- TPMS
- Varro
- Fritz Abraham
- ITPMS
- Tyre Pressure Monitoring Systems
Varroc Aims To Leverage GPS And ABS Sensors To Provide TPMS Data
- by Nilesh Wadhwa
- January 09, 2025

The Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) tech, despite its huge safety benefit, is still seen as a premium feature in most mass-market passenger vehicle segment and two-wheelers in India. Aurangabad-based component supplier Varroc’s Indirect TPMS with over 90 percent accuracy aims to make smart inroads. Tier 1 automotive supplier Varroc is looking to harness the data from GPS sensor and Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) sensors to provide tyre pressure information to two-wheelers and four-wheelers.
The company is looking to make smart gains through Indirect Tyre Pressure Monitoring Systems (ITPMS), which rely on existing sensors in a vehicle to generate the information without compromising on quality and time-lag.
Fritz Abraham, Chief Technology Officer, Varroc, told Tyre Trends that “the direct TPMS uses pressure sensors at the air inlet of each tyre and communicates the information to the vehicle dashboard using wireless communication or through complex harness. This is not only expensive but also require heavy maintenance. If there exists a solution that can use the existing sensors and provide the information of tyre pressure, it is the ‘Indirect/Intelligent Tyre Pressure Monitoring System’. This system provides information of the tyre pressure without the need of a pressure sensor.”
The radius of the tyre changes with respect to air pressure and hence the linear displacement per one rotation of tyre changes with respect to the pressure. The linear displacement can also be measured using GPS by calculating the rotational speed of the wheel and radius of the tyre.
The ITPMS solution simply put is a software stack that can be integrated with Varroc’s cluster and telematics solutions. The machine learning (ML) software analyses various parameters set by the company to provide tyre pressure reading to the user. Since it does not require any additional TPMS hardware, it is substantially cheaper compared to solutions using battery-based sensors.
“The ITPMS exploits the deviations in linear displacement with respect to wheel rotations and predicts the tyre pressure. This relation is not straightforward; it is a complex method to derive the mathematical equations. Hence, ML techniques are used to quantify the relation,” said Abraham.
The ITPMS primarily requires a GPS sensor (telematics data) and ABS, which is integrated during the vehicle assembly level. Varroc states that OEMs will be able to provide access to the tyre pressure on any HMI (Human-Machine Interface) device like the vehicle instrument cluster, vehicle telematics and connectivity app, among others, to easily provide the information of the tyre pressure.
Varroc had initially initiated the development of the ITPMS specifically for two-wheeler applications. The company mounted a GPS device on a two-wheeler equipped with ABS. It collected the data during vehicle operation across varied scenarios, including differing tyre pressures, diverse road conditions and various weather conditions such as sunny and rainy days.
“This data was then post-processed and analysed using data science and machine learning techniques to develop a model that accurately captures the relationship between tyre pressure, wheel speed and the speed as measured by the GPS. This model forms the foundation for understanding and monitoring tyre pressure indirectly using available data points from the vehicle’s operation,” he shared.
Demand scenario for TPMS
It is no secret that while TPMS technology has been around for more than a couple of decades, its adoption in India still remains a very small percentage. In India, most TPMS solutions available in the OE as well as aftermarket are Direct TPMS.
They are said to have their own set of challenges, such as its reliability due to varying temperatures, environmental and climatic conditions. Then there are the challenges associated with wireless communications. Sensor battery issues and cost too are deterrent factors.
On the other hand, the small percentage of vehicles that utilise existing ITPMS categorise the tyre pressure in broad classifications (low pressure or high pressure). They do not provide precise measurements, which limits their adoption and effectiveness in ensuring optimal tyre performance and safety.
However, Varroc already has developed the ITPMS to provide basic information (low or high); now it is in advanced stages of development to provide precise tyre pressure information with over 90 percent accuracy. While the company has been tight-lipped about the introduction of the solution in the market, Varroc is said to be in discussions with its clients to bring it to the market soon.
Abraham further shared, “The primary reason for the limited adoption of TPMS is cost. Premium segment vehicles often include TPMS as a standard feature due to the higher price range, making it more feasible to absorb the associated costs. In contrast, aftermarket TPMS solutions are generally expensive and demand ongoing maintenance, which can be a deterrent for many vehicle owners. Additionally, there is a general lack of awareness regarding the importance of maintaining optimal tyre pressure. Many drivers may not fully understand the safety, performance and fuel efficiency benefits of consistent tyre pressure monitoring, further impacting the adoption rate of TPMS systems.”
As per the company, the ITPMS comes with self-learning feature and is designed with 80 percent cold tyre pressure threshold and tested per AIS 154. The threshold can be further optimised and customised as per the requirement of the customer.
- Apollo Tyres
- Parmeshwaran Iyer
Apollo Tyres Names Parmeshwaran Iyer as Chief Supply Chain Officer
- by Sharad Matade
- February 06, 2025

Apollo Tyres has appointed Parmeshwaran Iyer as Chief Supply Chain Officer with immediate effect.
Iyer, a seasoned supply chain professional, brings 30 years of experience in the fast-moving consumer goods, healthcare, oil and white goods industries. He has extensive expertise in end-to-end planning, procurement, logistics and customer management.
Before joining the Indian tyre maker, Iyer spent over 18 years at Beiersdorf AG, where he held multiple leadership roles across Germany, the United Arab Emirates, Russia, and India. Most recently, he served as Global Vice President of Digital Supply Chain, spearheading digitalisation initiatives.
Prior to that, he was Global Vice President of Supply Chain Management, leading a team responsible for planning, logistics, and customer service strategies, including Sales and Operations Planning (S&OP), cost-to-serve analysis, and logistics excellence.
Iyer also led regional supply chain operations for Beiersdorf, overseeing end-to-end supply chain management across 88 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, Russia/CIS, and Southwest Asia, including India.
His career also includes stints at Johnson & Johnson, TOTAL Energies India and Daikin Airconditioning.
He holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Business Management with a specialisation in Material Management and a bachelor’s degree in physics from the University of Mumbai.
- Michelin
- HAAS Alert
- Ed Quigley
Michelin, HAAS Alert Partner to Enhance Roadside Safety
- by TT News
- February 05, 2025

Michelin North America and HAAS Alert are rolling out a new safety initiative that uses digital alerts to protect stranded truckers and roadside technicians across the United States and Canada.
The system integrates HAAS Alert's Safety Cloud technology with Michelin's ONCall emergency roadside service. When truck drivers request roadside assistance through ONCall, the system automatically sends alerts to nearby motorists through navigation apps like Apple Maps and Waze, as well as built-in vehicle systems in several auto brands.
These alerts warn approaching drivers to slow down and move over, providing up to 30 seconds of advance notice before reaching the breakdown site.
"Since 2009, Michelin ONCall has responded to almost 3 million roadside emergency service calls in the U.S. and Canada," said Ed Quigley, Director of Sales & Operations, Connected Solutions at Michelin North America, Inc. "That's why this partnership with HAAS Alert is so important. We want to help improve the safety of everyone on the highway, including commercial truck drivers and service providers, as well as consumer vehicle drivers like you and me."
The partnership comes as research demonstrates the effectiveness of digital alert systems. A 2021 Purdue University study found that such alerts can reduce hard braking incidents by up to 80 percent.
"This new product is designed to help protect commercial vehicle operators by alerting approaching drivers who are using pertinent navigation apps, through Safety Cloud until help arrives," said Tom Parbs, VP of Sales at HAAS Alert.
Michelin ONCall, launched in 2009, aims to respond to service requests within two hours and has handled nearly 3 million tyre and mechanical emergency roadside service events.

Satish Sharma recently joined BKT as Senior President for Strategy and Business Development.
Sharma brings a rich experience of over three decades in the tyre industry.
Prior to this appointment, Sharma was the President spearheading Apollo Tyres’ operations across the Asia Pacific, Middle East, and Africa regions. Sharma oversaw key functions, including manufacturing, sales and marketing, customer relations, and regional profitability.
Sharma holds a bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from the National Institute of Technology, Raipur, and a post-graduate diploma in Business Management from the Institute of Management Technology, Ghaziabad.
A veteran of India’s automotive sector, Sharma previously served as Chairman of the Automotive Tyre Manufacturers Association (ATMA).
- Beckhoff Automation
- Hall of Fame for Family Businesses
- Hans Beckhoff
Hans Beckhoff Inducted Into Hall Of Fame For Family Businesses
- by TT News
- February 04, 2025

Hans Beckhoff, Founder and Managing Director of Beckhoff Automation, was honoured for his entrepreneurial achievements on 29 January 2025 by German business newspaper Handelsblatt, KPMG and the Stiftung Familienunternehmen (the Foundation for Family Business) and inducted into the Hall of Fame for Family Businesses.
Beckhoff, 70, was honoured in front of more than 170 family business owners during a ceremony in Munich, Germany. For 45 years, he has maintained a high rate of innovation at his technological business, which is no small feat. Instead of being driven by the digital transition, he is driving it. He has also not lost sight of today's global issues, including climate change. According to Beckhoff's slogan, ‘Engineers must save the world’, sophisticated automation technology is crucial in this context since it establishes the groundwork for enhancing sustainability as well as energy and resource efficiency.
The company's technological inventions, many of which have established worldwide market standards in automation, have proven groundbreaking, substantiating its claim to be a pioneer in the field. The core Beckhoff philosophy of PC-based control technology, which leverages the vast development potential of the IT industry for industrial applications, is a perfect illustration of this. PC-based control, which Beckhoff introduced to the market in 1986 and is today essential in a variety of sectors, including the semiconductor, automotive and packaging industries, is where automation and IT meet. It is especially used for high-performance applications.
Another milestone is the bus terminal, fieldbus technology in terminal block format, which was introduced in 1995. This fundamental automation building block allowed for the implementation of strong, small, modular and finely granular control systems that were customised to meet specific needs. The ultra-fast EtherCAT communication technology, introduced by Beckhoff in 2003, has grown to become a crucial global standard for high-performance automation. Today, more than 8,000 businesses from all around the world support this intriguing technology as members of the EtherCAT Technology Group. Despite its reputation for inventions and revolutions, Beckhoff's system idea is still widely used. Today, Beckhoff technology handles all aspects of control tasks: from machine vision and control cabinet-free automation with a comprehensive hardware and software suite to modular I/O components, flexible drive technology, intelligent product transport and TwinCAT control software with artificial intelligence (AI) features, powerful industrial PCs, and EtherCAT.
The next generation has also benefited from Beckhoff's passion for automation and innovation, as seen by the fact that his children, Frederike and Johannes Beckhoff, have long held prominent roles within the business. As a result, Beckhoff Automation is still a family business 45 years after it was founded.
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