The conventional tyre pressure monitoring systems on the market relay the information concerning inflation pressure to the driver. This means that the driver must decide on his own whether this information is used in good time or passed on to the workshop or fleet manager. Naturally sens.it HD fulfils this function as well. However, the primary goal is to keep the data on hand where it is needed for proactive tyre/vehicle maintenance. This allows the workshop and/or fleet manager to query the condition of his vehicles via the web-based software platform at any time, to plan necessary interventions and to track the completion of these interventions. With the INTIRE platform, the workshop manager and/or fleet manager manages and assigns parameters for all TPMS functions. With INFLEET, the workshop manager or fleet manager gets a tool for complete tyre management. Via the INSIGHT update, INFLEET can be extended with a professional vehicle inspection kit. All technical tyre inspections can therefore be carried out directly on the vehicle by using the handheld device (PDA) and an automatic tread depth measuring device (FlexiGauge). sens.it HD can therefore do much more than a conventional TPMS: sens.it HD is a professional tyre management system with automated inflation pressure monitoring. It works so efficiently that it offers a return on investment from “inflation”.

Please contact our sens.it HD sales team for a detailed offer adapted to your demands (see Contacts)

Naturally, this depends on the respective initial situation (inflation pressures, mileage, consumption, etc.). Using the average data provided in analyses from tyre manufactures as the basis, the amortisation period is just over one year. 

The average service life of a sensor is approx. 5 years. As a rule, the sensor attachment strap can be used several times and the router or “Gate” installations have been designed for long-term operation.

If the “Vehicle” version is selected, then all installation tasks can be carried out by trained workshop personnel without any problems. Mounting the sensors using the attachment straps takes less than one minute and can be executed when a tyre is mounted. As a rule attaching a router to the vehicle requires approx. 30 minutes. Our service technicians would be pleased to assist in this regard. We recommend that possible electrical connection points be made available on the respective vehicle for a permanent and a switched (via the ignition lock) power supply (e.g., in the fuse box or distribution box) that can handle a 2-ampere load.
For the “Gate” version, only the sensors must be mounted on the vehicle, nothing else. At the “Gate”, a groove must be cut in the road surface for installing the cable for the induction loop. Here as well, we support customers with an appropriate drawing. The control unit/router only requires a voltage supply (110/240 volt) in the vicinity of the loop, and it is set-up.

Incremental equipping is possible for both versions (“Vehicle/Gate” versions). Thus, each vehicle can be equipped when changing from normal tyres to snow tyres (or vice-versa). The tyres can even be equipped axle by axle. Naturally, you must decide this for yourself; however for efficiency reasons, we recommend equipping a complete vehicle. Whether completely equipped or partially equipped – all vehicles must be entered in the management platform, and parameters must be assigned for the vehicle in the management platform. And naturally the router must be installed in the “Vehicle” version, as well as the “Gate” version, in order to transfer the data.

Please contact our sens.it HD sales team for a detailed offer adapted to your demands (see Contacts)

sens.it HD is a closed communication concept. We do not use SIM cards, we use SIM chips. For this reason, unfortunately it is not possible for you to use your own provider. However, so far users have confirmed that the communication fees are definitely competitive. 

sens.it HD is suitable for all commercial vehicle fleets/bus fleets that use one-piece wheels from 16" to 24", and for light truck tyres or HGV tyres. The novel sensor attachment strap (SAS) and the small lightweight sensor are easily mounted. The router, as well, can be mounted almost anywhere thanks to its size and simple cabling. The driver is provided with permanent information via the optional display for the cab or the cockpit. Access to the management platform (INTIRE or INFLEET) occurs using a web app, thus local software installation is not necessary, you only need Internet access.

Such systems have serious disadvantages. The flexing that occurs in the tyre heats the tyre, as well as the air inside the tyre. The heat that is caused by the vehicle brake and the mechanical friction in the wheel bearing, and which is transferred via convection or thermal radiation, also warms the wheel and tyre. Thus the pressure differential between a cold and "hot" HGV tyre can be as much as 1.5 bar (or 15%). The system mounted on the outside cannot detect this temperature differential and thus, cannot compensate it. Consequently, experts recommend sensors mounted on the inside that detect pressure increase due to tyre warming, and display the measured values in a manner that is "temperature compensated". The user does not have to figure out whether the tyre is hot or cold, or whether the measured value (not compensated) represents excess inflation pressure or insufficient inflation pressure. Moreover, sensors mounted on the outside may not be sufficiently protected against theft and mechanical damage. Mechanical problems, such as blocked brakes or a damaged bearing, are not detected (or they are detected too late), because sensors mounted on the outside do not register the increase in temperature in the wheel.

Systems mounted on the inside fasten the sensor, e.g., on the valve (they cannot be used with every rim contour/valve position, or they can only be used with high risk when the tyre is mounted/dismounted), with metallic attachment straps or cables (special tensioning tools required, frequently there is contact corrosion and different thermal expansion between the clamping element and wheel) or in rubber containers on the inside of the running surface (cleaning and bonding process required, container may have to be removed and replaced when tyres are retreaded). Since these systems are usually more complicated and do not fit universally, we have designed sensors on the inside for the sens.it HD, and we have developed the SAS sensor attachment strap for the fastening. 

ALLIGATOR has been dealing with TPMS for more than 20 years and can look back over many years of experience in the sector of passenger vehicle TPM systems, and has an established system in this market. This experience has been integrated in the development of the sens.it HD. In the tyre management sector, there are benefits from the co-operation with Tyrecheck, whose software solutions in this sector have been used as the "standard" solution (e.g., for tyre manufacturers) for many years. Last but not least, the company has recruited personel with extensive experience from the fleet management and tyre management sector. We have already proven the practical suitability of sens.it HD in tests. And naturally, the test fleet experience has also been integrated in the development of the system. 

The system is currently being introduced to the market. Consequently we are at the beginning of the marketing phase. Nevertheless, naturally we have tested the systems in the different configurations (“Gate” version or “Vehicle” version) in real test implementation, and have also optimised them until this system variant has been achieved.

Naturally we have the initial experience of the pilot fleets that have tested this system extensively, and the pilot fleets have supported us in achieving the present development status. Moreover, each interested customer has the possibility of testing the system in their own vehicles in advance before making a final decision for procurement and equipping their entyre fleet.

Here we must first differentiate the role the Internet plays for the respective information channel: From the driver information perspective, the Internet does not play any role at all, since there is a direct connection from the router to the display. Thus, safety-relevant information is not dependent on the Internet.  System access to the TPMS or tyre management platform naturally depends on an Internet connection, which is also the situation with many other logistics platforms/order platforms and management platforms in the logistics sector. Consequently Internet availability in transport and logistics companies is always an important topic, independent of the use of sens.it HD. On the cloud database and management software side, naturally we take maximum system security into account by using redundant systems (back-up solutions). 

In order to make a specific statement here, we must first wait to assess the system's acceptance on the market. However, one thing is sure, namely that the sensor product sector and thus, the sens.it product range for passenger cars and sens.it HD, will constitute a significant proportion of ALLIGATOR's business. We view this sector as an important pillar of the company in the future.

As mentioned, we are currently in the introduction phase, and this is why it is still too early to talk about specific contracts (with the exception of the pilot fleets), however, interest is already being shown by well-known service providers and fleets.

We anticipate that interested customers will first want to inform themselves in greater detail concerning the system characteristics and benefits, before placing a definitive order. Then, the primary issue will likely be when the vehicles will be available for equipping, rather than the availability of system components. And finally, there must still be instruction in the use of the management platform. Naturally, pure delivery of the system, which is our main task, is then carried out very quickly.

Economy, ecology and safety play an essential role, particularly in the public transport sector. Here, the "Gate" version represents a cost-efficient and effective possibility for meeting the needs of this sector. As buses frequently run with so-called "comfort tyre pressures" in the city bus sector, and tyre retreadability represents a significant cost aspect, the use of sens.it HD is particularly evident here. Coaches or long-distance buses can also make an important contribution in this direction with the "Vehicle" version. 

An investment in sens.it HD pays for itself within a very short period. Consequently, we definitely see opportunities here. And last but not least, the system is also an image-effective decision that documents that the operator really takes its responsibility, in terms of safety and ecology, seriously.

All transport companies that have recognised that professional tyre management, which includes the monitoring of inflation pressures and temperatures, pays-off.

ALLIGATOR has been involved with the sens.it HD system since 2011; the question as to what a modern transport company expects with regard to the subjects of tyre management and TPMS was clarified before a system solution was designed and the components were developed

After the successful introduction of sens.it in the passenger car sector, it was an obvious idea to develop a solution for the commercial vehicle sector, knowing full well that the customer expectations are clearly different here. This is why the initial customer survey was immensely important. As they say, "The bait is supposed to attract the fish, not the angler". We have taken this into account in the best possible manner with sens.it HD.