The company offers an extensive range of pneumatic and polyurethane filled tyres to the Australian underground rubber tyred vehicle market, with their latest product, the Alpha Mine Mauler released in August last year.

The low-profile coal mine tyres with extra Hi-Ply rating and wheel assemblies were developed to increase tyre life, equipment stability and load carrying capacity without making them bigger overall.

The Mauler can be used on any load-haul-dump units, diesel transports and utilities, man transports, shuttle cars and other rubber-tyre vehicles used in coal mining applications.

The Mine Mauler LAR maintains the same overall tyre outside diameter and width as a conventional tyre but gains 20-30% greater carrying capacity in the same envelope but with a lower profile.

The tyres are also much less susceptible to sidewall damage because of the Mine Mauler's patented massive outside-wall design.

VA Eimco says Brambles has been among users reaping the benefits of Alpha tyres. The contractor has used the tyres on its Eimco equipment for the past year.

"The Alpha L6T+ tyre was trialled on the Eimco 130 and initially had a problem with traction but this was rectified by altering the tread pattern,” said Brambles maintenance manager Mick Whipps.

“The sidewall on these tyres is particularly heavy-duty and appears to hold up to the abuse during longwall relocations.

“The Alpha Mine Mauler used on the Eimco 37-tonne chock trailers also has a very heavy sidewall and appears to be holding up to the abuse that the sidewall is subjected to during longwall relocations. These trailers are often dragged around corners and the sidewall is in contact with the rib wall.

“The Alpha Mine Mauler is also fitted to the Eimco 936 (a 30t lift machine). These were trialled successfully at Southern Colliery during its longwall relocation in January this year. The main object for these tyres was to alleviate delamination of the rubber from the rim which was proved to be successful.”

The Walter Construction Group has been using a hired Eimco 913-6 at its North Goonyella development operations for the past six months, where it has completed about 900 hours of work.

The Eimco came fitted with new Eimco Alpha L-6T+ Thick Wall Tyres.

“The Alpha Tyres have proven to be extremely durable and hardwearing over the six months they have been in use and we have not had to replace one tyre. All tyres are still in extremely good condition, with little wear showing and the walls of the tyres showing no damage,” said Walter Construction Group project manager Andrew Stuckey.

“There have been no problems with slip and they have also been used on steep grades (1:4) with no traction problems. All operators have also commented on the good ride the tyres provide for them.”

Stuckey said that in the four years Walter had worked at North Goonyella the Alpha Tyres had proven to have superior tyre life compared to other tyres. Published in Australia's Longwalls, September edition.