Bridgestone and Komatsu have launched a proof of concept (PoC) for a collaborative initiative to provide new solution services to mining customers. The new program works through the real-time exchange and analysis of tire data from Bridgestone’s tire monitoring system for mining vehicles, “Bridgestone iTrack,” and vehicle data from Komatsu’s large mining equipment monitoring system, “Komtrax Plus.”

Bridgestone iTrack is a tire air pressure monitoring system specifically designed for tires used on mining vehicles, provided by Bridgestone. This system integrates tire temperature and pressure data with vehicle location information and speed, allowing for comprehensive data acquisition and monitoring.
Komtrax Plus is a monitoring system equipped on Komatsu’s large machinery for mining, enabling real-time acquisition of vehicle health and operation conditions.

By utilizing this data, Bridgestone and Komatsu aim to improve fuel efficiency and extend tire life of mining trucks. Both companies plan to start offering services that could not be achieved individually, based on the results of this PoC.

This PoC is being carried out using Komatsu’s mining trucks at a site operated by a mutual customer of Bridgestone and Komatsu.
Bridgestone collects data such as tire temperature, tire pressure, vehicle location information, and speed through “Bridgestone iTrack” and analyzes this information. This not only allows them to monitor the tire’s operating environment but also helps in offering mining customers solutions that contribute to the optimization of operations. Komatsu, through “Komtrax Plus,” monitors the health and operational status of the mining trucks enabling early detection of anomalies, reducing repair costs, and improving productivity to support customers. By combining the expertise of both Bridgestone and Komatsu, we aim to provide mining customers with higher value-added services and innovative solutions.

In mining operations, one of the critical onsite problems for customers is operational downtime and unplanned stoppages, both of which can be triggered by unexpected external tire damages resulting failure to reach their expected tire life. By integrating data, Bridgestone and Komatsu strive to quickly identify the causes of failures and implement appropriate emergency measures and preventive strategies to extend tire life. Through the partnership, several key factors that significantly impact fuel efficiency will be analyzed, including:

• Unique features of the haul road (such as slope and surface conditions)
• Vehicle usage patterns (such as driving routes, speed, and load)
• Tire specifications (pattern and material)

Bridgestone and Komatsu are committed to enhancing safety and productivity for customers in the mining sector, contributing to the improvement of Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) which refers to the cost that includes the purchase price of the equipment and the costs associated with its use and maintenance, while also aiming to reduce CO2 emissions through decreased fuel consumption and enhancing tire productivity and longevity. Both companies will continue to accelerate co-creation initiatives to generate new value.

To achieve this vision, Bridgestone and Komatsu are working together to create Dantotsu Value (new customer value), integrating Dantotsu Products, Dantotsu Service and Dantotsu Solutions.

“We are very pleased to work with Komatsu as a partner to create new customer value in response to our customers’ challenges. Through the further evolution of our mining solution, ‘Smart On-site,’ developed in partnership with Komatsu, we will contribute to enhancing the safety and productivity of our mining customers.”

said Nobuyuki Tamura, Executive Vice President and Representative Executive Officer, BRIDGESTONE EAST CEO, Concurrently G-MICA (Global Mining, Industrial, Construction, and Aviation Tire Solutions Business).

“Through this collaboration, we will be able to provide a new DANTOTSU *4 solution that combines Komatsu’s expertise in machinery with Bridgestone’s tire expertise—something neither company could achieve alone. We are thrilled to establish this partnership with Bridgestone and engage in such collaborative efforts. Both companies will accelerate our co-creation initiatives to generate new value and become even more valuable partners for our mining customers.”

said Shingo Hori, Executive Officer Vice President, Mining Business Division at Komatsu.