Trelleborg has been selected by Massey Ferguson as the official partner for its tractor expedition, \u201cAntarctica 2014\u201d, which is to be held in November 2014. The 2,350 kilometre expedition will see ‘Tractor Lady’, Manon Ossevoort, drive a MF 5600 tractor to the South Pole across treacherous snow and ice with a team of polar specialists.<\/p>\n
For the expedition, Trelleborg has developed a special multi-purpose set of complete wheels, both tyres and rims, which will enable the MF 5600 tractor to tackle the severe weather conditions of the Antarctic.
\nPiero Mancinelli, R&D Director Agricultural and Forestry Tyres at Trelleborg Wheel Systems, commented: \u201cWe decided to join Massey Ferguson in this adventure because the demanding conditions of Antarctica require flotation at extremely low pressure, grip and traction as well as reduced fuel consumption. The conditions require the ultimate degree of performance from agricultural tyres and rims, taking the level of tyre performance to the absolute extreme.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo cope with diverse ice and snow conditions varying from low to extremely low temperatures, tyres need to boost grip through ultra-deflection of the carcass and widening the footprint as much as possible, at very low pressures. This, coupled with being well fixed with zero-slippage on the rim, reduces fuel consumption as well as securing reliability and comfort over the long run. In other words, a “super agricultural” tyre and rim was required. As such, we want the performance of our tyres on the expedition to prove the great potential of our ultimate technology in even the most severe environments on earth. This will enable us to learn and leverage this know-how for the new generations of farming tyres.\u201d<\/p>\n
Stringent testing of standard agricultural tyres conducted by Trelleborg and Massey Ferguson engineers found that due to the adverse weather conditions and harsh environment of Antarctica, fuel consumption and required traction performances would provide significant challenges. Therefore, a tyre with premium floatation, which results in enhanced pressure distribution on the ground and superior traction, was essential to guarantee reduced fuel consumption, higher grip and increased driver comfort and handling.
\n\u201cWith these specific challenges in mind, we turned to our innovative ProgressiveTraction\u2122 tyre which is characterised by a special double lug that operates on the ground at different times, progressively releasing higher traction when and where required. The double lug also provides the tyre with better floatation capability at low pressure,\u201d added Mancinelli.<\/p>\n
After intense numerical simulations combined with indoor and outdoor testing, Trelleborg engineers opted to adapt the tread pattern of the ProgressiveTraction\u2122 tyre, reducing the height and rounding tread at the shoulder, to make the tyre better suited to run on soft ground reflective of that to be experienced in Antarctica. A unique carcass design capable of performing at a pressure as low as 0.3 bar was developed while a special tread shape and surface was implemented to provide the required grip. Trelleborg also developed a special rim profile ensuring a safe bead position to prevent slippage and rim roll-off.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe enhanced ProgressiveTraction\u2122 tyre fitted on the special Trelleborg rim performed extremely well during final testing conducted in Iceland, exceeding any initial expectation and we are looking forward to seeing the tyres in action in November. Antarctica 2014 promises to be a remarkable journey and we are excited to be part of such a widely anticipated expedition that will push the ProgressiveTraction\u2122 tyre to its limits,\u201d concludes Mancinelli.<\/p>\n
Campbell Scott, Director Sales Engineering and Brand Development at Massey Ferguson, commented: \u201cAfter working closely with Trelleborg in the past and as partners in the 17,000 km Massey Ferguson Golden Tractor drive from Italy to the Arctic Circle in 2012, we\u2019re thrilled that Trelleborg has agreed to join us on this great adventure.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
For more information on the tyres developed for the expedition, Trelleborg has posted a new video which can be viewed by visiting: www.youtube.com\/trelleborgagri<\/p>\n