Trelleborg has announced it will launch a smart wheel “designed to produce more, with less” at next month’s Agritechnica trade fair. Called ConnecTire, the new product is a sensor-based smart wheel that enables data sharing at multiple levels, reducing the risk of tyre slippage on the rim. It allows farmers to leverage the Internet of Things for safer and more efficient operations.
Trelleborg has announced the global launch of the Variable Inflation Pressure system (VIP) at SIMA 2017 in Paris, France. The VIP system is a smart and autonomous complete wheel capable of self-adjusting the pressure of a combine harvester’s tyre during operation according to its precise load, optimising the tyre’s footprint in order to reduce soil compaction.
The ‘2 in 1’ tyre from Michelin wasn’t the only tyre innovation honoured at yesterday’s 2017 SIMA Innovation Awards. Trelleborg Wheel Systems also walked away with a gold medal for its soon to be released Variable Inflation Pressure, or VIPTM, system.
Trelleborg will launch the latest tyre to feature its ProgressiveTraction technology at Agritechnica 2015, on 8-14 November in Hannover, Germany. The TM1060 upgrades Trelleborg’s high performance solution for new generations of tractors, ranging from 80 to over 300 HP. Trelleborg says the range will improve farming efficiency thanks to the double lug ProgressiveTraction tread, which boosts grip and significantly reduces vibrations. Operating on the soil at different times, the double lug progressively increases traction when required. The tyre also has a flexible carcass for homogenous deformation distribution and, absorbing road surface roughness, assures a smoother ride.
Trelleborg’s ProgressiveTraction concept has been a consistent technological eye-opener since its introduction, with European organisations queuing up to bestow awards on the innovation. Now with its arrival as a feature of Trelleborg’s new 70 series radial tyre following stringent testing, the time for the technology to peacock is over, as its application in the field begins. Trelleborg says the TM700 ProgressiveTraction is designed to meet the renewed focus of tractor manufacturers on the performance of middle range tractors and lower overall farming costs.
Having launched to acclaim in 2014, Trelleborg’s ProgressiveTraction technology has continued to impress award judges. The latest addition to the manufacturer’s trophy cabinet is the LAMMA 2015 ‘Best New Product or Innovation (Environmental)’ gong. Sponsored by IAgrE (the Institute of Agricultural Engineers) the award recognises outstanding contributions to agricultural engineering and the associated industries.
The Antarctica2 team led by ‘Tractor Girl’, Manon Ossevoort, has now reached the South Pole. This completes the first part of an expedition to take a Massey Ferguson MF 5610 tractor on a 5,000 kilometre return trip to the Pole this winter. As the expedition’s official partner, Trelleborg developed a special multi-purpose tyre and rim set enabled the MF 5610 to successfully tackle the treacherous weather conditions of the Antarctic.
Most farmers are unlikely to ever operate their tractors in Antarctic conditions, but should the need arise it’s reassuring to know they can. Massey Ferguson is heading to the South Pole next month with Manon Ossevoort – the Dutch woman popularly known as ‘The Tractor Girl’ – who will drive a MF 5600 tractor to the bottom of the world. Trelleborg has been selected as official partner for the 1,460 mile/2,350 kilometre ‘Antarctica2’ expedition that sets off on 21 November, and has developed a special multi-purpose tyre and wheel set for the journey.
The agricultural tyre market appears particularly well suited towards specialised manufacturers; Trelleborg Wheel Systems acquired Pirelli’s agricultural business in 1999, with the branding switched between 2006 and 2010. Since acquiring various technologies from Pirelli, the Trelleborg Group has invested heavily in order to make its tyre and wheel operation a premium brand player in the agricultural and forestry tyre market. The Tivoli facility, with its buildings showing a manufacturing history dating back to the 1940s, but also incorporating the latest agricultural tyre building machinery, represents “a history full of innovation for farming professionals,” in president of the Agricultural and Forestry Tyres business unit, Paolo Pompei’s words.
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