Formula 1 and Uniflate Nitrogen
Following an in depth research program financed by Goodyear Formula 1 and Calor Air Separation in 1992 a new company emerged by the name of Pneu-air to specialize in the on-site production of nitrogen for tyre inflation, the first company of it’s kind.
F1 tyres are extremely sensitive to pressure fluctuations when inflated with compressed air. The inconsistent impurities found in compressed air of oil, water saturation, ever changing measurements of water vapour and the oxygen content of 20.9% had caused tremendous problems. For these reasons F1 were using high-pressure nitrogen bottles to inflate their tyres, which proved to be expensive, and a logistical nightmare.
Pneu-air first developed a mobile F1 race tyre inflation unit, incorporating `hollow fibre membrane` technology, which made its debut in the Japanese Formula 1 Grand Prix at the end of the 1992 season. The mobile system produces a product, which has a predictable and highly specified consistency no matter where in the world it is produced. The success of this unit speaks for itself in that they have been used in every Grand Prix since through successive tyre suppliers including Michelin and Bridgestone to this very day.
The name given to this nitrogen enriched dry air inflation gas is Uniflate. Pneu-air is justifiably proud that it has been the sole supplier to Formula 1 Racing for the last 16 years.
As well as supplying the Formula 1 tyre teams with the Uniflate system, Pneu-Air also work closely with the teams themselves. Pneu-air have developed full compressed air system solutions as well as tyre inflation projects for several teams, having been involved from the design stage of building the transporters and race trucks they use.
With a team of engineers Pneu-air is constantly advising, creating and servicing the compressed air and Nitrogen inflation systems on the Race trailers and transporters for the likes of Bridgestone, Honda, McLaren, Ferrari and Williams F1.
Roger Stote of Pneu-air (left) and Tony Shakespeare of Goodyear racing with the first Uniflate system introduced in 1992
