Growing and harvesting sugar cane requires sensitivity from both the farmer and the tyres of the machines used on the field. A special concern is the compaction of soil that can even paralyse the plant's growth.
- The production of sugar and bioethanol is one of the fastest growing industries in Brazil. This is the industry for which we originally marketed the Nokian flotation tyres that help avoid soil compaction. We then discovered that with radial tyres, the tyre's contact area increased by some 20 percent, says Ayres Pucineli, Marketing Director for Alpha Pneus.
Alpha Pneus and Komatsu Forest are importers of Nokian Heavy Tyres in Brazil.
Special transportation solutions
Sugar cane can grow as high as six metres tall. When harvesting, the canes are split and cut into pieces, after which they are taken to a raw sugar mill where they are crushed in order to separate the sugar juice. For logistical reasons, the mills are located among fields but the distance from the field to the mill can nevertheless be several kilometres.
Alpha Pneus started testing tyres with the tractor trailers used in harvesting sugar cane in Brazil. The results were positive. The Nokian ELS Radial and Nokian Country King tyres proved to be durable and gentle on the environment.
According to Pucineli, another important usage target for Nokian tyres revolves around special solutions based on trucks with special cargo area construction designed for transporting sugar cane. The combinations moving around sugar cane fields are bigger and heavier than the traditional tractor + trailer combinations. This also places higher demands on grip.
- Our experience has shown that the Nokian Country King is the best choice for the special field trucks, and it is also the most widely-sold tyre for new vehicles. We have a couple of co-operation partners and conduct small-scale development work to further improve our results, Pucineli tells us.
On field and road
The Nokian TRI 2 tractor tyre with a block tread pattern is gradually becoming a popular choice for trailer transit traffic on the mills' gravel and asphalt roads.
- Traditional tractor tyres have a short operating life because they are designed for field use, but not for high-speed driving on hard road surfaces, like the Nokian TRI 2 is.
Nokian tyres are also used on massive trailers with air-suspended steered wheel axles and equipped with six Nokian Country Kings of 710/50 R 26.5.
Increasing quality requirements
Alpha Pneus is a tyre import and retail company that also has field personnel specialising in different market sectors. For example, sugar cane mills can be served by engineers specialised in agricultural production or soil scientists who also possess theoretical knowledge that helps find the optimal tyres for the customer's machines. This practice is the company's response to the increasing quality requirements.
- When defining quality in the tyre segment, the quality of the product itself is, naturally, the top criterion. However, the technical know-how of the tyre sales company plays a big role - you must be able to find the right tyres for the given machine and also manage after-sale contacts. After all, tyres require regular checking throughout their operating life, Pucineli reminds us.
Thoroughness is desired
Alpha Pneus co-operates with some universities in technical matters. Research has shown that traditional tractor tyres are poorly-suited for cases where devices should be pulled on sugar cane fields in a manner that preserves the field surface and prevents the device from sinking into the ground.
- In April, we started tests with a tractor equipped with Nokian TRI 2 tyres and a massive trailer with air suspension, wheel-axle steering and large Nokian Country King tyres. We are looking forward to seeing how lightly this entity can move on the delicate field surface this season, Pucineli says with excitement.
He emphasises that once the tyres have been selected, the operator must observe the tyre pressures recommendations and ensure appropriate maintenance of the equipment.
- This way, the tyres remain operational as long as expected, the machine is easier to steer and fuel consumption stays under control. Nevertheless, the condition and functionality of the tyres should be continually monitored.
Read more:
Nokian ELS Radial >>
Nokian Country King >>
Nokian TRI 2 >>
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