Tyre company Kumho has teamed up with prominent IT company Asiana IDT to claim to become the first tyre manufacturer in the world to implement radio frequency identification (RFID) tags in all its commercial, 4×4 and passenger vehicle tyres.
Following a successful trial of the technology in truck and bus tyres throughout early 2013, RFID tags will be embedded in all of Kumho's tyres in a move to streamline production and distribution as well as heighten quality control.
Kumho hopes to save $10 million per year in logistics and quality control with the new technology.
According to David Basha, Kumho Tyre Australia's national training and marketing manager, the technology is another example of the company's constant innovation.
"Globally Kumho is committed to achieving optimum efficiency from its range of passenger and commercial tyres and this starts from production and distribution," said David Basha.
"The implementation of RFID technology across the entire range is as a direct result of the research and development Kumho continually undertakes to improve the quality of our tyres."
Radio frequency identification uses radio waves to transmit and receive information stored in uniquely coded tags.
A reader is able to extract the information of a RFID tag from metres away without having to be within line of sight – making it more efficient than a barcode. RFID tags are also capable of holding more data than barcodes.
Currently the technology is used in tracking shipping containers, electronic tolling, motor sport timing, pet microchips as well as a range of other applications.
Each tyre will be able to be tracked by a central database containing information about manufacturing and distribution prior to fitment because of the information stored in the RFID tag.
"RFID technology allows us to easily monitor every tyre that we import and sell in Australia," said David Basha.
"In the unlikely event of a defective tyre this technology will mean we can easily identify it and check its full history using the information in the tag," he added.
The RFID-embedded tyres will be available in Australia early next year.
Kumho produces more than 68 million tyres annually with a massive research and development program that comprises more than 600 research personnel and 300 testing machines at proving grounds in South Korea, China, Europe and North America.
