Unveiled in July, the new Michelin X SSL Tweel 2 – the airless tyre solution for skid steers – features a completely new wheel developed and manufactured by GKN Wheels. The Tweel is a single, fully integrated unit that replaces the traditional tyre/wheel/valve assembly. This means there’s no need for costly and time-consuming wheel and tyre mounting to be carried out, and once the unit is bolted to the vehicle, there’s no air pressure to maintain.
The launch of this next-generation Tweel represented the culmination of a comprehensive four-year collaborative research-and-development programme, with a team of engineers from GKN Wheels’ Center of Excellence in North America working in close partnership with Michelin to develop this innovative solution.
With a brief to deliver a robust, high-performance and long-life wheel, the project team’s solution was to design a wheel that would provide a mechanical bond with the tyre – replacing the chemical bond system that had previously been used. Featuring spider disc tines and an eight-hole, high-grade steel hub, the Tweel is stiffer than a traditional wheel, enabling it to cope with different stresses imposed on a completely integrated unit. Given the unique nature of the product, the team also had to develop specific laboratory and field test regimes, to fully validate and prove the design concept.
Commenting on the launch, GKN Wheels’ chief engineer for the Americas, Aaron Dahl, said it was really exciting to see this innovative new product now in operation.
“Huge credit has to go to the joint project team that turned a vision into reality. Bringing together our expertise in wheels with Michelin’s expertise in tyres has proved to be a winning combination,” he added.
“Quite rightly given the unique nature of the product, the development programme was rigorous and exhaustive. The result, though, is a Tweel that not only looks great, but also delivers significant benefits for skid-steer loaders that typically operate in the most demanding and challenging environments. The use of Tweel completely eliminates the risk of punctures, reduces down-time, improves efficiency and ultimately reduces cost of ownership for contractors and rental fleet operators.”
“The Michelin Tweel has been a disruptive technology, not only to the tyre industry, but also the wheel industry,” the product development engineer for Michelin Tweel Technologies, John Duty, said. “Developing a robust, yet competitive wheel part for the SSL Tweel 2 has been a challenge; however, thanks to GKN Wheels’ knowledge and capability in this segment, we were able to address significant customer pain points while improving manufacturability, creating a stronger value proposition for the end user.”
For more information visit: www.gknwheels.com.
