OTR Tyres has been managing an earthmover tyre contract at the Sydvaranger mine near Kirkenes in the far north of Norway for the past 12 months. The contract, to supply the iron ore mine with tyres for all the operating vehicles on site, sees the OTR engineers working at temperatures down to 30ºC and in total darkness for part of the year (and total daylight for another part).
An OTR full tyre management system is in operation including tyre supply, onsite service and maintenance of all vehicles – earthmover, truck and light commercial/4WD. In addition to tyres, all related accessories – rims, valves, etc – are OTR’s responsibility. The onsite service also includes tyre monitoring and data collection to ensure the most cost effective use of tyre resources.
Repairs are carried out by tyre service engineer’s onsite and service is handled by the new 36T Iveco truck. This the latest Iveco 8 x 4 EuroTrakker with Euro 5 engine and AS Tronic gearbox and, as OTR’s UK Transport Manager, Mark Fieldston, said: “…is the most advanced service truck OTR have developed.”
Many of the components for the vehicle were specially made or adapted to cope with the temperature extremes and the parameters of the service contract. The truck itself has a working platform of 11.99 m. The HMF ODIN K2 52 t crane is the most up to date crane OTR has ever purchased and the highest ‘spec’ – being fully radio remote controlled with EVS safety system.
Handling 57″ tyres will be the norm so a UHL 3705 tyre handler has been fitted which gives a continuous 360º rotation in addition to the normal clamp and tilt features.
The standard ‘Arctic Pack’ also had to be enhanced to allow the truck to operate in these arduous conditions, and the service crew is working well. “It was always our intention to introduce tyre engineers from the region to OTR’s global standards and this has worked well over the past 12 months.
The team is working well, the customer is happy and the conditions are…quite cold and dark at times,” concluded OTR’s Project Manager for Norway, Tony Davenport.
Although mining commenced some months ago, the mine was officially opened at the beginning of October by Sor Vanager’s Mayor, Linda Randal, with OTR CEO Chris Skelton and Project Director, Eddie Fairs, in attendance.