Tag Archives: OTR tyres

BKT testing new ‘giant’ EARTHMAX SR 468 OTR tyre

Mining consumables, Mining equipment, Mining services, , , , , , ,

BKT says it has welcomed a new “truly giant” product into its range of specialist off-highway tyres with the EARTHMAX SR 468.

Designed to fit on rigid dump trucks, the EARTHMAX SR 468 prototype has, so far, been made in the 40.00 R 57 size and is ready to be tested in coming months by BKT engineers.

The new machinery to make this tyre reached the Indian plant in Bhuj, in January, just before the COVID-19-related lockdown, which affected – at various levels and at different times – the Asian continent. Initially, due to the pandemic, the machinery was not immediately installed. Only after a temporary shutdown of BKT’s manufacturing facilities, necessary to implement a rigorous safety plan for all staff, did activities finally return to full operation, including the installation of the new machinery for the 57 in tyre.

Dilip Vaidya, President and Director of Technology at BKT, said: “It is a very important moment, a giant product has been created which will now be subject to the most rigorous testing up to the spring of 2021, until we are sure we have achieved the highest possible level of quality and reliability, as always. Only when we are absolutely sure we can offer our users the best Earthmax SR 468 possible, will we officially launch the new 57 in giant.”

EARTHMAX SR 468 joins numerous products that make up the EARTHMAX family, a range of radial tyres used on off-road vehicles and equipped with an all-steel structure to provide greater resistance to the casing and, hence, against damage. A winning feature of the EARTHMAX SR 468 is the special tread design and the compound, created to limit the heat generated, BKT said. The E-4 depth of the tread provides extreme resistance in highly challenging conditions, it added.

Goodyear launches new OTR tyre for long haul mining fleets

Mining consumables, Mining equipment, Mining services, , , , , ,

The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company has announced its newest addition to its off-highway large haulage product line, the RH-4A+.

Engineered to deliver a lower operating cost per hour and higher productivity in hard-rock underfoot conditions, this tyre features an extra-deep E-4+ tread depth with a high net-to-gross tread pattern and optimised footprint pressure to help provide long hours to removal, according to the company.

The Goodyear RH-4A+ tyre is an important addition to Goodyear’s Total Solution of trusted products, reliable services and fleet management tools – all delivered by a global network, Goodyear said. It helps operators be more productive and operate at a lower cost by providing the following benefits and features:

  • Enhanced sidewall durability and lateral stability with Goodyear’s new Durawall Technology®, wider bead design, and wider moulded rim width;
  • Increased hours to removal and cut protection with its high net-to-gross tread pattern and deep, E-4+ tread depth; and
  • Cool operating temperatures from the tread’s centreline blading, shoulder lug pockets, and shoulder lug side notches.

Field results from trials conducted in April 2019 with global mining customers have shown that the RH-4A+ in 46/90R57 size delivers up to 12% better hours to removal than RM-4B+, Goodyear said.

Eric Matson, Global OTR Field Engineering Manager, said: “Low operating cost per hour is an important requirement for mine operators. Customers also require other performance benefits, such as a tread and casing that, together, deliver long hours to removal, resistance to cutting, and excellent traction in severe, hard-rock underfoot conditions. The new RH-4A+ provides these benefits to help mining fleets optimise productivity and lower their operating costs.”

The RH-4A+ is currently available in sizes 59/80R63, 46/90R57 and 27.00R49 through Goodyear’s global network of authorised OTR dealers. It is available in customised casing constructions and with Goodyear’s proprietary tread compounds to meet hauling conditions.

“Complementing the RH-4A+ is Goodyear’s EMTrack tyre performance tracking software, giving operators the ability to track the tyre’s properties to reduce operational costs,” Matson said. “With EMTrack, mining operators can track the performance of their tyres, including the new RH-4A+, in order to project timing of rotation, replacement and help to manage their inventory.”

REVYRE recycling JV looks to tackle mining tyre problem in Australia, New Zealand

Environmental, Mining consumables, Mining services, Sustainable mining, , , , , , , ,

A new joint venture in Australia and New Zealand could see thousands of tonnes of large off-the-road (OTR) tyres used in the two country’s mining sectors recycled thanks to the use of two “revolutionary” technologies.

The Energy Estate and InfraCo partnership, REVYRE, has been established to develop and build innovative tyre recycling plants in Australia and New Zealand, using Vertech/RubberJet Valley tyre disintegration and Tyromer rubber devulcanisation.

Currently Australia disposes of over 60,000 t of end of life tyres (ELTs) by exporting them, with some 100,000 t stockpiled in landfills or stockpiled onsite (predominantly within the mining and agricultural sectors), according to the companies.

“With the COAG agreed ban on used tyre exportation from December 2021, the annual growth in Australia’s tyre stockpile will be even greater,” they said.

New Zealand, meanwhile, currently generates 5-6 million ELTs annually, which equates to close to 70,000 t of tyres. These units are either shredded locally for domestic burning in cement kilns as tyre derived fuel (TDF) or are baled and exported for use as TDF in Asia, according to the companies.

“REVYRE seeks to solve this waste problem through the rollout of its innovative combined recycling technology,” the Energy Estate and InfraCo said. “Its projects are modular, scalable and mobile – a total tyre recycling process that will destruct and re-purpose any constituent parts of a tyre, turning it into a high value polymer product for export and clean high tensile scrap steel. The overall process has near zero waste, emissions or by-products and does not use or produce toxic chemicals.”

The tyre derived polymer, or TDP, will be exported for direct re-use in the tyre manufacturing process, according to the companies.

The process uses no chemicals or solvents, is commercially viable on an industrial scale and is the only known environmentally friendly devulcansation technology, they claim. And, while REVYRE’s solution can address all tyre sizes, it is particularly suited to larger OTR tyres, such as those used in mining and agricultural operations in Australia and New Zealand, the companies said.

“REVYRE’s solution can play a critical part in sustainably managing current and future tyre stockpiles,” they said. “It is a financially attractive and environmentally superior solution relative to alternative tyre disposal options. The REVYRE solution will also support the development of a circular economy for ELTs.”

The plants will seek to procure renewable energy for operations as part of a dedication to maintaining a low carbon footprint and lessening the environmental impact of the tyre production cycle, the companies said.

“Energy Estate and InfraCo are committed to achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals and implementing the REVYRE solution will help achieve eight of the 17 SDGs,” they said. “Production of TDP will save approximately 94% of the energy required to produce the virgin compounds it replaces, as well as significant savings in oil used and avoided deforestation.”

Given the scale and locations of Australia’s mining industry, in particular, there is a sufficient tyre disposal requirement to justify at least two to three REVYRE plants in each of the mainland states, the companies said.

Luke Panchal, Director of Energy Estate, said: “Following the tyre export ban from 2021, Australia will have annually 160,000 t of tyres stockpiling that it needs to address. This means the need for environmentally and socially responsible and cost-effective solutions for managing used tyre disposal in Australia is critical – especially for heavy OTR tyres.

“To date, sustainable, environmentally responsible, economic and easy-to-implement recycling options have not been present in Australia. REVYRE delivers this option and is a solution that addresses tyre disposal in a truly circular process with no emissions and without the use of toxic chemicals. It is a solution that makes economic and environmental sense.”

Shaun Zukor, Director and Co-founder of InfraCo and REVYRE said: “We have developed a compelling New Zealand business case with our technology partners from Canada and Europe and we submitted a Provincial Growth Fund application with the New Zealand government in November 2019.

“Our plans are to start locally with our new partners and to expand into Africa and other territories thereby covering a large part of the globe where our presence will have major environmental, social and economic impacts.

“The technology allows a true circular economy and deals with a part of the mining tyre waste stream that has been extremely difficult to dispose of previously.”

Kal Tire gets into the groove with robot-aided Mexico tyre repair facility

Automation, Equipment maintenance, Mining consumables, Mining maintenance, Mining services, Sustainable mining, , , ,

Kal Tire’s Mining Tire Group has opened an off-the-road (OTR) retreading plant in the heart of Sonora state’s mining industry, which will be the first of the company’s facilities to use a robot for skiving and tread grooving jobs.

The plant in Cananea, Mexico, officially opened on October 18 and is strategically located as 30% of Mexico’s mines are in the state of Sonora, it said.

This marks the sixth OTR retreading and repair facility for Kal Tire, with the other facilities being in Canada, United Kingdom, West Africa and Chile.

“Retreading is a service we’ve wanted to bring to Mexico for some time because we know from experience with our other facilities that retreading extends tire life and reduces the cost of ownership. Retreading also reduces the impact on the environment,” says Pedro Pacheco, Vice President Operations, Latin America, Kal Tire’s Mining Tire Group. “Our clients see this as an opportunity and look forward to seeing our retread tires in operation.”

Pacheco said the company is looking forward to demonstrating how a “superior retreading technology and process” will renew a tyre’s strong performance and lengthen its lifespan, adding that OTR retreads by Kal Tire often achieve 3,000 to 6,000 additional hours, and allow mines to reuse quality original casings; an additional environmental benefit.

Kal Tire said: “Emissions produced in manufacturing a new tyre are significantly higher than in the retreading process. For example, producing a new 29.5R25 tyre uses 68 litres of oil and emits 4,192 kg of carbon dioxide; retreading the same tyre uses 13.95 litres of oil and emits 2,464 kg of carbon dioxide.

The addition of the robot for skiving and tread grooving will help improve access to custom tread designs to best suit each site’s conditions, according to Kal Tire. The robot technology – a pilot program as Kal Tire begins automating retread operations around the world – also helps ensure team members don’t have to perform the most strenuous steps, the company said

Pacheco explained: “The robot will allow us to switch tread patterns without having to switch tools. The work is done efficiently and lets us make the most of the expertise of our people.”

The 3,000 sq.m plant will be supported by a team of 120 during construction phase and employ 40 people on-site who have been in training for nearly a year to achieve their certification as retread technicians, according to Kal Tire. All plant team members are local residents of Cananea, a town of 30,000. The team aims to be retreading an average of 80 tyres/mth and will increase capacity to meet demand, the company said.

Dan Allan, Senior Vice President, Kal Tire’s Mining Tire Group, said: “We have been proud to serve the mining industry in Mexico for 12 years and we are excited to bring this value-added service to this market to help customers keep tyres in production.

“Retreading reduces a tyre’s operating cost per hour, it reduces new tyre purchases and it reduces the impact on the environment.”

Every year, Kal Tire retreads more than 10,000 tyres and saves thousands of tyre casings from being prematurely sent to scrap piles, it said.

MAXAM Tire extends Large Mining series product line

Equipment maintenance, Mining consumables, Mining maintenance, Mining services, ,

MAXAM Tire has made three new additions to its Large Mining series of tyres.

The company says it has engineered its haulage tyres (MS401, MS402, MS403) to provide the industry with the “best solution for mining applications”.

It continued: “The Large Mining product line is the result of extensive research and testing in multiple mine locations across several continents.”

In order to meet the toughest application requirements, the new haulage tyres use recently developed compounding and carcass construction, according to the company. “These enhancements allow MAXAM’s Large Mining products to provide the best delivered value, greatest productivity and lowest cost per tonne value of operation,” it said.

Available for haul trucks up to 290 t (320 tons) MAXAM offers three specific tread patterns available in multiple compounds based on site TKPH/TMPH to meet different surface mine application requirements.

The MS401 (pictured) features an aggressive tread design with heat-resistant under tread, ideal for applications that require maximum traction and high site TKPH/TMPH, MAXAM said.

The MS402 has enhanced shoulder lugs and a solid centerline providing increased protection, traction and tread life in haulage applications.

The MS403, meanwhile, integrates an advanced tread design for flexibility in all applications, from smooth haul roads to rough and rocky terrain. “Designed to deliver lowest cost per hour/tonne, the MS403 is the proven solution for the mining industry,” the company said.

Nokian expands underground mining tyre range

Equipment maintenance, Mining consumables, , ,

Nokian Heavy Tyres says it has collaborated with end users and one of the leading drill manufacturers to expand its range of underground mine tyres.

The Nokian Mine King E-4 underground mining tyre is one of the most specialised products of its kind, according to the company, with “a carefully balanced set of features” to match the challenges encountered in the underground mining environment. It is now available for a wider range of mining vehicles.

Nokian said: “Underground mining sets special demands on the tyres. Not only is the environment physically demanding with its sharp, slippery stones, but the limited machine size in tight spaces and high safety demands must be taken into consideration.”

Besides drill rigs, the Nokian Mine King E-4 tyre can be used on any utility vehicle in underground mines. The tyre’s sturdy structure enables an operating pressure of up to 10 bar, which improves the load capacity. The sharp shoulders and large contact area, meanwhile, improve the grip on slippery, wet stones.

The initial size for Nokian Mine King E-4 was 14.00-20, but in the fall of 2019 the range will be expanded with the sizes 12.00-20 (September) and 14.00-24 (already in August). This makes it possible to use the same tyres in most underground machinery, the company said.

“One of the starting points for designing the Nokian Mine King E-4 tyre was the compact size combined with a good load capacity,” says Eva-Leena Varpe, Product Manager at Nokian Tyres. “This way, the tyre actually helped to optimise the size of a new drill rig model, enabling a more efficient use of space.”

Another important feature of the tyre is the cut and puncture resistance. According to Varpe, it is a sum of two parts: “You could say that half of the durability comes from the tyre design with thick, sturdy pattern and good self-cleaning properties. The other half would be our mining rubber compound, which I think is superior to anything else in the market.

The new sizes will also replace some of the company’s older tyres that will be discontinued, according to Eva-Leena Varpe.

Truck & Shovel conference gains Singapore Mining Club support

Automation, Careers in mining, Communications in mining, Equipment maintenance, IoT, Mining consumables, Mining equipment, Mining events, Mining maintenance, Mining safety, Mining services, Mining software, Sustainable mining, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The inaugural Truck & Shovel conference is now just over seven weeks away and the stage is set for an exciting event looking into the future of the global loading and haulage industry.

With topics such as automation, digitalisation, fleet management, and tyre and fuel optimisation on the agenda, there will be much to discuss at the 1.5-day event, taking place at the InterContinental Singapore, Middle Road, on September 19-20.

In addition to gaining the support of Komatsu Mining (Platinum Sponsor), Zyfra Mining (Gold Sponsor) and Mining Industry Professionals (Media Sponsor), IM Events is pleased to announce that the Singapore Mining Club has backed this global event.

Truck & Shovel 2019 will now be held in association with the Singapore Mining Club, an influential group that exists to promote development of Singapore as the pre-eminent regional hub for the management and financing of mining enterprises.

We chose Singapore for this global event for several reasons, including:

  • Many of the big mining companies have procurement and marketing hubs in this Asian metropolis;
  • It acts as a gateway through to key mining hubs such as Australia, India, China and Indonesia, and;
  • It has good transport links and an excellent reputation for event hospitality.

Taking place in Ballroom I and II of the InterContinental Singapore, this event has attracted a number of high-profile speakers that have masses of industry knowledge to share with delegates.

We plan to kick off the day with a keynote from Komatsu Mining’s Jason Knuth (Senior Manager – Data Solutions) and Simon Van Wegen (Product Manager – Data Solutions) on ‘Data-driven designs for dynamic mining environments’.

The duo, who have spoken at many high profile conferences around the world, are set to reveal how advanced mining original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) are leveraging the plethora of data nodes on smart equipment to adapt equipment and design solutions for the modern mine environment.

Mikhail Makeev, Global Business Director, Zyfra Mining, is set to continue this digitalisation theme during his catchily-titled ‘How to make your mine “rock”’ presentation. The company has automation and fleet management expertise that it has applied across many mine sites, with Makeev keen to share details on these experiences.

Automation

For those focused on surface mining automation, Truck & Shovel tackles the concept from three different angles.

Drew Larsen, Director of Business Development, ASI Mining, will provide a business case for haulage automation with a presentation titled: ‘Autonomous Mining – more feasible than you might think’. The company, 34% owned by global mining OEM Epiroc, began work on a project with Barrick Gold to retrofit and automate a fleet of Komatsu 930-E Ultra Class haul trucks at the Arturo joint venture operation in Nevada, last year, and is expecting to issue news on projects with other miners in the near future.

Tony Cutler, Principal Consultant, OTR Global, will be tackling automation from a different stance in his ‘Factoring tyres into autonomous haulage’ presentation. Research from the leading mining OEMs offering autonomous haulage systems (AHS) indicates these systems have the potential to prolong tyre life, a claim Cutler will interrogate up on stage.

And Steve Russell, Director – Mining, Scott Technology Ltd, will be looking at autonomous refuelling in his talk. With a title of ‘Robofuel Robotic Refuelling – A safety and productivity initiative for the 21st Century Mine’, he will highlight case studies that showcase just how effective this process is in an open-pit mining context.

Equipment design and innovation

The look and feel of loading and haulage equipment hasn’t changed dramatically over the past few decades, but with mining companies and OEMs now receiving data in real time about how trucks and excavators are operating and interacting with each other, one would expect these design blueprints to, in the future, be altered in some way – for example Komatsu’s cabless haul truck concept.

Taking on this topic at the event will be Christopher B Althausen, Director of Sales & Marketing for Pioneer Solutions LLC, and Brad Rogers, CEO of Bis Industries.

Althausen’s presentation, ‘Mining truck design and development: challenges, hurdles and solutions’, looks at his and his company’s experiences approaching haul truck design over many decades. Rogers’ talk, meanwhile, focuses on ‘Innovation in minesite haulage’. With Bis Industries now having successful trials of its revolutionary Rexx haul truck in its back pocket, delegates will look forward to hearing all about the proven productivity benefits of using this 20-wheel machine.

Maximising payload

The first day of the event will finish with a packed session on truck bodies and excavator buckets where four speakers will highlight just how effective customised solutions can be in the open-pit mining environment.

Carl Samuelson, Global Business Support Manager, Metso Haul Truck Solutions, will talk about successes the mining OEM has had with its hybrid haul truck tray, the Metso Truck Body, while David Pichanick, Global Manager Market Development & Innovation, Austin Engineering, will reveal how thinking ‘outside the box’ and changing the way the company uses materials in dump bodies and buckets has had an impact on safety and productivity. Tom Smith, Engineering Manager at DT HiLoad, rounds out the truck body talk, presenting, ‘HERCULES: The Strongest Tray in Earth’.

Ian Cornfoot, Managing Director of G&G Mining, has the honour of closing day one with a presentation on the use of customised excavator buckets titled, ‘Moving Rocks Not Steel – “Productive innovations in earthmoving buckets”’.

Fuel efficiency and management

As has been well documented, fuel efficiency is key when it comes to open-pit mining, with optimised fuel selection and management often keeping the cost per tonne down.

This topic kicks off day two of the event, with Kevin Dagenais, CEO of Blutip Technologies, looking at the use of predictive modelling techniques to target mining inefficiencies in this space. Sean Birrell, Group Product Officer, FluidIntel, follows closely behind him on ‘Analytics opportunities in fuel and lubricant management – unseen risks & untapped value in your supply chain & operations’, with Joao Silveirinha, Chief Technology Officer of Banlaw, rounding out the fuel talk with a talk titled, ‘Digital Transformation and Automation as it relates to the management of Hydrocarbons in Mining’.

Safety and training

The last session of the conference is all on safety and training, with two speakers keen to talk up the benefits of these in open-pit mining where accidents can cost lives and machines.

Daniel Bongers, Chief Technology Officer of SmartCap Technologies, will present, ‘Zero fatigue incidents achieved – moving to alertness monitoring’ in his 30-minute slot, with Graham Upton, Director of Business Development at simulator specialist, Doron Precision Systems Inc, following him with ‘Shovel and Truck, side-by-side Coordinated Training’.

For details of how to register for this event, or access the full program, please visit the website: https://im-mining.com/truck-and-shovel/

Please note, all company delegations of two or more people are entitled to a discount. Get in touch with Editorial Director, Paul Moore ([email protected]), or Editor, Dan Gleeson ([email protected]), for more information.

Seven and counting for Michelin XDR3 haul truck tyres

Mining consumables, Mining equipment, Mining maintenance, , , , , , ,

Michelin North America has introduced a new size of MICHELIN® XDR® 3 haul tyres as it looks to, it says, address the productivity and endurance issues found in today’s surface mines.

The XDR3, Michelin’s most popular surface mine tyre, the company says, was developed for a range of rigid dump trucks with payload capacities up to 400 tons (363 t). The new 37.00R57 size not only expands the MICHELIN XDR3 portfolio to seven sizes, but also replaces the MICHELIN XDR2 line, it said.

Jake Thompson, Michelin North America’s B2B Mining Marketing Manager, said: “Michelin provides solutions that support safety improvements, operational cost reductions and innovation at mines worldwide. This new tyre combines the latest technologies from the 200 professionals working at our R&D centre.”

The latest release comes less than four months after Michelin North America released the 27.00R49 size XDR3.

Tested under extreme conditions before its launch, the MICHELIN XDR3 is designed for operator safety, Michelin says, with its tread pattern providing excellent load distribution across the contact patch. This also lowers contact pressure, improves wear and increases tyre life by a minimum of 8%, according to the company.

In addition, interlocking blocks of rubber on the shoulder help reduce wear. As previously stated, the XDR3 is MEMS-ready to capture and transmit temperature and pressure information in real time. The MEMS patch is also compatible with tyre additives and is RFID equipped.

With 10% stronger corrosion-proof cables incorporated into the tyre architecture, the tyre provides a significant upgrade in situations where this equipment is operated for up to 23 h/d in extreme terrain, the company said.

Michelin goes up a size with XDR 3 surface mine haul truck tyre

Equipment maintenance, Mining consumables, Mining equipment, Mining services, , , , ,

After six years of development and testing, Michelin North America, has introduced the MICHELIN® XDR® 3 surface mine haul tyre in size 27.00R49.

Addressing the productivity and endurance issues found in today’s surface mines, the XDR3 – developed for a range of rigid dump trucks with payload capacity up to 400 tons (363 t) – is designed with new compounds and a revolutionary new tread pattern that helps provide exceptional tyre life, the company said.

“The use of corrosion-isolating cables in the tyre architecture is a significant upgrade in situations where this equipment is always moving as it is operated for up to 23 h/d in extreme terrain,” the company added.

These innovations allow customers to select the benefit that best fits their needs, according to the company. Customers can choose not to increase speed or load and expect a 10% increase in tyre life. Or, customers could choose either to increase speed by 10% or increase load by 10% and achieve the same tyre life as the previous generation. “This flexibility allows Michelin to better support customer needs and goals,” the company said.

Jake Thompson, Michelin North America’s B2B Mining Marketing Manager, said: “Michelin’s most popular tyre has been tested on multiple truck brands and is designed for punishing environments where the goal is safety and performance.

“Michelin responds to customer needs by providing long-lasting, innovative products that solve their most demanding business challenges in the specific environments where they operate.”

The MICHELIN XDR3 is designed for operator safety: the tread pattern provides excellent load distribution across the contact patch, lowers contact pressure and reduces wear rate, according to the company. In addition, the tread pattern is designed for better endurance, thanks to “revolutionary heat dissipation”. This helps prevent tyre overheating, which can result in failure and, in turn, jeopardize operator safety.

“The XDR3 is MEMS-ready and helps reduce rim slip through a new flat-bead wire, which is designed to strengthen the clamping force on the wheel and increase its contact surface with the rim,” the company said.

Solidium invests in Nokian Tyres as production growth starts to kick in

Equipment maintenance, Mining consumables, Mining equipment, , , , , , ,

Finland-based Solidium Oy has confirmed the acquisition of 5.1% of Nokian Tyres for approximately €205 million ($233 million).

The shares have been acquired from the market over the last few months, the company said. Following the share purchases, Nokian Tyres represents around 3% of Solidium’s equity investments, totalling some €8.1 billion. Solidium is a holding company wholly owned by the State of Finland and a minority owner in “nationally important” listed companies.

Solidium’s CEO, Antti Mäkinen, said Nokian Tyres had successfully executed its niche strategy in the global tyre market over a long period.

“The company has promising growth opportunities at its hand owing to the greenfield investment in its third production factory, which is being built in Dayton, USA, and the investment to increase production capacity in its factory in Nokia, Finland.

“Due to these reasons, we believe Nokian Tyres has excellent foundation to create value for its shareholders. In addition, the investment done by Solidium strengthens and stabilises Finnish ownership in the company.”

In addition to providing tyres for commercial vehicles, Nokian’s Heavy Tyres division provides specialist tyres that minimise unscheduled maintenance breaks and maximise productivity in mining and tunnelling operations.