Trelleborg Pit Stop brings certainty to tire replacement

The Pit Stop Line answers once and for all one of the industry’s most elusive and critical questions – how to know, with 100% certainty, when a forklift tire is worn out and needs replacing.

Visitors can view the new technology featured in Trelleborg’s Pit Stop Line tire at this month’s CeMAT exhibition in Hannover, Germany (hall 25, stand E28).

Trelleborg Wheel Systems’ Business Unit President, Jean-Paul Mindermann commented: “This may seem like a straightforward issue, as many users believe simply that when a tire tread disappears, it needs replacing. However, it is that very misconception that costs users thousands of Euros every year through unnecessary tire replacement and machine downtime. Through the Pit Stop Line feature we have now eliminated this.”

Tires are often replaced with up to 25% of their life remaining simply because people are unaware that tread depth has nothing to do with the life of a solid tire. Now with the help of this industry breakthrough, the highly visible orange colored line appears on the tire surface when it has around 100 hours of life left, to alert users that they should schedule replacement.

The new Pit Stop Line completely encompasses the European Tyre and Rim Technical Organisation (ETRTO) Manual recommendations on tire safety and enables 100% accurate tire safety checks; a huge first for the industry.

Delivering more than just better value for spend; its sophisticated design will help improve machine uptime and service planning. With the Pit Stop Line appearing 100 hours or five to 15 working days before the tire needs replacing, operators are able to plan their tire changes in advance, totally eradicating unplanned downtime.

Pit Stop Line also offers a strong environmental benefit, enabling a dramatic reduction in waste, raw materials as well as the carbon footprint associated with packaging and transportation. Replacing tires less often means a reduced environmental impact.

Mindermann continued: “The Pit Stop Line has the potential to have a transformational effect on forklift operations, helping to minimize downtime, tire waste and whole life costs – a true innovation. Tire waste is now a thing of the past.”

Against the background of global integration and networking there is increasing demand for smart automation solutions. This year’s CeMAT show will focus on intra-logistics products with both national and international exhibitors showcasing the latest techniques, materials and innovations within the industry.