Michelin launches TPMS

Transense Technologies PLC
03 November 2006


Transense Technologies plc ('Transense')


Statement re agreement


Michelin launches commercial vehicle Tyre Pressure Monitoring System 'TPMS'


After several years of intensive research & development Michelin, the world's
largest tyre manufacturer, and Honeywell, one of the world's leading automotive
technology suppliers, announced in the US yesterday the launch of the eTire II
battery-less TPMS for commercial vehicles.  The eTire II system is based on
Transense's surface acoustic wave ('SAW') technology, which Michelin licensed in
2001 for in- and on-tyre applications.


Jim Perry, Chief Executive of Transense, said last night, 'I am delighted to
report that a product incorporating our SAW technology has reached commercial
production.  The agreement between Michelin and Honeywell to produce a
batteryless TPMS has been a great success and the product was launched in the US
by Michelin and Honeywell yesterday for use in commercial vehicle tyres made by
Michelin.


'We signed a licence agreement with Michelin in 2001 to work exclusively with
their engineers to develop a system that would fit in or onto their commercial
vehicle tyres and measure both pressure and temperature.  In 2003 we signed an
agreement with Honeywell to bring our SAW sensors into commercial production and
to develop the electronics to interrogate them without using a battery in the
tyre.  All existing competing TPMS in production use batteries, which are either
on the wheel or on the back of the valve.


'It has taken us many years to perfect the use of SAW technology for TPMS
applications and I am very proud that our engineers, working alongside Michelin
and Honeywell, have achieved it.  Although Transense holds the worldwide core
patents for the technology it has taken the support of two major global
automotive suppliers to commercialise our invention.'


Michelin announced:


MICHELIN LEAPS FORWARD IN TIRE ELECTRONICS


GREENVILLE, S.C. (Nov. 2, 2006)  -- Michelin North America is offering a sneak
peek into the future of tire electronics.  Five years after the introduction of
the first of its kind eTire pressure and asset monitoring system, Michelin is
showing off the eTire II second-generation sensor patch.


'Pressure maintenance and tire tracking continue to make the top of the wish
list of most fleet maintenance managers,' said Marc Laferriere, vice president
of marketing for Michelin Americas Truck Tires.  'The ability to offer accurate,
temperature-compensated, automatic pressure measurement is what we are seeking
to attain.'  Temperature compensation allows the eTire II system to identify
vehicles with slow leaks as they re-enter the service terminal.  The higher
temperatures of the tire could otherwise hide such slow leaks.  The eTire II
system enables the maintenance manager to avoid the dreaded morning flats that
can disrupt operations.


Developed by Michelin Americas Research and Development Center (M.A.R.C.) and
Honeywell Sensing & Control under a joint development agreement, the eTire II
system includes the sensor patch that is applied to the interior of the tire's
sidewall, a Hand-Held reader that can interrogate the patch via magnetic
coupling, a Drive-By reader that retrieves the sensor information automatically
and the BibTrackTM Internet-based tracking software that allows the fleet to
monitor its tire assets from multiple terminals.


The Hand-Held reader has been redesigned and ergonomically improved when
compared to the previous generation device.  The Drive-By reader has also
evolved and is now more powerful and more robust than the eTire version.  The
sensor patch, which now weighs less than half an ounce, contains two main
components, an RFID module and a battery-free pressure/temperature sensor.  This
otherwise simple looking device packs an impressive amount of new technology
based on Surface Acoustic Wave (SAW) offering the following benefits:



1. It is battery-free and wireless. It consumes no power and there are no
   batteries to run low, leak or expire. This means less cost, higher 
   reliability and less maintenance.


2. The SAW sensor is small and lightweight. At only 11 grams and a thickness 
   equivalent to only a few sheets of paper, fleet owners don't need to worry 
   about the sensor causing tire imbalance.

3. It is reliable and fast. Measuring pressure and temperature from inside the 
   tire improves the accuracy of the reading when the tire is hot.


'The work done by our Research Center and Honeywell is very impressive.  We are
now ready to start limited production and test for market acceptance,' said
Laferriere.  The eTire II system is designed and optimized for urban and
regional fleets that can fully benefit from its Drive-By automation
capabilities.


Michelin (www.michelin.com) designs, manufactures and sells tires for every type
of vehicle, including airplanes, automobiles, bicycles, earthmovers, farm
equipment, heavy-duty trucks, motorcycles and the space shuttle. The company
also publishes travel guides, maps and atlases covering Europe, Asia, Africa and
North America. Headquartered in Greenville, S.C., Michelin North America employs
22,270 and operates 19 major manufacturing plants in 17 locations.


For more information, visit www.michelinmedia.com or contact:


Herb Johnson                                      Tom Duke

Michelin North America, Inc.                      Jackson-Dawson

office:   1 864 458 6088                          office: 1 864 272 3016

cell:      1 864 414 5748                         cell:   1 864 430 9412

email:    [e-mail]            email:    [e-mail]

Honeywell SAW Sensor Technology in Tires (Background)


Overview

Honeywell Sensing & Control has developed a pressure sensor for use in the new
Michelin eTireII monitoring system. The sensor incorporates wireless and
battery-free surface acoustic wave (SAW) technology that helps truck fleet
managers monitor tire pressure for improved fuel efficiency, and extended tire
life, thereby reducing major fleet operating costs.


What is SAW Technology

SAW technology - licensed from Transense Technologies plc of the United Kingdom
- is a passive technology that reflects a radio signal from a sensor back to a
remote reader. In a tire application, this signal is proportional to the
pressure and temperature inside the tire. Sensing temperature is a critical
factor because it helps reduce false tire pressure readings.


Honeywell SAW Sensors in Tires

The Honeywell SAW sensors are encapsulated in a thin, 11-gram (0.024 lbs.)
rubber patch that mounts inside the tire. The patch holds two main components:
the temperature and pressure-sensing element that is housed in a button-like
enclosure, and a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag and antenna.


A drive-by system or a handheld device remotely reads the tire pressure,
temperature and identification signals from inside the tire. This data can be
downloaded to a computer to generate maintenance and asset management reports
and service alerts.


SAW Technology in Tires Benefits

Using SAW technology in tire applications has four key benefits:


1. It is battery-free and wireless. It consumes no power and there are no 
   batteries to run low, leak or expire. This means less cost, enhanced 
   reliability and less maintenance.


2. The SAW sensor is small and lightweight. At only 11 grams and a thickness 
   equivalent to only a few sheets of paper, fleet owners don't need to
   worry about the sensor causing tire imbalance.


3. Enhanced reliability and speed. Measuring pressure and temperature from
   inside the tire improves the accuracy of the reading. Traditional tire 
   pressure gauges can be imprecise and labour intensive to read and 
   computerize.


4. It improves fuel economy and tire life.


Additional SAW Technology Applications

SAW technology is not new. It has been used for several years in the RF filters
found in cell phones. It also is used in sensors to detect the presence of
poisonous gasses.


Honeywell is researching new ways to utilize this technology in other sensing
applications that can benefit from wireless and battery-free operation,
including torque systems for engines, transmissions and drivelines.


For more information on Honeywell SAW technology, please visit:

http://content.honeywell.com/sensing/solutions/markets/aobmrkt/torque-sales-sheet-v10.pdf


3 November 2006


For further information please contact:


Transense Technologies plc

James Perry                           01869 238 380


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