The Soft Ride compound provides operators with a level of comfort comparable to a foam/solid filled pneumatic L5 tyre, while the purpose-designed cut resistant tread compound that ensures maximum tyre life.
MINING needs tough equipment that won’t fail under pressure or rigorous workload.
During the service life of a machine, a mining operator might spend as much as the full purchase price of that machine on replacing tyres.
They are a critical part of the mining machinery and they are exposed to some of the toughest conditions including exposure to rocky debris, sharp-edged walls, high load capacities and the extreme heat of the Australian outback.
That is why Trelleborg developed its Soft Ride series of solid OTR tyres, designed specifically to suit industry needs and conditions.
The ‘fit and forget’ concept of the Brawler Soft Ride tyre will reduce downtime in maintenance and reduce cyclic stress on equipment normally associated with traditional solid tyres.
The company’s Brawler Soft Ride solid tyre is the perfect choice for mine operators looking to maximise their production while cutting downtime and service costs for their mining equipment.
The tyre has re-defined what operators can expect in terms of comfort and what machine owners can expect in terms of equipment longevity from using solid OTR tyres.
The machines used by the Australian mining industry are diverse and expensive and the tyres that protect those machines need to be the latest technology.
Whether it’s loaders, skid steer machines, graders, telehandlers or mobile material handlers, the Brawler Soft Ride can provide a cost-effective solution to any mine.
Trelleborg sales director Paul Hansen said it was a product with many diverse solutions across many faculties of the mining industry.
“We also custom-make Brawler tyres for underground machines,” he said.
The purpose-designed ‘Soft Ride’ compound, together with the unique elliptical apertures mean the Brawler is carving out a new space in the mining sector, as it has already done in the waste and recycling industries, as mine operators look for new ways to cut downtime and improve the efficiency of their machines.
In comparison to the competition, the unique design of the Brawler HPS Soft Ride offers significantly reduced vibration for both the operator and the machine, to give ride comfort equivalent to a foam/solid filled pneumatic L5 tyre, while delivering the durability and toughness of a OTR solid.
This demonstrates Trelleborg’s commitment to offering radically improved operator comfort as well as helping to extend equipment life.
Mr Hansen said that the tyre has been specifically developed to reduce the stresses associated with equipment that uses the tyres as ‘suspension’.
“Reduced stress on operators means a better ‘office’ to operate in and reduced stress on equipment means less downtime due to component fatigue and other failures associated with a ‘hard ride’ in a demanding environment,” he said.
By having an independent testing company fit vibration measuring devices to the seat and to the machine, Trelleborg was able to quantify a 35pc reduction in vibration, measured against three ISO standards.
This directly translates to cost savings associated with machine wear-caused vibration, operator efficiency, and a longer tyre life that reduces the need for maintenance and downtime.
Why choose Brawler?
The Brawler comes in two options for most sizes: the HPS is designed to be pressed onto a standard flat-based multi-piece wheel, while the HD is a tyre that has been moulded onto a steel band.
The centreplate is designed to be bolted into the Brawler wheel and then bolted onto the specific machine.
The benefits with HD is that no pressing is required (so there is no downtime whilst wheels are away getting new tyres fitted).
Should machines be changed out due to major machine issues or replacement, the centreplate can be changed to suit the new machine (as long as the original tyre size on both machines was the same).
Mr Hansen said that it all translates into better efficiencies – for both the operator and the machine – and these efficiencies save money.
“The Brawler is easily identified by the elliptical aperture holes in the sidewall,” he said.
“The cushion rubber compound significantly increases deflection and shock absorption, while the elliptical apertures compress into circular apertures; and when combined with the purpose-designed cut resistant tread compound, the result is a solid tyre that is very tough, but much less stiff than its competitors.”
The Brawler Soft Ride is the culmination of a rigorous research and development program and was field-tested over a two-year period at various facilities around the globe including Australia, Asia, America and Europe.
Segment manager specialty-mining, waste and recycling at Trelleborg, Ditri Zweistra, said that despite the varying geographies and climates, the response from operators and site manages was always the same: “We don’t want to switch back.”
“Our investment in this process and time spent with customers to understand and solve their key issues is what we at Trelleborg call ‘applications expertise’” he said.
“Solid tyres mean no punctures or downtime and maximum uptime for equipment.
“It is exciting to know that there is a tyre out there that can provide a solution to many problems found on a mine site.
“By having respondents talking direct to us we can tailor a tyre/solution to overcome their issues.”
Customers get all the advantages associated with durability for a solid tyre, while also reaping the benefits of a much more comfortable ride, no loss of load index, and an increase in operator efficiency – even at higher operating speeds.
“The best way to see the difference is to see it for yourself, but the second best way to do it is to view the Brawler Soft Ride promotional video on YouTube,” Mr Hansen said.
Trelleborg Wheel Systems is a leading global supplier of tyres and complete wheels for agricultural and forestry machines, materials handling, construction vehicles and other specialty segments.
The company offers highly specialised solutions to create added value for customers and is partner of the leading Original Equipment Manufacturers.
More information:
Website: www.trelleborg.com.au
Phone: +65 6662 8268
