RFID Pilot Brings Intelligence to Solid Tires

Canadian tire company Camso has entered into an agreement to pilot radio frequency identification technology as a potential solution for improving the servicing of forklift tires. The pilot involves building UHF RFID tags directly into its solid-rubber forklift tires. In the long term, Camso reports, the company is interested in knowing whether RFID could enable better service for its customers.

Based on the pilot's success, the company plans to commercialize the RFID solution in cooperation with technology provider Ferm RFID Solutions, a division of FineLine Technologies. FineLine acquired Netherland-based Ferm RFID, which offers RFID solutions for automotive and aviation tires, in January 2018.

Camso's Derek Bradeen

Camso's services include solutions for maintaining tires for its customers in warehouses and at other locations. According to Bradeen, the firm's engineers focus on how to manage and enhance a tire's lifespan, based on many variables that include heat generation and wear and tear. As part of this effort, he says, the company constantly investigates ways in which technology can improve the performance of its products. "Smart technology is a vehicle to bring more value to the customer," he states.

With RFID technology, the company hopes to learn whether the built-in tag could enable it to track tire status over time, including how tires are used, and under what conditions. In so doing, Bradeen explains, the firm could not only modify its servicing (such as scheduling maintenance visits based on wear-and-tear forecasts for each tire), but also identify the right tire for specific applications. For instance, Bradeen says, some users may need to operate tires more often or at higher speeds for different duty cycles and on multiple types of surfaces. All of these factors, he notes, could impact a tire's performance and lifespan.