From logistics to warehouse management, from diagnostics to assistance activities, from retreading to collection and disposal at the end of its life: literally from the cradle to the grave, RFID technology follows the tyre in all stages of its life cycle, optimising traceability, operational efficiency and sustainability.
To show the visitors how these innovations that affect the entire tyre supply chain work, Autopromotec will host the RFID Ecosystem Village project, in pavilion 22 (booth A2), born from the collaboration of 8 exhibitors who will offer demonstrations of the various use cases during the event: Ateq, Corghi, Devel, Fasep, GDSO, Innovando, Michelin and Regom.
RFID technology, which allows the unique identification of the individual tyre, already offers several important advantages in the management of all operations related to the tyre, and will soon be of fundamental importance also for the implementation of the digital product passport (DPP). In order for it to spread widely as a market standard, an ecosystem approach is necessary, hence the name of the exhibition initiative. In this perspective, the role of GDSO – Global Data Service Organisation for Tyres and Automotive Components is fundamental, which since 2022 has been working for the creation and global dissemination of a unique and interoperable standard for the use of tyre data in the cloud, thus building the IT infrastructure on which the entire system is based, in collaboration with all stakeholders in the tyre value chain.
The role of manufacturers, among which Michelin is a main player in the technological development and implementation of RFID technology in the tyres supply chain; this year at Autopromotec the manufacturer will present tyres with embedded RFID, for cars and for trucks, both new and retreaded, to demonstrate together with the other partners all the key benefits offered by this technology, at every step of the tyre lifecycle. From design, to the production and shipping phases, logistics and warehouse management, usage, retreading, end-of-life management and circular economy can benefit from it.
RFID data also accompanies the tyre throughout various aftermarket activities: in the diagnostic field, Ateq stands out with its advanced portable scan tools, which not only streamline all TPMS sensor operations but also enhance accuracy, reduce service time, and support technicians with user-friendly interfaces and reliable performance, while Corghi presents an innovative dynamic precheck able to generate a complete work sheet thanks to the integration with the Tyre Information Service.
Then there are the tyre assistance activities, in which Devel and Fasep present respectively an automatic diagnostic tyre changer and a balancer equipped with integrated RFID readers in order to automate and optimise the overall efficiency of the operations.
In the final stages of the tyre life cycle, RFID technology brings important benefits, as demonstrated by companies such as Innovando, whose digital infrastructure maximises the traceability of the tyre at the end of its life and adds additional functions useful to the tyre dealer, and REGOM, which provides the entire sorting process, from tyre separation and alignment to data analysis, and uses RFID combined with artificial intelligence, to identify and sort used tyres at an industrial rate, a solution which is becoming increasingly essential in the recycling value chain.
In addition to allowing visitors to experience first-hand a real workshop of the future, the RFID Ecosystem Village project illustrates the benefits of adopting RFID technology as an interoperable standard for the benefit of the entyre tyre value chain.
These topics will also be explored in depth at the conference “The RFID Ecosystem in tyres” to be held on Wednesday 21 May at 2.00 pm at Gallery 21/22, with the participation of all the stakeholders in the initiative.
