CRANE TYRES Ӏ SECTOR SPOTLIGHT
TRACTION GAINING
Manufacturers are pushing tyre technology boundaries to meet the unique demands of lifting operations. With global investments and cutting-edge innovations, the right crane tyres are a strategic foundation for lifting success. Cranes Today reports.
Parallels between the world of mobile cranes and the automotive sphere can appear in unexpected places. On a recent trip to my local tyre supplier, for example, I saw a customer just leaving in a new, top-of-the-range Aston Martin. Inside the garage I heard that the customer had just had the Aston shod in the cheapest, part-worns the garage stocked. “Why would you buy a beauty like that then run it on cheap rubber?” asked the tyre fitter in amazement. The same applies to cranes,
too. Tyres are the interface between the crane and the world around it. Specialist lifting machines require specialist tyres; fortunately there is a selection of experts, and choice, out there…
STRUCTURAL STRENGTH One of the most recent new tyres on the market specifically for lifting applications is the Crane Primacy series from Chinese tyre manufacturer Linglong. The new Crane Primacy tyres
are specifically designed for heavy mobile cranes. With their multi- axle design and large weight these cranes still need to be able to travel at speed when in transport mode and navigate tight corners. This puts a lot of stress on the side walls, says Linglong. Linglong’s solution is to give the
Crane Primacy reinforced ribs which connect with circumferential blocks for greater structural strength. In addition the tyre is specifically designed to protect against irregular wear patterns which could be a particular hazard in the safety- conscious world of lifting. The tyre also has a non-
Linglong‘s new
Crane Primacy tyre has reinforced ribs connecting with circumferential blocks
directional tread design which, Linglong says, contributes to increased fuel efficiency whilst providing a smooth and comfortable ride for the driver. “We have invested a lot of engineering time and effort in improving the performance of our Crane Primacy tyres,” says Jean- Paul Spijker, director sales and marketing Specialty Tire Europe at Linglong. “In these new tyres
28 CRANES TODAY
we have incorporated a lot of the feedback from the market, both from operators and drivers. “Thanks to the new design,
strong carcass, and improved compounds we can now offer some of the best performing mobile crane tyres at very competitive rates, for the OEM and replacement markets.”
EXPANSION INTO EUROPE Linglong has production sites in China, Thailand, and Serbia. Its cutting-edge Serbian production site, which makes radial tyres, officially started mass production in September this year, although Linglong International Europe launched in 2019. Linglong says it is the first
Chinese tyre factory in Europe and its ‘mass production’ milestone marks a strategic move in its transition to being a European- based all-rounder offering R&D and manufacturing services combined with enhanced sales and service offerings. A month before achieving
‘mass production’ status Linglong announced phase two of its European expansion plans. These include plans to increase annual production of high-performance radial tires of various types by 1.1 million, including 800,000 sets of
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