Executive Summary
Transense Technologies plc is a technology transfer company that has developed Surface Acoustic Wave (SAW), wireless, batteryless, sensor systems primarily for the automotive industry. Current applications include Tyre Pressure Monitoring Systems (TPMS) and torque systems for Electrical Power Assisted Steering (EPAS) and driveline management.
The technology transfer approach has been expanded by developing a fleet maintenance arm under a subsiduary company Translogik Ltd which sells tyre probes, kits, RFID tags and readers, and the TPMS. These are primarily marketed to the OTR and truck market.
Company History
Current Events
In 2009 Transense took over the tire kit maintenance business of Pneulogic Ltd including buying the patented probe and taking on the sales staff. This approach provided Transense with entree to the OTR and truck worlds where Pneulogic tyre maintenance kits were already in use. These two areas are also the areas most likely to benefit from Transense's wireless tyre pressure systems.
Deals with Cetaris and Goodyear for kits towards the end of 2009 showed the validity of the approach. The company had outlined OTR and truck as the targets for the tyre sensor in 2010 and so this could be an interesting year with the company attending trade shows with its agents. In February Translogik signed a deal with Mesnac Qingdao for the world rights to sell a tyre ready RFID tag - excluding China.
RID tagged tyres are seen as a major growth area and another products it can offer to fleets. Both Sailun of China and Bridgestone Bandag in Brazil have stated they will be offering RFID tagged tyres in 2010 and this trend is likely to increase as it greatly assists in the prevention of substituted tyres and aids tyre maintenance regimes.
Also of interest is that SenGenuity, a division of Vectron [ themselves in a company in the Dover Corporation], pays Transense royalties for the use of the remoting SAW sensing technology and is also is the manufacturer of the tyre pressure sensors. Sengenuity are also looking at industrial uses for the Transense pressure/temperature sensor.
The torque sensing device had some headlines in 2009 with it being announced that SchottAG was ready to batch make the sensor , and Maclaren confirmed in December that the torque sensor had been used in the successful F1 KERS unit. There has been no further news of GM's intention to use the torque…
