Peel Ports is set to open its £300M Liverpool2 container terminal and, with the attention surrounding this, an important tyre deal for Liverpool’s handling equipment may have passed under the radar. In June, Bridgestone reported that it had signed a “Total Tyre Care” service agreement with Peel Ports covering all Liverpool’s container handling machinery.

This means tyres for equipment managed by Briggs Equipment, as well as the tyres for the straddle carriers managed by Peel Ports directly, in association with the machine supplier, Terex. Most rubber-tyred container plant is at Royal Seaforth, although Liverpool2 also has a fleet of terminal tractors and trailers, some reach stackers, and so on. 

Cool customers

Bridgestone is supplying its 1600R25 VCHR radial tyres for the straddle carriers. This tyre has a circumferential ‘rib’ tread pattern that has become popular with straddle carrier fleet operators in recent years. The low rolling resistance and cool running associated with radial tyres is important for straddle carriers, as they are required to travel relatively long distances at relatively fast speeds. 

Bridgestone UK’s major accounts manager, Peter Harriss, noted that the deal demonstrates “how industrial fleets continue to move away from bias ply tyres, which were popular historically. Clearly stability is of paramount importance to the operator, but a gradual move to radials has taken place as they provide better performance, lower cost per hour and greater comfort.” 

However, radial covers have been the norm for straddle carriers in the ports industry for some time. Indeed, the whole point of Continental CST’s Vply StraddleMaster tyre is to move the industry away from radials supplied by  Michelin, Bridgestone, Yokohama and others, on the basis that it offers similar low rolling resistance and cool running properties to radials, but with less deflection (i.e. greater lateral stability), better braking performance and greater
puncture resistance. 

In the best operating conditions, with clean terminal surfaces in a good state of repair and safe driving, a radial tyre should have the longest life. However, the StraddleMaster approaches this, says Continental CST, and the price differential is such that it will deliver a lower running cost per hour to the operator, which is the crucial parameter, as well as being safer on turns and when braking. This debate has been going on since Continental CST launched its Vply range of port tyres in 2013.

Cheap is dear

Where all leading industrial tyre makers would agree is that ‘cheap is dear’ and it is always better to fit a premium tyre than a budget alternative. A budget tyre costs less, but simply will not last as long due to the load factors,  allowable pressures, puncture resistance and tread ‘tearing’ due to tight manoeuvring and high lateral forces.

Running tyres at the correct air pressure is vital for good performance, even wear and long life. Underpressure is more common than overpressure and accelerates tread and bead wear due to overheating, as well as adding to rolling
resistance due to the flatter surface and hence fuel consumption. Overpressure accelerates tread wear in the centre, stresses beads and rims, and makes for an uncomfortable ride.

Telematics

Leading tyre makers offer tyre pressure and temperature monitoring systems (TPMS) and, increasingly, OEMs and tyre makers provide automatic monitoring through the telematics products they provide. These are linked to fleet 
management systems, allowing fleet owners to check on machine performance and driver behaviour. 

To go with its existing ContiPressureCheck TPMS, from next year Continental CST will offer the ContiFlexBox tyre management system, enabling the collection, provision and transfer of tyre-related data to a central server via WiFi or GSM. ContiFlexBox is initially aimed at customers in the ports industry, indicating the importance that Continental CST attaches to this industrial tyre sector. 

In August, Continental CST announced that it is “returning” to the Americas market (NAFTA area, Brazil, ECSA countries) after an absence of 10 years. The operation is based at the CVT (commercial vehicle tyres) American HQ at Fort Mill, SC, which has started providing dealers with various off-road tyres in the EM and industrial tyre segments, including forklift, airport, port and container handling tyres. Initially, four tyre sizes are available, and the product portfolio will be built up and completed during 2017. Federico Jimenez, Continental CST manager for the Americas, said: “We are entering the very robust market after a decade, and we are in a position to do truly great things for our customers across the Americas.” 

Tractor tyres

One area where port operators often “cut corners” is by fitting road truck tyres to terminal tractors, but this is false economy as the load factors and stresses are completely unsuited to truck tyres. They have to be replaced very frequently, but the temptation is always that they are relatively cheap and readily available from any tyre dealer. Fitting a purpose-built tyre should prove much less expensive and certainly cuts waste. The Michelin X-Terminal T terminal tractor tyre is a 280/75R 22.5 tyre purpose-built for port tractors, and is a simple replacement for road truck tyres on drop centre rims. Recently, Michelin has introduced a bigger tyre with a higher load rating, 310/80R 22.5.

Conversely, Continental CST has gone the other way. Its TractorMaster tyre is now available in 280/75R 22.5 size to complement the existing 310/80 R 22.5 size. The new tyre size is slightly thinner than the existing dimension, which
suits some tractors and trailers, and the narrower tyre size eliminates the kissing effect in certain rim configurations. 

Both tyres provide very good traction, and have high loadbearing capacity and high mileage, says Continental CST. The closed shoulder and the robust, wear-resistant compound of the tyre provide even wear, low abrasion, and high resistance to damage. The tyre is equipped with Continental’s patented visual alignment indicator, VAI, which helps identify incorrect wheel alignment and suspension settings without complex electronic measurements, simplifying  maintenance and reducing costs. 

“Tyres that are not designed for the challenging conditions in ports such as road truck tyres might be cheaper in the first place, but they will create more costs than fit-for-purpose tyres in the long run,” says Continental CST. “Tyre failures are likely to occur more often, causing difficulties in the logistics chain through costly downtimes and maintenance or even severe accidents. Tyre replacement costs are the second biggest expense after the fuel costs. 

“In addition, around 20% of a vehicle’s fuel consumption is caused by the rolling resistance of the tyres. That’s why port fleet operators increasingly choose tyres not just on price, but also upon their characteristics. They look for optimised products for their specific demands that avoid downtimes, offer better safety, reliability, lower rolling resistance and better performance for faster loading times.” 

TractorMaster tyres have a more robust casing than a roato 5,600 kg, and they operate with a higher tyre pressure of up to 10 bars to cope with higher loads. The sidewall is nearly 50% thicker, tread depth is 31mm, and the under tread gauge is bigger, reducing the risk of punctures and pressure loss. 

Again, the real criterion is running cost per hour, and this helps explain why specialty retreads from British company Alterever Ltd using verified suitable casings have proved very successful with terminal and ro-ro tractor operators in the North Sea, the Mediterranean and further afield. The retread has higher load factors and lasts much longer than a road truck tyre or retread, but is less expensive than a premium port tractor tyre from Michelin or Continental CST.

As previously discussed (WorldCargo News, November 2013, p57), Alterever builds up special truck tyres size to a 320/70 22.5 size with a broad shoulder and deep tread depth using its own hot mould cure process and a purpose-built tyre press. The tyre has a certified load/speed index of 5,000 kg and 40 kph. 

The casings undergo rigorous inspection prior to being processed to ensure that the tyre was properly used in its ‘first life’. The inspections include laser-based shearography and pressure tests, as well as expert visual inspections. Further inspections are carried out as the tyre is passed through production stages. 

Magna force

Netherlands-based Magna Tyres has been busy increasing its country representative offices and warehousing space, and its tyres have been winning new plaudits. Its South Korean distributor Hyoshin Hispec is fitting the Magna 18:00-25 MB01 tyre in 40PR rating to a number of reach stackers operated by KumKang Logistics. This big truck tyre has a non-directional E4 tread design, aimed at improving traction. Protector plies improve load performance and  operator comfort, and the tread compounds improve resistance against cutting and abrasion. 

Closer to home, Magna reports that its M-Straddle radial tyres have provided “outstanding performance” for Rotterdam Shortsea Terminals BV, where they have been tested on Kalmar straddle carriers. Inspection after 10,000 km of travel (2,300 running hours) showed an average 83% tread depth remaining, indicating that they will be a costeffective solution. “The steel radial construction provides outstanding shock absorption and maximum operating comfort,”
said Magna. “Heavy-duty sidewalls in combination with the deep and ribbed tread pattern guarantee excellent resistance to damage and impacts.” 

In another application, Magna 23.5-25 solid resilient tyres have been fitted to a Sennebogen 870 M hydraulic material handler for a port customer. The machine handles mainly metal scrap, and solid tyres are usually fitted in such environments.

BKT radials

At this year’s CeMAT in Hannover, India-based tyre maker BKT (Balkrishna Industries Ltd) introduced various new all-steel radial tyres. Liftmax LM 81 is available in various sizes, and is aimed at small/medium sized FLTs. The Portmax PM90 (18.00R-25) is aimed at reach stackers, while the Portmax PM 93 (16.00R-25) with ribbed tread is aimed at straddle carrier applications. 

All the tyres feature multilayer steel belts for low rolling resistance, lower vibration and greater stability, as well as increased puncture resistance, says BKT, while the tread compound provides exceptional cut and chip resistance, along with excellent wear resistance on all types of terrain.

It remains unusual to see radial covers on laden container handling lift trucks, due to ongoing concerns over sidewall flexing, which could impact lateral stability and the ‘kissing’ effect of twin tyres on the drive axles. 

However, where drivers have a say in equipment sourcing, they will frequently opt for premium radials, even on ECH trucks (12.00R 24 and, increasingly, 14.00R 24) because they provide a more comfortable ride. They are very expensive, but, provided the terminal surface is well-made and clean, they should last.

Complete switch

In September, it was disclosed that half-way into a six-month trial period, mostly conducted during H1 2016, CF Fertilisers UK switched its entire fleet of 14 Kalmar DCE10-600 FLTs and 12 two-axle trailers to Continental CST tyres, respectively RT20 (11.00R 20) radial tyres and IC40 (10.00 20) bias tyres, through CST’s local dealer Nation Tyres.

The FLTs and trailers (hitched to farm tractors in a double tow) handle and transport 600 kg and 1,000 kg big bags at CF Fertilisers’ plant in Ince, adjacent to the Manchester Ship Canal. The 124-acre site is largely flat but uneven, and this tests the wearpatterns and life of tyres, particularly as the FLTs carry ‘live’ loads of up to 4 x 1t FIBCs that ‘swing’ on the straps, while the trailer tyres were also failing excessively due to sidewall stress leading to punctures. The site is open 24/7/365, so nonavailability of FLTs or trailers due to blow-outs quickly leads to backlogs.

The shipper’s day manager, Anthony Jones, said: “Continental said we would get 12 months wear out of the FLT tyres, given the site and operating conditions, but nine months into their usage, they are still only 50% worn and looking good.” 

As an added safety feature, the RT20 tyres are injected with foam. The FLTs were specified with rising cabs so the operator can see over the load, and, as Anthony Jones explains, “a tyre blowing out on a heavily laden truck with the cab raised to its full 10ft extension could cause it to tip over” 

Read this item in full
This complete item is approximately 2000 words in length, and appeared in the November 2016 issue of WorldCargo News, on page 49. To access this issue download the PDF here.