Trelleborg Wheel Systems has launched ‘Pit Stop Line’ tyres in the Middle East.
The manufacturer, which showcased a number of its tyres at Automechanika Dubai 2014, says that Pit Stop Line lets end users know exactly when to order replacement tyres for their machines.
By incorporating a brightly coloured strip inside the tyre that is designed to become visible at a certain stage of wear, Trelleborg believes that this product will help to improve safety and efficiency for forklift fleet owners.
“For industrial tyres, we have primarily focused on solid tyres for forklift applications, port applications, and also ground support equipment at airports,” said Alessio Loreto, product manager at Trelleborg Wheel Systems.
“For forklift applications, we have introduced Pit Stop Line: an orange strip of rubber built inside the tyre that appears when just 100 hours of tyre life are left. This is very practical because you can plan tyre replacements.
“You have a sign of when the tyre is finished, and actually, Trelleborg is the only company in the world to include this kind of feature inside its industrial tyres,” he added.
Initially, Pit Stop Line will be introduced only for forklift trucks, but Trelleborg’s ultimate goal is to roll out the technology to its full range of products.
Loreto said: “This is the presentation of Pit Stop Line. As it will add value for the customer, we will implement this technology within all of our lines. It will become our standard, but at present, this is the first time that we have showcased this product in the Middle East.
“I would say that by the end of the year, we will have integrated it into our two main industrial tyre lines – Trelleborg Elite XP and Trelleborg M2 – and then, within the next two to three years, it will be rolled out across our entire product range.”
Although the Middle East does not yet account for a large proportion of Trelleborg’s global business, the company has identified the region as an important area for future growth, according to Rok Oppelt, Trelleborg’s area manager for North Africa, the Middle East, and Turkey.
“At present, most of Trelleborg’s business takes place in the United States,” he told PMV.
“Even though other companies seem to be having difficulties in Europe, due to Indian and Chinese competition, we are growing in that region. However, in the Middle East, the following years will be crucial, especially when one considers Expo 2020 here in Dubai. I am expecting growth in the following years,” concluded Oppelt.
Trelleborg Wheel Systems – a division of Trelleborg Group – operates in the UAE as part of a joint venture with Al Dobowi Tyre Company.
