Firstly Yasin, can you tell us a little bit about the company and your presence both globally and in the Middle East?
Trelleborg Wheel Systems is one of the key designers and producers of innovative tyre solutions and services for agriculture, materials handling, construction and two-wheelers with a differentiated multi-brand offer and operations across five continents. Its brands portfolio includes Trelleborg, Mitas, Maximo, Cultor and Interfit as a service brand.
Boasting fourteen state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities, advanced research and development labs, field tests and sustainable product sourcing, Trelleborg Wheel Systems offers highly specialised solutions to create added value for customers and it is a partner of the leading Original Equipment Manufacturers.
Within the earthmoving industry, it is important that the tyres of the machines can withstand different surfaces. For example, rocky to soft terrain and muddy to hard terrain. In what way do you adapt your tyres specifically to the needs of each of the different types of machines that are used on these different surfaces?
Product development is driven by our customer needs and the Trelleborg brand is synonymous with advanced technology and tyre expertise. In particular the Trelleborg EMR (Earthmover Radial) tyre range is a good example of how we adapt to a range of applications. Designed for loader, dumper and grader work, the EMR range is suitable for open pits and quarries, underground mines, landscaping, haulage as well as general construction applications. It is easily adaptable because of its multi surface tread design which delivers control and perfect grip when it’s needed the most, whether on sand, rock, gravel or soil.
In addition to this, the Trelleborg EMR range is designed to enhance productivity in critical construction applications, delivering both enhanced damage protection and durability. There are several other benefits we focus on such as longer tyre life, equal load distribution for a comfortable drive and maintaining low fuel consumption, all of which is achieved thanks to a strong radial carcass and state of the art compound.
When it comes to earthmoving tyres, it is important to understand the global classification of the different patterns and structures. Can you explain how this works and how your tyres are classified to make them more easily identifiable?
Yes, we take an approach that helps our customers immediately identify our tyres with ease. For instance, our “L“ series type tyres are categorised by number code, type and tread depth and the letter designation and number code is found on the sidewalls of tires. These are used on all size loaders and dozers in off-road applications. Most loader type tyres, because of their extremely heavy construction, are limited to very low speeds and very short haul distances, 10 km/h and 250m maximum.
In our series, the L-2 traction design tyre gives maximum traction in sand and soft soil conditions. The L-3 rock design offers good traction and rock resistance in general purpose loader operations while the L-4 rock deep tread offers excellent tyre life. Our final tyre in the series is the L-5 extra rock deep tread which offers high resistance to cutting.
When it comes to “E” Series Type Tyres, these are referred to as haulage tyres in off-road earthmoving applications. These tyres transport material over uneven surfaces at speeds under 65 km/h and short distances, up to 40km one way. The machine then returns unloaded to the loading point. These “E” series tyres are also categorised by number code, type and tread depth. The EMR range consists of eight sizes from 24 to 33 inch in ten tread pattern designs and is suitable for open pits and quarries, underground mines, as well as general construction.
Can you describe a couple of the key features of this range that make these tyres such a good fit for earthmoving machinery in the Middle East?
At Trelleborg we are continuously innovating and exploiting cutting edge technology to anticipate customers’ needs and face new market challenges. Earthmoving machinery in the Middle East is an extremely demanding environment. With heavy duty working conditions, high temperature and tough soil conditions, construction operators need to take care of every aspect of their machines, including tyres. To face with the various type of application, our EMR range offers ten different patterns from L2 to L5, from E2 to E4 and from G2 to G5.
A good example is our recently launched EMR 1031. Here, we took on the challenge to improve earthmoving operations with the release of our newest radial tyre, the EMR1031, designed to perform on the most demanding terrain, from sand to rock or extra hard surfaces. Not only is this manufactured using a cut-resistant compound but the tyre features a premium sidewall protector for damage protection and longer tyre life, alongside a multi-surface tread design for superior traction.
In particular we developed another specific compound for haulage operation tyres: High TKPH. This compound enables all construction professionals to safely work in high temperature environments over long working cycles.
When it comes to the maintenance of equipment and parts one of the reasons this is so important is so that machine downtime is minimised which also results in increased levels of productivity. What is the most notable feature or technology in these tyres that helps maximise uptime and reduce operator costs in the long run?
The EMR1031 tyre lets earthmoving operators that work in quarries or open pits, construction or landscaping, get a firm grip on the ground, especially when they need it most. It’s just one of our premium solutions that help our customers do the heavy lifting, with ease, comfort and less downtime.
It also has a wide tread contact area which provides up to 7% more stability, with less vibration when compared to a premium competitor. Its cut-resistant compound is 20% more resistant to cuts and wear compared to standard compounds, reducing machine downtime and resulting in lower operating costs. The deep tread pattern ensures longer tyre life, enhanced grip, and boasts a self-cleaning action during use, even on sandy or muddy terrain.
To reduce environmental impact, the EMR1031 tyre comes with a retreadable casing, maximising customers’ investment in a sustainable way. Long lasting performance, firm grip, superior control and tyre damage prevention all adds up to operators improved productivity, excellent stability, and comfort they can count on in the most demanding applications.
What are some notable improvements to tyre technology in the last five to ten years and how is Trelleborg leading this change?
In recent years, tyre technology has evolved to the extent that vibration from tyres especially on rough terrain is now lower than ever. This is another area in which we have been leading the way. In our Brawler HPS Soft Ride, for example, the new version of the Brawler solid tyre offers reduced vibration, significantly improving operator comfort and equipment-life, yet it retains the signature Brawler life performance in the most difficult of applications.
I would describe this as a solid tyre that is very tough, yet much less stiff. What this means is that users gain all the benefits of a premium solid tyre with a more comfortable ride for operators. Even at higher operating speeds it offers no loss of load-index and increased efficiency.
We can also be seen to be at the forefront of change through our Pit Stop Line which is a revolutionary solution to one of the industry’s most elusive and critical questions – how to know, with 100% certainty, when a forklift tyre is worn out and needs replacing?
We achieve this by incorporating an orange line which is embedded into the tire. It serves as an indicator that is visible on the tyre wall and is designed to reveal itself across the surface of the tyre when the rubber has reached the end of its lifetime. The new Pit Stop Line completely encompasses the European Tyre and Rim Technical Organisation (ETRTO) manual recommendations on tyre safety and enables 100% accurate tyre safety checks: a huge first for the industry. Delivering more than just better value for spend; its sophisticated design will help improve machine uptime and service planning. With the Pit Stop Line appearing 100 hours or five to fifteen working days before the tyre needs replacing, operators are able to plan their tyre changes in advance, totally eradicating unplanned downtime.
Pit Stop Line also offers a strong environmental benefit, enabling a dramatic reduction in waste, raw material as well as the carbon footprint associated with packaging and transportation. Replacing tyres less often means a reduced environmental impact.
Is Trelleborg planning any new updates/additions to this series?
We are always looking at ways we can enhance the series and our latest update, the TPMS system does just that. The latest Trelleborg TPMS system, engineered for construction applications, is a cloud-based system which integrates tyre sensors with a central gateway on the machine and an on-line platform to fully monitor fleet operations and guarantee machine uptime.
The construction industry is changing fast with increasing focus on predictive maintenance, safety and machine performance to reduce vehicle downtime and increasing operational efficiency. Tyres play a fundamental role in overall machine performance, therefore, we want to offer our customers a game-changing solution to ensure that the aforementioned targets will be achieved, having all data under control through a full connection.
The latest Trelleborg TPMS system allows operators to measure pressure and temperature every five seconds, providing instant access to vehicle status and monitoring data through a computer or mobile devices. Thanks to the full connectivity and cloud data transmission, the operator can benefit from automated email notifications in emergency situations and personalised vehicle warnings. Each sensor is mounted on the tyre with a resistant patch, which guarantees an easy installation while the battery of the sensor has an average life of five years.
In a competitive segment what has been the overall reception to your EMR series so far?
In terms of the reaction to these tires I think you just have to look at Trelleborg’s EMR 1051 tire, which was awarded the 2021 Hevea award in the Best OTR (Off-the-Road) Tyre Category, during the closing gala for the awards organized by Europneus, at the Ifema fairgrounds in Madrid, Spain. Designed specifically for wheel loaders, the EMR 1051 tire received almost 30% of the votes from the public and judges and we are proud to once again receive a Hevea award, this time in the OTR category.
We really feel this award recognizes the excellence of our products and the continuous effort we invest in the research and innovation for all our products. This recognition of our EMR range underlines Trelleborg’s commitment to the construction sector, which requires high quality solutions and high expertise, both of which our customers have come to expect. Designed for heavy loads, it is a prime solution for working on intensive construction jobs, including in open pits and quarries. The EMR 1051 range consists of four sizes: 20.5R25; 23.5R25; 26.5R25 and 29.5R25.
