News Release from Titan International, Inc. May 24, 2010
Titan Introduces Accelerated Change Technology (ACT) Wheel for the Mining Industry
QUINCY,
Ill.- Titan Wheel Corporation has introduced its Accelerated Change
Technology (ACT) wheel, a design that allows a service technician to change or
rotate the rear tires on a mine haul truck in a fraction of the time. The
system also helps enhance safety, reduces service technician fatigue and
increases profitability by reducing tire maintenance downtime.
"The ACT wheel is designed for use on the outside rear wheel position on
mining haul trucks," said Jeremy Martin, customer service representative for
Titan Wheel. "The advantage is that once installed, there's no need to remove
nuts or clamps to rotate the tires off and on the haul truck. A service
technician simply slides the tire and the component wheel parts across the
outside wheel. In layman's terms, the technology allows you to rotate or change
the inside tire, without having to take the outside rim off of the unit."
Featuring two-piece lock rings that can release the tire assembly from
the wheel, the ACT wheel allows for easy removal. When an inside dual tire
needs to be changed, it simply slips over the outer dual wheel. Employing a
double-lock system that stops rotation of the side flange, the ACT wheel
prevents expulsion of the flange and helps control tire slippage. The back and
bead incorporates a full 360 degree pry-bar pocket which aids service personnel
in demounting the tire from the wheel. A "Sur-Loc" rim component inside the
bead band prevents tire inflation if the lock ring is misassembled.
The Titan ACT wheel helps save mining contractors nearly 50 percent of
the time previously spent changing tires. This time savings translates into
less downtime for tire maintenance and more operational time for each haul
truck.
"Mines are cost-conscious and when a haul truck is out of service for
maintenance or tire exchanges, that's basically revenue that the mine is
losing," said Martin. "So it's important to quickly get that unit back in
operation."
The ACT wheel also enhances safety and reduces service technician
fatigue. Service technicians no longer need to handle the outside wheel, which
weighs thousands of pounds. In addition, the ACT wheel reduces the use of heavy
impact wrenches that were required in the past to torque and retorque 50 to 60
wheel nuts when removing a wheel and tire assembly.
ACT wheels are compatible with every size and brand of mining tires on
the market, and are available for every haul truck make and model.
Titan Wheel Corporation is a subsidiary of Titan International, Inc.
(NYSE: TWI), a holding company that owns subsidiaries that supply wheels, tires
and assemblies for off-highway equipment used in agricultural,
earthmoving/construction and consumer (including all terrain vehicles)
applications. For more information on Titan Wheel products and services, visit
www.titan-intl.com.
