Published in Australian Longwall Magazine

The new tread design, Alpha L6T EDT, was launched in Australia at the Queensland Mining and Engineering Exhibition in July. It will be applied to Alpha Low Aspect Ratio and conventionally shaped tyres used in applications where traction has been an issue. To accommodate the deeper tread Alpha increased the overall diameter of the tyre by 50mm so as not to reduce the cavity of the tyre, which would reduce carrying capacity at equal psi.

Alpha Mining Systems president Sam Vance said the life of the new L6T EDT's tread had been greatly increased because tread depth had more than doubled.

“Traction has been greatly improved because of the many additional gripping edges and shape of the individual lugs on the new tyre. The new tread design will ‘shed’ water and mud much better giving more traction. As with any other tyre the less slipping the less chance of cuts and an overall improvement in tread life,” said Vance.

The catalyst for the new design was Alpha’s close involvement in Australia's underground mining industry through exclusive agents VAMT Australia. VAMT will offer the new tyres to customers, including any rebuilds where the new tyres can provide better traction and longer life.

The new tread design is being installed onto machines such as the new Eimco ED7, ED10 and ED20. The design is also being used on other types of mining equipment, from personnel carriers to haulage units, and can be adapted to other Alpha tyres as the application dictates.

Alpha Mining Systems' core business function has always been the underground mining industry. Collectively, the company's staff has over 100 years of experience in solving underground tyre and wheel issues.

“Alpha understands that a manufacturer must produce tyres, wheels and a form of flatproofing in order to be a problem solver. Sometimes the solution is not as simple as changing tyre brands, sometimes to solve the problem the tyre and wheel must be changed,” said Vance.

“Alpha also recognises that when flatproofing, as it has been manufactured today, is installed inside a tyre you change certain characteristics of the tyre. We have started to produce the new Alpha Armor-Cor UGM (Underground Mining) flatproofing material, and in a change from others in the industry, the first thing we did was formulate a urethane compound that transferred the same G forces as an air filled tyre at the same pressure.

“After two years of formulating and doing laboratory tests we have this material, and Alpha has the independent laboratory test to back it up. Yes, Alpha is known for heavy tyres with lots of sidewall protection, superior rubber compounding and heavy five piece 200psi rims and wheels. Now the addition of a flatproofing material with air ride characteristics makes Alpha Mining Systems the only company worldwide capable of solving problems, related to underground mining, with products from within its own control.”