7 minute read
Tyre R&D Rolls On
Tyre designs for cargo handling plant continue to be improved, with new emphasis on eco-friendly aspects and supporting smart tyre management systems. John Bensalhia reports
Heavy loads and large volumes of cargo can put cargo handling plant and vehicle tyres under considerable strain. The constant fl ow of cargo traffi c means that tyres are subject to pressure, resulting in possible damage and ultimately slower operations.
Julian Alexander, Product Line Manager, Port Operations Continental Commercial Specialty Tyres, says that frequent stop-start, acceleration and braking under heavy loads and shocks, when containers are loaded and unloaded, characterise port applications. As a consequence, tyres have to have a very high load capacity, with strong durability as well as puncture resistance against damage caused by foreign object debris such as discarded twist-locks and other scattered metal or wooden fragments typically found in a terminal operating environment.
For load and carry applications, Alexander suggests that radial tyres are the perfect solution as they offer low heat generation and a flat tread contour, ensuring a high level of endurance and mileage over long distances. “These tyres are perfectly suited to various vehicle types when utilised in load and carry applications, such as heavy forklift trucks, empty container handlers, reach stackers, straddle carriers and terminal tractors,” he says.
When loading and unloading containers around the container stack, mobile vehicles such as reach stackers, empty container handlers and RTG cranes, typically drive short distances at low speed. “We call these pick and stack applications,” says Alexander and states, “Continental offers V.ply tyres with their high stability properties - essential when stacking 3-4 containers high – with these the right choice for this type of application.” The design utilises a compound which reduces cracks and abrasion, two primary causes of tyre wear, which in turn contributes to extended tyre life, he further notes.
MAINTENANCE – FITTING - SELECTION
Paul Bould, OTR Sales Manager UK and Ireland and Dave Goddard, OTR Specialist, UK and Ireland, Goodyear, commenting on tyre performance note that tyre pressure can diminish over time and under-inflation can cause tyre damage, inefficient vehicle handling (including during traction and braking), increased fuel consumption, and raised tyre temperature, all of which will contribute towards the premature ageing of tyres.”
Bould and Goddard further contend that the correct selection, fitting, and ongoing maintenance of tyres for various port vehicles and equipment are the most important factors in optimising the extended lifetime and resistance to damage during port use.
“Tyres specifically designed for port handling provide tailor-made solutions for equipment such as reach stackers, straddle carriers and other plant, all of which require tyres that are built to meet the demands of each task in hand.”
Bould and Goddard explain that Goodyear’s selection of radial and bias tyres is designed to enhance the efficiency of industrial handling applications in and around ports. “These tyres offer outstanding strength, resistance to cuts and snags, and long tread life, as well as helping to reduce
8 Continental off ers
V.ply tyres with high stability properties said to be essential when stacking containers three or four high
downtime and assist in lowering the overall costs of port operations. Depending on the vehicle’s type of journey different type of compounds can be recommended for bias construction, for example, short cycles vs moderate cycles will generate different demands with regard to heat and abrasion resistance of the tyre.”
Regular inspections and appropriate tyre maintenance play a crucial part in optimising the lifetime of port tyres.
“To ensure maximum lifetime during port use, it is important to check the tyres regularly and maintain the correct operating pressures,” underlines Alexander. “Tyres running with too low an operating pressure can lead to excessive wear rates and high heat build-up which can, in some cases, lead to premature failure and less efficiency regarding fuel economy.
For a permanent monitoring of inflation pressure and tyre temperature, Alexander points out that Continental Commercial offers tyre pressure monitoring systems for individual vehicles and ContiConnect for fleets; both of which are designed to enhance the safety and efficiency of terminal operations.”
Bould and Goddard note in a maintenance context that while walkaround inspections should ideally be performed regularly, these can be time consuming. An alternative option is to deploy a smart monitoring solution such as Goodyear’s Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) for heavy duty vehicles. “This technology,” they explain, “combines tyreattached sensors that monitor tyre pressure and temperature at each wheel position.”
A similar but more advanced Goodyear offering is its EMTrack tyre performance management tool. Trained tyre technicians check tyres on vehicles and collect data about tyre inflation, tread depth and other key metrics. This information is then automatically, immediately uploaded into a special EMTrack app, where it is housed in a passwordprotected environment. Over time, the accumulation of data monitors and charts performance indicators such as costper-hour and cost-per-tonne.
SUSTAINABLE TYRE DESIGN
The eco-friendly aspect of tyre design is also gaining ground.
In 2020, Goodyear set a goal to create a tyre made from 100 per cent sustainable materials by 2030. Bould and Goddard report that exceptional progress has been made and in January 2022, the development of a 70 per cent sustainable-material demonstration tyre was achieved.
The 70 per cent sustainable-material demonstration tyre includes 13 featured ingredients across nine different tyre components, incorporating the development of three different carbon black products, the use of soybean oil and silica as well as the recycling of plastic waste.
“The efficient use of tyres can help to reduce emissions,” adds Alexander to the eco-friendly debate. “Wrong tyre air pressure leads to higher fuel consumption which means higher running costs for the terminal and less efficiency. With today’s tyres, a tyre pressure monitoring system,” he suggests, “can help to monitor tyre pressure automatically and remotely generate alerts when the pressure is too low. This provides a safe and easy way to manage pressure and thus contribute to more sustainability.”
OLD AND NEW GOALS
It is clear that to a significant extent tyre design for the demanding environment of marine terminal or general port applications is on the one hand pursuing traditional goals – extended life, resistance to damage etc – but on the other is also embracing sustainability and the support offered by smart monitoring systems.
Also generally notable is the specialist edge to design – tailormade solutions for specific applications even to the extent that a given application can be discussed and compounds applied in manufacture which are seen as particularly suitable for this type of application.
Nokian, headquartered in Finland, is another manufacturer to provide examples of specialist off-the-shelf tyre products. In the case of its RTG tyre, for example, its structure and tread pattern are specially optimised for this kind of application. It is designed to achieve a low build-up of heat that manages to slow down the level of wear and tear and its tread pattern is configured to enable the wheels of an RTG to turn more easily.
A further example is Nokian’s HTS Tugger: specially designed for terminal tractors. This features a strong, multilayer structure that allows for heavy loads and precise moves.
This specialist edge is further reflected in work with tyre compounds. MAXAM Tires, for example, reports its new proprietary compound, EcoPoint 3, is to be fully integrated into its solid tyre range. The compound is designed to boost resistance to rolling, skidding and wear and tear, resulting in a stronger, safer, more energy-efficient tyre. Troy Kline, President, MAXAM Tire North America, notes that in comparison to carbon black compounds and conventional dry-mixed silica compounds, the EcoPoint3 process provides superior distribution of ingredients during mixing. “This innovative process allows for MAXAM’s compounds to contain less inert filler, accommodate higher ratios of stress at elongation and achieves minimal proportions of impurities, resulting in next generation products,” he says.
8 Remote mon-
itoring of tyres – for pressures etc – off ers a new avenue via which to enhance tyre performance – a Goodyear solution is pictured here
Continental V.ply tyres with Port Plus Compound aim to achieve less wear which ensures a longer lasting tyre and, at the end, a more sustainable use of resources. “We have been running tests at our customers over the last year and have seen cases where the tyre life is significantly improved,” says Alexander.
Goodyear’s EV-4S GEN II/EV-5S GEN II and EV-D encompass new tyre design features and reportedly incorporate a package of new technologies including advanced construction and tread features. Notably, a new cavity shape is employed to reduce wear and in turn lower cost of use. The construction of the tyres also includes an oversized high strength bead bundle to enhance stability when carrying high loads. This bead area offers increased protection to reduce chafing.
