HIGH PROFILE
A major reason that TyreSense continues to gain market share is reliability
mounted tyre, and then working to remove rim components from a tire after that loader has gone back to work. Again, faster and safer than traditional configurations.
Q What about the EMH lock ring solution?
The EMH lock ring was developed to meet the need for a stronger and safer lock ring in smaller diameter wheels( 25” to 49”). In most cases, these wheels are not designed for high pressure or increased loads that they are now being subjected to and we developed a solution to improve performance and to increase safety. The EMH lock ring can be used in our MES or TSR style of wheels, and by using this thicker, stronger lock ring RIMEX is able to offer improved strength and capacity in a RIMEX wheel with only minor design adjustments. This style of wheel is commonly used in industrial applications( ports, steel mills, etc) as well as mining equipment.
Q Are there still fundamental differences between mechanical drive and electric drive mining truck wheels? And between truck sizes? Where do you gain and retain value?
There has been a shift towards using wheels with a mounting disc on all truck types. Previously, electric drive trucks would utilise
RIMEX has succeeded in the mining wheels and rims space thanks to a deep insight into what the market wanted and needed – allowing it to find better ways to build those products safer and stronger
14 an open centre rim that was secured by cleats or clamps. From a wheel perspective, this design included far more moving parts and was harder to maintain and prone to slippage and torquing issues. As equipment has gotten larger and the forces acting on the wheels have increased it has become more critical that the right wheel is selected for the right application. Again, that is where our real mine experience and expertise comes in. We have always looked at how wheels from other manufacturers are constructed and then tried to build our product to excel based on the mine conditions and the truck type. Typically, this means we are building a fully machined solution that is truly round and is built to last in any operating environment. As you go down the range from large mining into construction, we often work with customers to supply them a five-piece wheel instead of a lighter constructed three-piece wheel. Though often at a higher initial cost, the customer will receive longer life, better tyre support and better product performance. Our manufacturing processes and focus on providing the customer the best possible product give us this ability.
Q How do TPMS contracts normally come about – are they put out to tender by the customer or is it done via tyre management service companies, or another route? What is its key to success?
Several of our TyreSense customers are among the world’ s largest mining companies and have been dedicated supporters of TyreSense for many years. They in fact helped us develop the system by undertaking on-site trials and sharing real world operational experiences. Those experiences became our roadmap for improving the reliability and efficiency of the system. Some of those customers have been with us since TyreSense’ s inception, running their fleets on each new generation we develop based in part on their usercommunity feedback and suggestions. We also work with tyre distributors and mine services contractors who approach us to present TyreSense as an alternative to existing TPMS systems that may be a subject of operational challenges. In a recent case, we were approached by a truck manufacturer who, after successful field trials, is keen on supplying TyreSense as original equipment on all trucks from their factory. But I would say the number one reason TyreSense continues to gain market share is reliability. Every time you have a sensor on a tyre that stops reporting, you need to de-rate that truck and assess what the issue is, especially with AHS trucks. TyreSense’ s reliability stems from a combination of things – the robustness of the sensors, the diaphragm design, the pressure testing of sensors before they leave our facility, and how our system exists as a product of informed operational experience since day one. Over the last 20 years, we have achieved a level of system performance where we can confidently state that TyreSense is the best TPMS system available. But we won’ t stop there; we are committed to continue to develop innovation solutions that help drive reliability, safety, and efficiency.
Q Can you say anything more about specific challenges and opportunities for TPMS underground?
We have had several TyreSense installations in underground sites recently. The market there has evolved significantly – many underground mines, even smaller ones, are now fully networked with fibre-based Wi-Fi. These operations can now benefit from real-time intelligence that comes from using our TPMS. For operations that do not have underground networks, this is a market where our ONETOUCH solution performs well. ONETOUCH collects real time operating data and alerts the operator in cases where thresholds are exceeded. Then, as the vehicle passes a centralised gateway antenna, the data is uploaded to the server where in-depth analysis can be performed to gain deeper insights into operational efficiencies.
Q Has how the data is presented and acted on changed much over the years? And are the TPMS customers getting more out of that data?
The market has matured considerably – of course there are still some sites that just want to know the pressure and temperature – and that’ s okay, we can give them that. But others are gaining the benefits of MotionSense data that comes from our latest generation TyreSense HUB. It incorporates a combined GPS and Inertial Measurement Unit that provides more advanced vehicle and tyre monitoring information, especially motion related, that is now being analysed and reported on. This includes detecting vertical and lateral forces associated with vehicle acceleration, deceleration and cornering events. All this feeds better decision-making. Hard turns, for example, can be factors in tyre bead separation; acceleration and vehicle travel information can be used to determine where along the roadway such incidents are occurring. These insights can inform haulage road maintenance activities.
International Mining | JANUARY 2026