manual tyre pressure monitoring exposes the operator to poor vehicle handling and the tyre inspector to hazards around the trucks, including tyres with excessive pressure or heat build-up.

• Accelerated tyre wear

Poor tyre pressure monitoring leads to accelerated tyre wear. For instance, a 15% reduction in tyre pressure can reduce a tyre’s lifecycle by up to 20%, according to research data from Michelin. Worse still, a flat tyre that is not detected early can be damaged after a few kilometres. “This is a huge challenge on bigger dump trucks, where it is almost impossible for the operator to sense a flat tyre on the rear axle when they are driving,” Taillardat indicates.

• Unscheduled Downtime

Last but not least, poor tyre pressure monitoring pressure leads to unscheduled downtime. For instance, when a pressure problem reveals itself during an operator inspection, it usually has to be fixed immediately. This task halts production.

Incredible Convenience of MICHELIN MEMS LITE

In no doubt, it is not an overstatement that MICHELIN MEMS LITE introduces incredible convenience to tyre pressure monitoring, but fact. This is owing to liquid-proof sensors and a fixed reading station, which allow for control over tyre pressure monitoring, besides virtually eliminating the need for costly maintenance requirements.

• Liquid-proof sensors

The proven liquid-proof sensors that are included in MICHELIN MEMS LITE allow for the use of Tyre Additive. Taillardat stresses that this is not the case with most Temperature Pressure Monitoring solutions on the market.

• A fixed reading station

A fixed reading station strategically positioned on the side of the road captures tyre data periodically based on when vehicles drive. Worth underscoring, due to this feature, MICHELIN MEMS LITE does not require additional hardware on the truck. The feature makes the solution easy and inexpensive to deploy across the mine’s fleet.

Reduced Maintenance Requirements

The sensor and reading station has reduced the need for frequent maintenance, commonly encountered with comparable products on the market. The sensor has been designed to outlive the lifespan of the most durable tyres. This means that once installed inside the tyre, the sensor will stay alive until the tyre is disposed of. On the other hand, the reading station is maintenance-free, save for some routine cleaning with regard to solar panels.

Control over tyre pressure monitoring

The combined efficiency of the sensor and reading station enabling control over tyre pressure-related issues. Taillardat elaborates, “Multiple readings per day per tyre – and at least once per day – allow operators to detect most pressure issues early enough to either fix them immediately or plan a stop at the tyre shop before the issue becomes critical.“

Massive gains

By and large, through enabling timely intervention, MICHELIN MEMS LITE brings massive gains by enhancing safety and optimising productivity.

From a safety perspective, MICHELIN MEMS LITE drastically reduces the time that tyre inspectors spend around trucks in the pit, which reduces their exposure to hazards. Further, health tyres minimise the risk of tyre-failurerelated accidents. In this way, it enhances safety.

From a productivity perspective, MICHELIN MEMS LITE frees up staff from convoluted tyre pressure monitoring, allowing them to focus on other critical tasks, where they are needed. Additionally, a healthy tyre ensures that the dump truck is available for operations most times.

Mine digitisation

Indeed, all told, through the groundbreaking launch of MICHELIN MEMS LITE, Michelin demonstrates its commitment to helping smallto-medium mining companies digitise the critical but complicated process of tyre management. “The tyre is one of the few truck components that is still not connected. Thus, MICHELIN MEMS LITE is an easy way to connect tyres and gather data, paving the way for full digitisation of any mine,” comments Taillardat.

Commitment to cutting-edge solutions

Chiefly, the introduction of MICHELIN MEMS LITE denote Michelin’s solid track record in the provision of cutting-edge tyre management solutions. Michelin has been offering Temperature and Pressure Monitoring solutions designed for the extremely demanding mining environment for the past fifteen years. “Our extensive and global experience gives us an edge, allowing us to offer robust equipment that is easy to use and gives a consistent reporting suite that is professional and comes with the support of our field engineers,” Taillardat concludes, referring to Michelin’s capability to meet the contemporary needs of African surface mining sector sufficiently.

Milestone at a Gold Mine in Australia

There are several cases in surface mines that underline MICHELIN MEMS LITE’s efficacy in improving tyre performance, safety, and life. One of the most recent ones involves a gold mine in Australia, which significantly improved its pressure management.

Relative to the previous situation, recent data indicates that the change has been considerable.

In just six months, inflation that was widely spread between -12% and +5% around the ideal pressure at the beginning now is concentrated inside the manufacturer’s operating range between -5% and +5% of the ideal pressure. The improvement in pressure, which now complied with the manufacturer’s operating range, was translated into an increase in tyre life of roughly 8% more hours on each tyre.

In a nutshell, if projected across the mine’s entire fleet, in financial terms, the savings add up to US$600,000 on the tyre budget, providing a return on investment in less than three months.

Assistance in tyre installation

When it comes to installation of TPMS, it is not uncommon that accounts of end-users are being left on their own. However, bending over backwards, Michelin does things differently. The installation is supervised by a Michelin field engineer who trains and assists mine staff through the following steps:

• Install the sensors in the tyres

Michelin manufactures its tyres at 49” and above with a MEMS Ready rubber patch inside the tyre, allowing a tool-free installation with a simple Velcro strapping belt supplying with the sensors. Michelin supply rubber patches can be retrofitted inside non-Michelin tyres as well. Michelin will also be releasing very soon a magnetmount solution to attach the sensor to the rim.

• Install the station(s) at a strategic location in the mine site

The station is plug-and-play. Once the location is defined and the station is plugged to a power source (mine grid or solar panel/battery system), it starts emitting data through the 3G/LTE cell phone network.