OTR Shearography up to 63” with Steinbichler Intact 4300

Steinbichler Optotechnik is a worldwide leading supplier of optical measuring and sensor technology. The ‘Intact’ tyre shearographic inspection systems by Steinbichler are used at numerous major names within the industry for the non-destructive testing of passenger car, truck, aircraft, OTR as well as Formula 1 racing tyres, and have proven their functionality around the world.

The Intact OTR series is designed for easy loading and unloading with a regular forklift – the tyre is mounted vertically into the unit, which means both sidewalls can be inspected without flipping the tyre. The new Intact 4300 for larger OTR sizes enables the shearographic inspection of giant OTR tyres with an internal diameter between 45 and 63-inches, a width of 550 – 1550 mm and a maximum weight of 7,500 kg. In addition to its vertical positioning, a key benefit of the machine is its short test cycle of approximately 20 minutes, with three cameras operating simultaneously.

Once the tyre is loaded, the measuring heads inside the chamber simultaneously take images of each sidewall and the tread, without air pressure. Further images are then acquired while the tyre is under 50 millibars of under-pressure. These measurements are compared and displayed on a computer screen, allowing the identification of various non-visible defects including belt edge separations and bead turn-up failures.

Togliatti, Russia-based firm Povolzhskaya Shinnaya Kompaniya, also known as PSK, has entered the OTR tyre retreading business and now claims to be the only OTR tyre retreader in Russia capable of retreading tyres up to 57 inches using the mould cure process. To assure highest product quality of these giant tires, PSK inspects them before and after retreading using the Steinbichler Intact 4300 and benefits from the clear and immediate information the unit provides about each tyre’s integrity.