Peizotag Feasibility Study
Looking for innovative ideas to diversify its product offering and expand into new markets, Essex–based Haswell Moulding Technologies identified a gap in the market for an effective tyre pressure monitoring and safety system. After approaching the Integrated Products Manufacturing KTN with its initial thoughts, Haswell found itself with breakthrough ultra low powered micro-electronic sensor technology and a bold plan to apply for EU funding. Following the success of its €1,240,000 European R&D project, Haswell is ready to commercialise its product for the automotive market – which analysts estimate at 20 million units a year – and has a product in development for the trucking sector.
The future goal for the automotive industry is Instant and real–time tyre pressure monitoring system. Not only has it been found that 75% of all accidents caused by tyre blow outs result from low tyre pressure, but US legislation now requires new vehicles to be fitted with a low tyre pressure warning system as standard. A couple of seconds before the pressure spike that leads to a blow out occurs there's a temperature spike within the closed environment inside a tyre. Existing systems, located on the steel rim of the wheel, only transmit data every 10 or so seconds. This delay in delivering vital real-time data to the driver makes these units practically useless – and the market ripe for development.
Image above of the Piezotag sensor
Work undertaken on behalf of the KTN introduced the concept of the reverse use of piezo ceramic materials as well as several other cutting–edge innovations. "We were able to specify a number of innovations critical to the concept," says Ian Claris on behalf of the KTN. "These included use of piezoelectric materials, novel capturing of the energy within the tyre environment and transmission of radio frequency signals from within what amounts to a Faraday cage." With sensors included, the concept was complete and EU funding was successfully applied for.
Following the PIEZOTAG project, a consortium of companies led by Haswell formed a new company, also called Piezotag, to bring its results to world markets. "We are in the process of combining Piezotag with another EU project associated with the trucking industry," says Piezotag's Managing Director Geoff Haswell. "From the two projects we now have a globally-leading product for this market segment as well as a product for our core mass automotive market."
