Trelleborg exclusive OE on Massey Ferguson ‘Antarctica2’ tractor

Towards the end of last year, ‘Tractor Girl’ Manon Ossevoort drove a Trelleborg-shod Massey Ferguson MF 5610 tractor across Antarctica to the South Pole. The agricultural equipment manufacturer is celebrating this chilly 3,000 mile round trip with the release of a new limited release product – the MF 5610 Antarctica2 Special Edition tractor. And Trelleborg is once again on board, this time as exclusive fitment for the ‘Antarctica2 Special Edition’ line.

Ossevoort traversed the sixth continent on ProgressiveTraction tyres that featured a tread pattern adapted to suit Antarctica’s soft surfaces. This customised fitment won’t be available on the MF 5610 Antarctica2 Special Edition, however Massey Ferguson states that purchasers can select the Trelleborg tyre that best suits their requirements. And the tyre that best suits their needs will be a Trelleborg: “To reflect the contribution that Trelleborg made to the success of the Antarctica2 achievement, the first tractor with wheels rather than tracks to reach the South Pole and return safely, only Trelleborg tyres will be fitted to the Special Edition tractor,” explains Campbell Scott, director of marketing services at Massey Ferguson.

“The expedition and the tractor captured the imagination and the hearts of a worldwide audience, many of them working farmers who will be interested in buying their own version of this incredible machine,” Scott adds. “The journey to the South Pole was an epic, inspiring achievement and we’re expecting strong demand for the Special Edition.”

Trelleborg reports that its tyres proved highly resilient during their trip to the South Pole, successfully coping with the harsh temperatures. Not only didn’t the tyres freeze, they remained soft, ensuring reliability and driver comfort throughout the journey. The tyre maker says the main challenge the tyres faced was traction when climbing glaciers. However, thanks to the additional grip provided by the ultra-deflection of the casing and tyre’s wide footprint, the tractor experienced only minor slippage on the mountains.

Paolo Pompei, president of Trelleborg Wheel Systems’ Agricultural & Forestry Tires business describes the Trelleborg and Massey Ferguson collaboration to produce the Antarctica2 Special Edition as “a strategic step forward, through which the two companies undertake to cooperate in product innovation and marketing to the benefit of their customers.”