MINING TYRES
data analytics is crucial to enhancing our offering as tyre service providers. West Africa is a region with dozens of mines and hundreds of haul trucks and it is our intention to introduce our new enhanced service to our existing portfolio of mines as well as other mines across the region. We know these mines are very interested in the significant advantages we are now able to offer and we fully expect further advances and new contracts in the future.”
Earlier this year, Goodyear launched its Proactive Solutions TPMS( Tyre Pressure Monitoring System) in Europe, and is planning to expand its availability. Matson states:“ One of the most significant advantages of our recently updated Goodyear EMTrack tyre performance monitoring system, to which we are currently transitioning, is its ease-of-use for both the tyre technician and end user. Goodyear EMTrack enables faster, more accurate data collection of critical tyre information like tread depth and inflation levels, thanks to a special Bluetooth scanning tool; automatic uploading of captured tyre data to a secure, cloud-based platform for password-protected storage and easy access; and immediate downloading of data into easy-toread, customisable reports that mining operations can review in real time, regardless of their geographic location. Goodyear EMTrack also allows mine personnel to view tyre performance data across the entire operation, and gives them the ability to zero in on specific tyres, calculating cost-per-hour, cost-per-tonne and other key metrics. In addition, through Goodyear EMTrack, mining operations can identify, if applicable, maintenance opportunities to help ensure optimal tyre performance. And the information collected through Goodyear EMTrack can help mining operations forecast future tyre requirements for more efficient ordering and tyre procurement budgeting.”
Litzinger at Michelin North America told IM:“ Michelin ' s MEMs 4 uses ground breaking technology and analytics to provide our customers with clear performance / productivity solutions. MEM ' s 4 is performing very well in the market and we are experiencing strong demand. After customers have experienced MEMs 4 their response has been overwhelmingly positive. We anticipate this segment to continue to grow and that these technologies will continue to improve.”
Bridgestone’ s B-TAG with DirectLink is an advanced tyre temperature and pressure monitoring system that delivers clear, actionable on-the-go data and information to a customer’ s computer, tablet and / or smartphone.“ Real-time temperature measurement and monitoring delivers more accurate data than standard TMPH calculations or TKPH systems. It also can help reduce tyre damage and danger by alerting
customers immediately if temperatures rise. Mining customers have seen up to 18 % productivity improvement using realtime B-TAG temperature data.”
Focus on new tread compounds
Yokohama has recently released a full range of 33.00R51 E-4 radial tyres for various rigid frame haul truck applications is now available in multiple compounds – CP( cut-protected) and REG( regular) – so the tyres can be customised for specific applications, as well as recently releasing new tread compounds and tread designs in the 27.00R49 range. Other sizes of the RB42 are also offered in multiple compounds, as well as the ultra-durable RL42™ E-4, another tyre made for rigid frame haul trucks. Besides CP and REG compounds, they also are available with CP- S( special cut resistance) and HR( heat resistant) compounds. New developments are also planned for the 57 in product line which will be announced in near future.
Continental has also expanded the range of compounds used in its products. For its 33 in and 35 in size tyres on its RDT-Master tyres, part of the ContiEarth series and developed for rigid dump trucks, new versions with higher cut resistance are now available for tougher mine conditions. Thanks to its special deep tread design, the RDT-Master tyres offer high resilience, cut resistance and self-cleaning properties. Christian Luther, Product Line Manager Earthmoving at Continental Commercial Specialty Tires( CST) told IM:“ We are not replacing the existing RDT-Master range, we are adding to it as we want to give customers to best variety of options. Standard compounds that were already used are the best option for higher TKPH ratings, where you have longer distances and want to lower heat generation. But for harsh shorter hauls in for example quarries with a lot of sharper rocks, and a lower TKPH rating, these new compounds we are offering are a better solution.”
The company has also recently introduced two additional EM-Master E4 / L4 radial tyre sizes to the market.“ This for now completes our range of radial tyres for use on wheel loaders and dump trucks in particular for construction work and mining. We are also collaborating intensively with our customers to further expand our portfolio to meet their needs and requirements,” Luther says.
The EM-Master is part of the ContiEarth portfolio, which was developed specifically for the construction sector. The tyre is ideally suited for articulated dump trucks( ADT), loaders and dozers and is available in two versions: The EM- Master E3 / L3 has a normal tread depth and wide spacing between the blocks. This makes it the
Goodyear EMTrack enables faster, more accurate data collection of critical tyre information like tread depth and inflation levels, thanks to a special Bluetooth scanning tool
best tyre on soft ground. In comparison to the E3 / L3, the EM-Master E4 / L4 is ideally suited for hard and stony ground thanks to a greater block size with less spacing between the blocks and a deeper tread depth.
Overall in demand terms, Continental says that it is seeing a lot of repeat orders, particularly from 2017 onwards in terms of new sets for the same machines. This is particularly the case for the RDT-Master 24.00R35 tyre which is used on the Caterpillar 770 quarry truck for example. The company has also seen greater demand for its underground tyre range, covered in radials by the DumperMaster brand, where it as a specific 35.65R33 size for underground trucks with an ultra cut resistant compound, which has been used on major OEM brand machines such as Epiroc and Caterpillar. Also for underground it has its DrillMaster and ScoopMaster bias tyres. Overall, Continental now offers 25 OTR tyre types including both radial and bias.
RIMEX tackles inflation time
For mines wanting to reduce downtime while airing-up, RIMEX believes it has the answer with its TyreSense IDX – an Inflation and Deflation System it says is the fastest inflator on the market.“ Correct tyre inflation pressure plays a critical role in the performance and life of OTR tyres, so RIMEX engineered the IDX system as a safe, fast and accurate new technology for inflation and deflation. The IDX delivers rapid, uninterrupted air flow governed by precise and continuous data from state-of-the-art internal wheel sensors.”
RIMEX’ s Dave Laird explains:“ Automatic tyre inflators had been around for a long time, but hadn’ t gained wide-scale acceptance in mining because they slowed down the inflation time compared to manual inflation by a skilled tyre installer. Then a customer came to us with an idea: What if RIMEX could design an inflator that would read the pressure and temperature
22 International Mining | JULY 2018