Agricultural
Michelin has introduced its new YieldBib agricultural tyre for high horse powered tractors and other agricultural machinery. Previously available solely on the North American market, Michelin executives in Stoke-on-Trent saw an opportunity for the YieldBib range to replace standard 85 series tyres in the UK and Ireland.
In a bid to lead the row crop sector, Alliance Tire Group has introduced IF (Improved Flexion) and VF (Very improved flexion) low pressure Alliance 354 Agriflex and 354 Agriflex + (VF) narrow radials.
According to the company, the tyres are designed with specific sidewall flexibility, enabling them to carry either the same loads as standard radial tractor tyres but at lower pressures or carry up to 20 per cent (IF) and 40 per cent (VF) heavier loads at the same pressure.
Trelleborg has been named as the official partner of AGCO’s Future Farm project. Launched with a ceremony in Lusaka in Zambia, on 27 May, AGCO’s Future Farm aims to develop a sustainable food production system and increase farming output by utilising Africa’s agricultural resources more effectively.
Earlier this year Bridgestone introduced the first product in its new Bridgestone-branded agricultural tyre range, the VT-Tractor, and the first two farmers in the UK to drive on the tyres have offered glowing product testimonials.
Trelleborg has announced that the first stop on its 2015 European Road Show for agricultural tyres will be Sissa Trecasali in Parma, Italy on June 5. The one-day event will provide two field demonstrations in which two tractors will compete over a 200 metre track, head-to-head.
The digital strategy employed by Michelin’s Agricultural Product Line is undergoing a few changes. Explaining the main reasons behind this, the business unit’s digital communication manager Guylaine Drolet shares that the rethink was prompted by two observations.
Mitas Tires North America has signed a long-term agreement with CNH Industrial’s NAFTA group for the supply of Mitas agricultural tyres and GKN wheel assemblies for the New Holland Air Cart models manufactured in the company’s Saskatoon plant in Canada. Six tyre tread designs and eight dimensions have been chosen for the Air Cart, along with a number of wheel designs and colours; complete wheel assemblies will be shipped from Mitas’ factory in Charles City (Iowa, USA). One key size – the Mitas 800/70R38 178D/181A8 CHO SFT – will comprise a significant volume of these assemblies.
Indian OTR tyre manufacturer BKT estimates its global market share at “around six per cent” in the off-highway tyre segment, but following its appearances at major European trade shows Intermat and Sima in 2015, it stated that an increase in market share is one of BKT´s goals in terms of strategic growth. The company aims at a turnover of 2 billion US dollars by 2020; a challenging target based on a positive trend of growth of 30 per cent over the last five years corresponding to six per cent market share in the specialist segments for agriculture, earthmoving, mining, and industrial vehicles and machinery as well as port, ATV and gardening applications. The last financial year ending on March 31, 2014 closed with BKT’s turnover at 780 million US dollars. The company employs more than 7,000 people and sells over 2,300 products in 130 countries worldwide.
Over the past 50 years, Luxembourg-based Maxam Tire has built up a reputation for the supply of quality, cost effective OTR radial, construction and industrial tyres, making a name for itself as a force in the off-the-road speciality tyre sector. At the start of 2015, the company broadened its product portfolio by offering the first of a new range of agricultural tyres; the Agrixtra MS951R. The new tyre is a radial, aimed at medium horsepower tractors and is available in nearly 40 sizes for rims from 24” up to 42”. It comes in aspect ratios of 85, 70 and 65 series, with the 65 series developed for applications at 65 km/h.
Seven tractor-driving finalists in the European Drivers Challenge have been invited to the Michelin Technical Innovation Centre Test Circuit in Ladoux, France to demonstrate how best practice can affect tractor performance. Each participant will get his own John Deere 6215R AutoPowr tractor, pulling a heavy 20t Joskin two axle trailer. The tractors will be equipped with Michelin MachXBib tyres, with trailers featuring Michelin CargoXBib High Flotation tyres. The participants will be challenged to select their own strategy of tractor settings and tyre inflation pressures.
Roy Claydon the founder and chairman of well-known tyre wholesaler RH Claydon Ltd passed away on 16 April aged 88 after succumbing to pneumonia. Roy Claydon formed RH Claydon in 1953 and celebrated the company’s 60th anniversary at Newmarket races two years ago.
Trelleborg Wheel Systems has announced a seven-to-ten per cent price increase on its tyres for agricultural, forestry and light agricultural applications in Europe.
Nokian Tyres and Valtra have combined their expertise to set a new record for tractors, clocking 130.165km/h (80.88mph) on a snowy and icy road in Finnish Lapland. Multiple World Rally champion, Juha Kankkunen drove the Valtra T234, which ran on the world’s first winter tyre for tractors, the Nokian Hakkapeliitta TRI (440/80R28 151D & 540/80R38 167D). Click through to the full story to watch a video documenting the new World Record.
A farming contractor in Leicestershire reports he has developed “the optimum set-up for a self-propelled sprayer”, using two different sets of Michelin Ultraflex Technology tyres to reduce soil compaction year-round.
Steve Heard Contracting’s tyre choice means the firm’s 12-tonne Agrifac sprayer can operate at lower tyre pressures than conventional farm tyres permit, and without the need to adjust pressures between the road and the field.
Sales of Trelleborg agricultural tyres in the Australian original equipment and replacement markets will benefit from Trelleborg Wheel Systems’ acquisition of Armstrong Tyres, an agricultural segment service and distribution company. Trelleborg has signed an agreement to purchase the Australian firm for an undisclosed sum, and the transaction is expected to be finalised in the second quarter of 2015.
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