Wm Armstrong ltd
The secrets to our successpage 6Ecological, resistant
and retreadablepage 12
neW st:01
eco technology
Particulate filters arrive in Germanypage 10
The magazine for transport professionals
No. 3DECEMBER 2009European quarterlyof the Pirelli Group
In trucks, Pirelli pursues a develop-ment strategy that focuses on new products and services designed spe-cifically for the various customer segments. Could you describe this strategy? And what are its strengths?Gregorio Borgo —It is a strategy centred around sell-out: that is, constant work with the customer, the fleets, with public transport organizations and small and medium business owners. It is a highly flexible business model. Indeed, within Europe the sales networks vary from country to country. In Germany, for ex-ample, we work through Pirelli-owned chains, such as Pneumobil, and serving large-scale German and Austrian fleets such as Gartner, Hödlmayr International, LKW Augustin, Betz, Deutsche Bahn, and others, while increasing our market share. Product quality is an essential driver in this strategy. Pneuhage, another large-scale distribution chain, conducted reli-ability tests of Pirelli tyres at their own ex-pense and selected them as a benchmark of durability, resistance and integrity.
And in other European nations?G.B. —IIn the U.K., we seek to follow the German business model. In Spain and It-aly, where fleets are less prevalent, there are a great many active small businesses, and the distribution networks are highly
complex, we are working to improve the clarity of our sales conditions and the transparency of our offering. And this commitment is helping us to increase market share. Italy, too, is where we first introduce innovative services in financ-ing and support.
Such as?G.B. —Credityre, with BNL-BNP in Italy and the BNP-Paribas network elsewhere in Europe, a privileged channel of financ-ing for both small businesses and large fleets (see article on page 9). Or CQ24, a Europe-wide tyre repair and replace-ment service, because the first goal for a transport business is to keep the trucks rolling, and we are there to help when-ever needed.
And services aimed at extending tyre life?G.B. —We have an ideal solution for re-treads: a network of certified retread-ers that offer Novateck, a Pirelli “original” range that results in an excellent retread and comes with an added guarantee on the tyre’s “second life”. And we plan to ex-pand this European model to other inter-national markets, as well.
Let’s talk about the other markets then.G.B. —In Brazil, we are maintaining our longstanding position of leadership, thanks in part to the Pirelli single-brand distribution network, which has been made even more effective by optimiz-ing coverage of the region. In China, a highly dynamic market, we are focusing on tubeless and on the new “regional” products in order to drive the market towards quality and safety. In Turkey, we are further supporting our position of co-leadership with a single-brand net-work and growing penetration in the fleets of opinion leaders, while adopt-ing European-level standards. In Egypt, our large market share is being ensured by emphasizing quality and prices with our loyal customers and fleets in order to compete against the low-cost prod-ucts. Here, too, we are playing the inno-vation card and focusing on tubeless tyres, which are new to this market and so promise to provide interesting growth rates.
Quality and transparency are our strengths
Interviewwith Gregorio Borgo,Sales Director for Pirelli Truck
Gregorio BorgoSales Director
for Pirelli Truck
Sottozero Serie ii:winter’S beSt friendS.
pire l l i . com
reliability iS our paSSion.drive safely without renouncing performance even in winter. with pirelli you can. thanks to its innovative materials and treadpattern, the new Sottozero Serie ii ensures optimum adherence in all road conditions: wet, dry, snow or slush. because driving pleasure is no longer limited to seasons.
™
Published by Pirelli & C. S.p.A. Istitutional and Cultural Affairs
Managing DirectorAntonio Calabrò
Editorial CoordinatorAlessia Magistroni
EditingMaura Corinaldesi
Editorial OfficeVia G. Negri, 10 – Milano, Italia
English Text Editing Studio Associato Bozzola
GraphicsLeftloft — www.leftloft.com
PrinterArti Grafiche Mario Bazzi S.p.A. www.bazzi.it
European quarterlyof the Pirelli Group
Registered at the Court of Milan n. 210 of 29.04.2009
www.pirelli.com
No. 3 — December 2009
3No. 3 DECEMBER 2009
technIcAl InFormAtIon
A label for safety and energy efficiency 15
PAGE
Stuttgart
Koln
Frankfurt
Berlin
Hamburg
Munich
Hannover
servIces
Credityre: financial support for your business 9
PAGE
neW st:01
Ecological, resistantand retreadable12
PAGE trUcK tAlKs to reAders
FAQ21PAGE
technIcAl InFormAtIon
A tradition of research and innovation
PAGE
20PIrellI eco technology
Pirelli’s particulate filters arrive in Germany 10
PAGE
theCal1984
PAGE
22
ProdUct
G88: the new line of products for construction equipment
PAGE
18
In Scotland with: Scotland’s charm comes, above all, from its natural beauty, from its history, from its people, who have illuminated hu-manity in the widest range of fields, and from its legends, whether doleful or dire, the origins of which have been lost
in antiquity. Traveling through the country, however, one also disco-vers an unexpected serenity, both in nature and beyond.Two famous plays by William Shakespeare and Sir Walter Scott were set here, and these works inspired two extraordinary operas, Giuseppe Verdi’s Macbeth and Gaetano Donizetti’s Lucia di Lam-mermoor (based on Scott’s The Bride of Lammermoor). The setting for the former was Glamis Castle, while the latter took place in a ma-nor in the hills of Lammermoor, near Edinburgh. These hills can be seen in the distance from the fort that dominates the Scottish capital, and when the sun sets and the clouds turn a ruddy red, one can al-most hear the echoes of the lovesick aria Lucia once sang. But to avoid falling prey to the castle ghosts, there is one typically Scottish remedy: whisky. It’s not easy to pick the right one, but the
ingredients are plentiful and varied. The most famous distilleries are found in western Scotland and in the vicinity of Glamis, an ancient castle that has been refurbished on a number of occasions. This is where Macbeth, persuaded by his wife, is said to have murdered King Duncan. In the style of nearly all Scottish manors, the castle is surrounded by a marvelous park, rich with fields, woodlands, and wild game. Also a lush green are the surroundings of Inverness, a pleasant town to which Macbeth moved upon invitation of King Duncan, as is Birnam Wood, just a few kilometers from Glamis, the barony of Macbeth. As foretold by the witches, this forest is said to have moved against the assassins so as to restore justice. Green dominates the landscape, intermingled with the blues of ri-vers and streams, lochs and firths, which turn black when flowing over peat and bring water to the distilleries to produce some of the best whiskies. A number of these waterways are interconnected to form a navigable corridor that unites the eastern and western coasts of Scotland. It is known as the Caledonian Canal, bearing the Roman
name of a territory that legions never dared challenge, and is a ma-sterpiece of engineering, featuring a series of locks that function to this day. James Watt contributed to the design of the canal, and it was in this setting that he invented the steam engine in the 18th century.The Scottish are known for being excessively cheap. I don’t know how true that is, but one thing that is certain is that they have eco-nomy in their blood. In fact, renowned economists such as David Hume and Adam Smith have come from Scotland, as did John Law, the gambling economist who instigated many of the world’s great bankruptcies. Scotland was home to the first modern central bank, as well as to the first paper money, and the scent of all this can be de-tected to this day in the streets of Edinburgh.
Contents
sPotlIght
Overland 12: into the heart of Black Africa
PAGE
16Wm Armstrong ltd
Pride and value: the secrets to our success 6
PAGE
4 The magazine for transport professionals 5No. 3 DECEMBER 2009
An interview with Jennifer Whyberd and William Armstrong, respectively Managing Director and Fleet & Truck Dealership Manager at Wm. Armstrong Ltdby Luca Pisciotta
sPotlIght
Pride and value: the secrets to our success
Family model William Armstrong’s four grandchildren who now lead the company
200 employees, 75
motors and 130 trailers,
the success of Wm
Armstrong in numbers
Ford Model T truck In 1927 these were used in Carlisle
to carry all types of goods
Pride is what you spot in the eyes of the four grandchildren of William Armstrong, who now run the family business, while
they speak both of the history and the latest achievements of their company.Walking around the premises of Wm. Armstrong Ltd of Longtown, Cumbria, in a rainy British morning, we observe incoming and outgoing green trucks with any kind of semi-trailer, ranging from milk tankers, to fridge trailers, cur-tainsiders, flats and livestock lorries. Virtually no vehicle can be spotted standing in the huge parking area: they are all out at work. Restructuring works at the buildings, frantic people in the depot and concentrated employees in offices. Everyone smiles.No surprise that “pride and value” is the answer to our first question: “Which are the most critical success factors for your company?”Let’s discover why.
William Armstrong, started this very successful family business in 1927, carrying any kind of goods, from cattle to furniture, in the
Carlisle area, with his small Model T Ford truck, a working replica of which is still conserved at the com-pany’s premises. What is left of that original business in your company today?Jennifer Whyberd and William Arm-
strong —In fact, that is still our busi-ness, on a larger scale and with different shares. Right from the beginning, when Nestlè Inc. settled in Carlisle in 1928, as a result of that year’s Anglo-Swiss commer-cial agreements, our Grandfather won a haulage contract for the transport of milk produced by local farms he had to con-tact himself and convince to sell milk to Nestlè. In 1936 the Milk Marketing Board was formed and Armstrong worked for them until de-regulation in 1994. As a result, collecting milk from farmers in Cumbria and delivering it to the food in-dustry in Northern England, is still one of the activities of the Company. That is, ac-tually, the most stable among our diverse
activities: milk has no seasonality as it is produced and collected every day of the year, on a 24 hour non stop basis. Live-stock transport, on the contrary, is a typi-cal seasonal activity and needs to be in-tegrated with general haulage, if we want to optimize the saturation of our tractor units throughout the year.In addition to this, in order to give more stability to our company in terms of rev-enue sources, we joined PalletForce in 2001, a network of independent trans-porters of palletized goods; and in 2002 we acquired Cumbria Trucks, a com-mercial and industrial vehicle dealer-ship, which we will move from Carlisle to Longtown in the next months.
Which is then, the real soul of your company? Do you consider your-selves as general haulers?J.W. and W.A —In fact, no! We seek any good opportunity to diversify our busi-ness, as this is an important key to endur-ance in an ever changing environment, but we are still very much linked to our
original nature of haulage firm on the agricultural industry.
Starting from the milk business back-bone, in the 50s and 60s our father, Bob,
became a pioneer in the transport of livestock, halting the monopoly that
railways had in the movement of sheep, due to cutting delivery schedules to a fraction of the time and to sensibly re-ducing sheep mortality.Thanks to experience and dedication we are now considered one of the most important livestock transport company in Europe.
How much did the company conse-quently grow in size, from the one-man-one-truck starting point?J.W. and W.A —Nowadays, Wm. Armstrong employs a little more than two hundred people. We own 75 motors and about 130 trailers, located at our three depots, where we also have our own internal workshop. In addition to this we work with more than fifty independent contractors.Our tankers collect milk from more than a two hundred farms and our lorries carry up to a record of 2 million sheep per year, with a best ever weekly peak of 50.000 at the beginning of last October.It might sound funny that our latest generation ventilated livestock lorries based at the Longtown depot can carry 35 cows compared with William Armstrong’s original Model T Ford that could only carry one very co-operative cow at a time!
Are these the areas in which you invested more? We were talking about value, at the beginning of this interview…J.W. and W.A —Correct. We are very tough on our people, when it comes to generating value.We invest on people and we want them to create value. Our training scheme for livestock drivers starts when trainees are 16 years old (we have 9 of them in this moment): they go through lorry cleaning, office practice, cattle management skills, small vehicle handling and, finally, big vehicle handling. They become fully op-erative as drivers, when they are 18, and they are closely monitored till the age of 21. After that Drivers are monitored and rewarded for Safe & Efficient Driving: mar-gins are so tight that sparing on fuel costs generates a big value for the company. This is why every vehicle is a “cost cen-
tre” for us and is closely monitored.This brings us to the second important area of investment: technology. Here value is created through state-of-the-art vehicles and trailers. Ventilated livestock lorries, for instance, grant perfect care and trav-elling conditions for animals, which is a guarantee of quality to our customers.Trailers and vehicles are monitored with satellite systems and black boxes that record data such as humidity and fre-quency of door opening for cattle; quan-tity and location data are collected for milk tankers; driving information are re-corder for motor units. Reports are avail-able for both clients and our Controlling Department.We are now investing on our premises, too: new offices, workshops, and depot are being built in our historical Long-town building, where a canteen and a small museum will also have their place.
6 The magazine for transport professionals 7No. 3 DECEMBER 2009
Credityre: financial support for your business
servIces
Pirelli reaffirms its leadership in innovation, which includes value-added services thanks to a partnership with BNL and other companies of the BNP-Paribas Banking Groupby Luca Pisciotta
In a period in which the European economy is showing some sign of reawakening and businesses are complaining of delays by banks in providing
the financing they need to boost oper-ations, Pirelli has launched Credityre on the Italian market – another step in the overall renovation of the com-pany’s range of products and services, which the company has undertaken in order to better meet the needs of its customers.
As such, it is not a mere financing tool aimed at supporting individual sales, but rather a package of banking, in-surance and other financial services designed to support Pirelli’s business customers on an ongoing basis. It rep-resents true banking and financial-service support for Pirelli customers, whether they be owner-drivers, small transportation firms, or organizations with large fleets.Through a partnership with BNP-Paribas, which is being proactively pur-sued with great success locally through Banca Nazionale del Lavoro (BNL),
Credityre features a vast, highly cus-tomizable service offering.More specifically, Pirelli customers have access to a short/medium-term revolv-ing line of credit, at a variable interest rate, designed for the purchase of Pirelli tyres and additional services for sales and post-sale activities such as installa-tion, removal, balancing, and more.This financing is available for purchas-es of no greater than €25 thousand and may have a duration of between six and eighteen months. The interest rate, amount of the instalment, and payment schedule are set directly with the cus-tomer based on the amount of financ-ing and the customer’s cash flow needs.In the event that a single transaction should exceed the purchase thresh-old or duration for this first option, the Credityre offering also includes a me-dium/long-term option at a fixed in-terest rate for amounts of up to €100 thousand and for a duration of up to thirty-six months. The package also includes opening a current account with very low, flexible management fees, including a zero-cost account in the event of home banking and ATM use only, which is essential for sending unconditional bank transfers to the reseller and serves to better man-age ongoing uses of the line of credit. The individual payments are also deb-ited directly to this current account, thereby eliminating the costs of traditional direct debit transactions.It is also possible for business custom-ers to guarantee the financing with a busi-
ness continuity policy provided by Cardif, the insurance company of the BNP-Paribas group.All of the terms and conditions are sub-ject to particularly interesting ceilings, which are defined by the framework agreement between BNL and Pirelli.In terms of service quality, this agree-ment states that the procedures for grat-ing financing are to be carried out by BNL in accordance with banking indus-try best practices and reduced to an ab-solute minimum for subsequent uses of the line of credit.
Over the short term, the next steps will involve broadening the offering in two directions: geographically, with Credityre to be launched in the other leading European markets, as well, ac-cording to varying procedures and timeframes; and vertically, with a pack-age of services focused more on day-to-day operations soon to be offered to dealers of Pirelli products for heavy-du-ty transport, as well.
A package of banking,
insurance and other
financial services
designed to support
business
Your attention to cost sparing and ef-ficient driving call for a very impor-tant question to us: Which is the role of tyres in your value chain?J.W. and W.A —Quality of tyres, together with driving style, are the main factors in fuel cost reduction. To a different extent, safety is also affected.Our vehicles are checked weekly for tyres, by an external service partner: many of our vehicles travel on region-al roads with severity peaks on tyres when reaching farms and manoeuvring in farmyards. A constant screening on tread depths and pressure is needed, to-gether with the correct rotation of tyres under the vehicles.
You were voted Palletforce Depot of the Year 2003 at the annual awards ceremony, certainly an achievement you are proud of. Which are the other pillars of you pride?J.W. and W.A —We were voted by our fel-low members in that occasion. We were also honoured with the Motor Transport Training Award as Employer of The Year and among all industries as the Appren-
ticeship Employer of the Year Awards both in 2005, for our training pro-gramme. Wouldn’t you be proud of this?We are often considered as a reference for the market: we are contacted by farm-ers, competitors and also Government offices when it comes to law interpreta-tion, best practice and drivers’ assess-ment. We are just proud of what we do, as simple as that…and we are preparing the fourth generation of Armstrong to take over the business: the young lads are experiencing lorry cleaning and cat-tle management already!
In this scenario, which value does Pirelli bring you?J.W. and W.A —Firstly, quality and mile-age. This is the first result we can obtain from our constant measurements on tyre data, and is strictly related to the “hardware” part of our relationship. Our most common sizes are 295/80 R 22.5 and 315/80 R 22.5 on motors and 265/90 R 19.5 and 275/70 R 22.5 on semi-trailers and trailers. Treads? FG85, TG85, AP05, ST35 and ST55. We are now testing some new FR:01 and TR:01.On the “soft” side, we can always trust on the technical expertise of Pirelli’s sales force, both on vehicles and on tyre appli-cations: whenever we had a problem we got an efficient and quick solution.Numbers say it all: we have been buy-ing and testing Pirelli tyres since Pirelli opened its factory in Carlisle, in the late ’60. In the last 20 years, while still testing other brands, Pirelli accounts for about 95% of our tyres. A result you can be proud of.
Quality of tyres
and driving style
are the main factors
in safety and fuel cost
reduction
8 The magazine for transport professionals 9No. 3 DECEMBER 2009
duty commercial vehicles) in relation to local regulations. In other words, today the Feelpure™ particulate filter has proven its validity in Germany de-spite the level of competition among such technologies in this marketplace. Indeed, Feelpure™ is the first filtering system in Germany to be homologat-ed for light-duty commercial vehicles in the euro 1, 2 and 3 classes that re-
duces particulates by more than 90% and that has been recognized by the German motor transport authority for the heavy-duty range, as well. For all of these applications, Pirelli Eco Technology has also obtained homolo-gation for the versions equipped with Aided Regeneration (A/R), which is the best technology available for the very low temperatures that are typical of the stop-and-go applications required for urban transport (street cleaning, waste collection, and light-duty commercial transport). Adding to this the fact that Pirelli filters
are VERT approved for Switzerland,
RDW approved for Denmark, LEC ap-
proved for London, as well as homolo-
gated for Italy, it could be said that a
Feelpure™ filter provides a free pass
for Europe’s low emission zones.
All Feelpure™ products are avail-able in Germany through the tradi-tional Pirelli Tyre network, including Pneumobil points of sale, and through an expert distribution network spe-cialized in emission control solutions, such as Sk Handels Und Vertriebs, Aft Abgastechnik, Krone Filter, Löwer Automotive Vertriebs (for an up-to-date list visit www.pirelliecotechnol-ogy.com).
Germany’s importance for Pirelli Eco Technology is twofold, both as a market for product sales and as a benchmark in the area
of vehicle emission control. After the in-troduction in 2005 of European stand-ards for particulate concentrations in populated areas, Germany has imple-mented low emission zones through-out the country. Berlin, Hannover and
35 additional low emission zones (or
LEZs) now form the nerve centre for
pollution control in Germany. This has been quite a relief for the inhabitants of these protected areas, but also a real obstacle for those who have needed to circulate in these LEZs using unauthor-ized commercial vehicles. And this is a trend that we will be seeing more of in the coming years, given that the gov-
ernment has designed a campaign for
2010 to further limit particulate emis-
sions and will be adding Freiberg,
Heidelberg and Regensburg to the list
of LEZs.In Germany, commercial vehicles and buses in the emission classes euro 1, 2 and 3 needing to circulate in these low emission zones will need to have a particulate-emission sticker certify-ing the emission level of their engines. Most of the LEZ cities require a “green
plakette” certifying a euro-4 level of
emissions in order to enter the pro-
tected areas, and this regulation ap-plies equally to residents and visitors, requiring that everyone comply with regulated environmental standards. By installing a KBA-homologated
Pirelli particulate filter in order to
reduce particulate emissions, even
euro 1, 2 and 3 vehicles can
be considered euro 4 (for the purpose
of pm levels) and may request green
plakettes in order to access all of
Germany’s LEZs.Some cities, such as Berlin, have al-ready begun providing an online in-formation service (at www.feinstaub-plakette.de) where people may view a list of homologated particulate fil-ters that are available in Germany, so that they can make their diesel vehi-cles compliant with the government’s requirements. Pirelli is now included on this list with the recent homologations that rec-ognize the efficacy of the Feelpure™ filter system (for both light and heavy-
Pirelli’s particulate filters arrive in Germany
Feelpure™
has been homologated
by the KBA, the
German transport
authority
Pirelli Eco Technology has now obtained homologation in Germany for most of its Feelpure™ particulate filters, thereby enabling access to Germany’s 35 low emission zonesby Chiara Medoro
PIrellI eco technology
FEELPURE™ AR
not sufficient. In highway-driving conditions, Feelpure™ AR works as a PASSIVE regeneration system.
Use: urban and other stop-and-go•Temperature: 150-180°C < t < 300°C•Aided regeneration: In these applications, regeneration, which is controlled by the ECU, is achieved through a localized increase in tempera-ture in 4-6 points using glow plugs mounted in the inlet end can, which trigger particulate
combustion locally. Power requirements are limited both in quantity and in duration, so as not to compromise the duration or reliability of the vehicle’s battery in any way. Combustion then propagates throughout the filter by way of heat conduction. •The aided-regeneration process developed by Pirelli (patent pen-ding) is controlled by software that also manages emission temperature and counter-pres-sure, while ensuring optimal glow-plug activation.
Use: highway/motorway•Temperature: > 300°C for more than 5% of vehicle use•Passive regeneration: The parti-culate matter that accumulates in the filter is continuously regenerated with the help of an additive which, when added automatically to the fuel (diesel or GECAM™), acts as a catalyst
in order to reduce the ignition temperature of the waste carbon to 280-300°C from its usual 600°C.
This technology was developed by the Pirelli group’s enginee-ring unit for urban and other stop-and-go applications that entail low emission temperatu-res (150-180°C). It is based on the principle of aided regenera-tion, which involves introducing energy from outside the system in order to trigger combu-stion of the particulate matter trapped in the filter. Feelpure™ AR systems are being used in Europe on transit-system buses, waste-collection vehicles, and street sweepers, and in other critical applications where traditional particulate filters are
Pirelli Feelpure™Placement of pressure and temperature sensors
Feelpure™ system partners and installersBusinesses linked to the
Pirelli distribution networki
GREEN PLAKETTE Only for EURO4
vehicles and
EURO1/2/3 with filter
P T P
in out
T
Stuttgart
Koln
Frankfurt
Berlin
Hamburg
Munich
Hannover
Feelpure™ AR Iacts as a passive
regeneration system under highway
driving conditions
10 The magazine for transport professionals 11No. 3 DECEMBER 2009
The symbols found on the side of the
cover show the benefits offered
High Mileage Next generation tread mix Optimized tread area
Recyclability High retreadability
Energy™ Efficient Optimized tread profile Minimal energy dispersion
Low Noise Significantly lower than that requiredby current law In accordance with the norms for 2012
Ecoimpact
These new tyres update the Pirelli range for use on trailers and semi-trailers in the H and R segmentsby Maura Corinaldesi
neW st:01
Ecological, resistantand retreadable
Segments
Levels of severity
Segment H (low severity): mainly motorway use and/or for long distances with a low degree of spe-cific tread wear. This product’s main features are its low level of heat gene-ration and lower fuel consumption.
Segment R (average severity): used on short/mid-range routes, including tortuous roads and other road surfaces that tend to be abrasive (where the lateral forces involved are greater than those of the low-severity segment). The performance require-ments include high traction levels and longer life.
Ecological, robust and a longer lasting tread. These are the most distinctive features of the new ST:01 tyres, which Pirelli has now
added to its renewed range of tyres for use on trailers and semi-trailers in the H and R segments.As announced in Bologna last May in conjunction with the presentation of the new Regional FR:01 and TR:01, the new ST:01 line was launched in September 2009. After the tyres for steering and drive axles for regional use, this third line of the 01 series is specifically designed for trailers and semi-trailers and pro-vides the same optimal balance of user
benefit and compliance with environ-
mental-impact standards. This “green performance” is encapsulated in the concept “ecoimpact”. The first size to be launched was the 385/65 R 22.5, which is the most pop-ular tyre in this application on the European market. When designing this product, the company took into consideration the typical stresses that this segment places on a tyre, i.e. later-al scraping, heavy loads, side-on pres-sures, and shoulder and bead impact. And all based on the needs of the user
in terms of reliability, durability, and limiting cost per kilometre.The performance improvement over the previous product (the ST35) is tru-ly remarkable. Indeed, on average the ST:01 provides 25% greater distance,
20% greater retreadability, and a 30%
increase in cut resistance.
This is the result of innovation in all areas of the tyre’s construction, includ-ing structure, materials, tread design, and profiles, which resulted in signifi-cant increases in the various areas of performance.
Beginning with distance, the life of the ST:01 has been enhanced thanks to:- a specific new high-performance
compound that reduces tread abra-sion, so that the tread wears more slow-ly, thereby increasing durability;- a greater quantity of abradable com-
pound, making the ST:01 wider than the previous line (the ST:35). Indeed,
this new tyre has both a wider tread and a tread pattern with four grooves, instead of five, which ensures greater strength and greater resistance to tears and to side-on pressures;- greater wear conformity, which has been achieved by optimizing the tread profile and implementing the second-generation Zero Degree structure (pat-ented by Pirelli).
The performance
improvement over
the previous product
is truly remarkable
360° of innovationIn structure, in materials, in the tread pattern
and in the profiles of the new ST:01
12 The magazine for transport professionals 13No. 3 DECEMBER 2009
Retreadability is a key factor for this type of tyre in that it extends the life of the tyre even when the tread has been completely worn down. The under-lying structure of the ST:01 (belt, car-cass and beads) has been significantly strengthened with reinforcements and cords that are highly resistant to oxidation, which ensures both great-er durability when new and a greater number of retreads than for the previ-ous product:- second generation Zero Degree struc-
ture, which results in a more consistent wear pattern, while also reducing car-cass stress, thereby enhancing the re-treadability of the tyre;- belt cords that better penetrate the
compound and are more resistant to oxidation and ageing;- internal layer in the tread compound
that generates low levels of heat,
which enhances structure durability
and improves fuel consumption;- lateral kerbing for greater resistance to the potential damage that could be caused by scrapes and impacts;- new cord in the carcass to improve stress resistance and increase control and stability of semi-trailers;
- hexagonal bead wire patented by Pirelli for greater ease of installation;- reinforced bead (fitted metallic bor-der) for greater resistance to lateral stresses and impacts even in the most severe conditions.
Manufactured by Pirelli in Settimo
Torinese (Italy), by the end of the first
quarter of 2010, the ST:01 line will also
include 385/55 R 22.5, a size especially suited to high-volume transport.
Greater durability
when new and
a greater number
of retreads
Second generation Zero De-gree structureThe ST:01 385/65 R 22.5 tyre includes the second-generation Zero Degree structure, which features:1. wider belts to better support the new tread width, thereby improving tyre integrity and consistency in tread wear, which improves the distribution of pressure on the contact patch and promotes balanced, uniform tyre consumption;2. an initial support belt (Bigiro Next design) that is wider than the secondary belt, so as to optimize the distribution of tyre forces, thereby improving dura-bility and retreadability;3. the addition of a cushion which is larger at the edges of the support belts, thereby providing greater mechanical resistance to stress.
Reinforced bead structure1. a bead design born out of Pirelli’s experience in high-stress market segments; the edge is reinforced to absorb impacts against sidewalks and resist the lateral stresses that are typical of semi-trailers; 2. hexagonal bead wire (pa-tented by Pirelli) that facilitates installation and increases density and resistance.
New reinforcing materials (metal cords)1. open-geometry belt cords enhance the penetrability of the rubber compound, thereby pre-venting the spread of oxidation in the event of a puncture;2. highly flexible carcass cords which improve lateral stability and control for semi-trailers.
Tread compounds (dual-layer technology)1. Tread compound that is highly resistant to abrasion and generates less heat, which improves fuel consumption;2. under-layer that dissipates very little energy and makes an effective contribution to better fuel consumption.
Tech notes
Km/uniformity in wear
inte
grity
BBeginning on 1 November 2012, all new car tyres dis-tributed in Europe will need to include a label affixed to their tread pro-
viding consumers with information re-garding safety, fuel efficiency, and am-bient rolling noise for the tyres they are about to purchase.The assessment of traction in wet con-ditions and energy efficiency is to be done according to a scale that ranges from class “A” (the highest, green class) to class “G” (the lowest, red class), which is similar to the classification system al-ready in use for household appliances.At present, the standards for traction in wet conditions have only been es-
tablished for car tyres, but the indus-try is currently conducting a feasibility study for tyres for light and heavy-duty vehicles.The labelling requirements for tyres for heavy-duty commercial vehicles is to apply to all tyres produced on or after 1 July 2012. Furthermore, vendors will be required to declare the tyre class as re-gards fuel consumption, traction in the wet, and rolling noise in all technical and marketing documentation.
This obligation is not to apply to re-treads, professional off-road tyres, or race tyres.In order to help consumers make in-formed buying decisions, European regulations will require distributors to show the labelling to consumers be-fore selling the tyres, as is also currently being done for household appliances.It will be left to the member states to im-plement the supervisory and control mechanisms to ensure that the regula-tory standards are respected.
These measures are in line with the objectives for increases in both driver safety and energy savings. Energy sav-ings, in particular, is one of the pillars of the climate package adopted by the European Union, the three main tar-gets of which are for a 20% decrease in emissions, 20% energy savings through greater energy efficiency, and a 20% in-crease in renewable energy by 2020.
technIcAl InFormAtIon
Labelling requirementDealers must show the label
to consumers before making
the sale
Traction in the wet Tre grip and handling in wet conditions
Fuel consumption The tyre’s energy efficiency
Noise Assessment of the exterior noise made by the moving tyre
The European Parliament now requires labelling to inform consumers on tyre safety, efficiency and noise levelsby Maura Corinaldesi
A label for safety and energy efficiency
Tyre safety and energy
efficiency is assessed
on a scale that ranges
from class “A”,
the highest, to “G”,
the lowest
14 The magazine for transport professionals 15No. 3 DECEMBER 2009
Since 1995, the recurring theme of Overland has been the rediscovery of our planet by way of lengthy expeditions to the most re-
mote corners of the earth.The leading players in these fasci-nating adventures have been IVECO trucks and Pirelli tyres, which have en-abled the Overland explorers to travel some 300,000 kilometres in all thus far.One of the most famous editions was the 2007 expedition on the event’s centenary, which retraced the famous Paris-Beijing route in an original 1907 Itala, for which Pirelli designed hand-made tyres identical to the ones that were used at the turn of the last century.The intention of Overland and its crea-
tor, Beppe Tenti, is that of uniting the voyage with a concrete contribution to the peoples of the countries that the routes reach, including the provision of medical assistance and the delivery of other basic essentials.Trekking International, the organizers of Overland, also make a great contri-
bution by producing programmes of the event for Italian television (RaiUno), so that a great many people can relive every moment of the adventure and enjoy the marvellous landscapes it traverses.Again this year, following the pres-entation in Turin on 24 June, the Overland 12 convoy will leave Italy for the heart of Black Africa, touching fully 32 countries and travelling more than 40,000km during the four-month journey.These are the IVECO trucks that have been specially equipped for the expedition:• 2 Massif 25S15 SW• 2 Musoni 330.30 ANV equipped
with sleeping quarters and canteen
Pirelli tyres have
enabled the explorers
to travel over
300,000km thus far
Iveco truck Scorpion equipped
Great reliability and traction to face
extreme roadway conditions
A trip of over 40,000km in four months, rediscovering the planet while helping the orphan children of eastern Europeby Roberto Pediconi
sPotlIght
Overland 12: into the heart of Black Africa
• 1 Trakker AD380T45W equipped for vehicle maintenance
• 1 Daily 55S18WD providing logistics support
The vehicles will be put to the test, as will the Pirelli tyres Pista PS22 (ANV-Trakker and TH25 Daily) and Scorpion (Massif), which will need to overcome the extreme conditions presented them by the route’s roadways and nat-ural barriers.Indeed, these heavy-duty vehicles will have to blaze trails through the rock of Marocco, the savannah of western Africa, and the deserts of the Sahara and Namibia, while also passing through Zambia, with its marvellous Victoria Falls, the equatorial forests of central Africa, and Sudan, before reach-ing their destination in Egypt.The PS22s (size 14.00 R 20) are not new to such experiences, given that they are regularly used in marathon rallies such as the Dakar, where they have contributed to a number of vic-tories and podiums; and the TH25 (285/70 R 19.5) has already proven its great reliability and traction on all surfaces during the previous edition, Overland 11, which crossed the Siberian steppes and the Gobi desert.For Pirelli, Overland 12 looks to be one of the most arduous, most spectacular adventures of the series.As for the last two editions, Overland promotes the entirely non-profit itinerant humanitarian-aid project
Overland for Smile, the mission of which is to provide dental aid to orphan children in eastern Europe. Dentists, orthodontists, dental hygienist, and other dental assistants are involved in this humanitarian-aid initiative and freely donate their time to assist-ing the children in these orphanages. There are 4 vehicles that are used in the Overland for Smile mission: one heavy-duty IVECO Eurocargo 4x2 truck equipped with a modern den-tal studio with three dentist’s chairs; and three light-duty IVECO Daily Combi trucks that provide shuttle service for the dental staff and chil-dren and are the first to arrive on
the scene as a way of announcing the arrival of the main vehicle.Looking back through his past experi-ences, Beppe Tenti has a curious anec-dote to share. Some years ago in Tibet, at the market in Lhasa, he discovered that the sandals of both the monks and the Tibetan horsemen had been resoled using metal plies of six Pirelli tyres, which some truck driver had changed because the treads had been completely worn down. Beppe Tenti remarked that this was an excellent so-lution, given that, for religious reasons, leather was not an option.
1907 Paris-BeijingThe Itala of Prince Scipione Borghese,
who won this famous rally
Overland for Smile
will be providing dental
aid to the orphans
of eastern Europe
16 The magazine for transport professionals 17No. 3 DECEMBER 2009
For use on a variety of vehi-cles –from “dump trucks” (for sand, gravel, tar, etc.) to cement mixers – these tyres are suited to a range of
severe conditions, both in terms of the roadway surface and the type of mate-rial to be transported. Let’s take the typical use of a construc-tion vehicle: on the work site, with demanding surfaces (mud, cobble-stones), transporting heavy materials (even overloaded for brief periods) for several kilometres and on paved roads. Therefore, these tyres require a degree of versatility that makes them suited to handling both the risk of puncture or of shoulder and bead damage, as well as of rapid tread wear.In construction, the cost of vehicle downtime or of replacement tyres is considerable. For this reason, this in-dustry requires tyres that offer cut resistance and integrity for better re-treadability and longer life.Pirelli’s product strategy is increasing-ly focused on constant improvement. This is equally true of the FG/TG lines, which first (and particularly for the 13 R 22.5 size) benefited from Zero Degree
technology, and this paved the way for the crowning FG85 and TG85 versions.While maintaining the tread pattern of the previous versions, the new G88 line brings with it additional technological improvements, including the next gen-eration of the SATT structure (the same as for the new regional line launched in the spring) and the use of innovative
New lines in 13 R 22.5 and 315/80 R 22.5 sizes designed specifically for use on construction vehicles have been on the market since last Juneby Valeria Aiesi
ProdUct
G88: the new line of products for construction equipment
Tread with dual-layer technology This technology has been optimized
for improved cut resistance
Performance comparison130
110 110105
materials that are even more resistant and durable. Of course, the life of a tyre is essentially a function of two param-eters: durability and retreadability.
For the G88 line, there has been a 10%
increase in durability and a 30% in-
crease in retreadability. This, then, is a significant step forward from the previ-ous lines.Furthermore, the use of treads with dual-layer technology has been opti-mized to achieve greater cut resistance.And in terms of retreadability, there is one further benefit, as well. Thanks to SATT technology, with the G88 line it is no longer necessary to follow a spe-cific rasping direction (as indicated by a triangle on the side of the tyre), which facilitates installation.
Also of great importance in terms of homologation is the fact that the new FG88 and TG88 both bear the M+S la-bel to meet the needs of users with less demanding applications and who pre-fer a homogenous tyre based on the “di-rectional” on/off pattern.And last but not least, the FG88 and TG88 use tread compounds that are free of high aromatic oils, as required by European regulations.
The new FG/TG88s
provide a 10% increase
in durability
and a 30% increase
in retreadability
18 The magazine for transport professionals 19No. 3 DECEMBER 2009
What is the purpose of sipes in a tread pattern?The sipes cut into the tyre tread are very important to obtaining proper tyre per-formance. For this reason, a large part of the time that Pirelli dedicates to tread patterns concerns the study of these sipes. Sipes have at least 3 functions in particular:1) sipes to improve consistency in tyre
wear are designed to optimize the tyre’s contact patch and to better distribute the pressures applied to this area. They are normally positioned where it is neces-sary to reduce the rigidity of the blocks or ribs. In addition, by increasing the tread’s local mobility, they help to better reduce the forces applied;2) sipes to increase traction in wet con-
ditions create additional “edges” in order to increase lateral grip and/or tyre trac-tion/braking. Of course, it’s necessary to find the proper balance in the number of sipes used, which depends on the use of the tyre and the physical and mechanical characteristics of the tread compound used. For example, in “on/off” tread patterns, there should be no sipes, or as few as possible, in order to avoid worsening the cut resistance of the tyre.Sipes also play an essential role in the rain in that they “break” the layer of water that forms on the asphalt.In snowy conditions, the sipes capture the snow, through snow-on-snow con-tact, in order to reduce sliding;
3) sipes for acoustic/
style purposes are an ele-ment that distinguishes the tyre in the eyes of the future user by providing the performance and other particular fea-tures desired. But their function is not purely one of style. In recent times, they have taken on greater importance with the introduction of noise-reduction regu-lations. Indeed, sipes are also used in or-der to alter the frequency of the sounds made by new tyres in order to reduce the noise that can be disturbing to the human ear.
Are there “winter” tyres for heavy-duty vehicles?Current legislation allows for “standard” tyres to be differentiated from “winter” tyres using the M+S label (or also MS, M&S, M/S or M-S), which stands for mud and snow. In fact, European regulations have established that tyres with the M+S label are equivalent to chains.The best tyre manufacturers for medi-um/heavy-duty tyres do have specific products for those who often find them-selves driving in temperatures below -5°C and in heavy snow. In such cases, each manufacturer has different meth-ods for labelling the specific features of their products, but it is common for there to be a snowflake on the side of the tyre.The tread pattern of such a specific-purpose tyre is easily recognizable be-cause it features a dense system of sipes, whereas the width of the tyre will de-pend on the type of tyre design (e.g. for fresh snow, compact snow, mixed condi-tions, etc.).
Can Tube Type tyres (e.g. with a 20” rim di-ameter) be mounted tubeless?
It is very much not rec-ommended to mount a
Tube Type tyre without an inner tube. This type of
tyre does not have a suitable liner compound or liner thickness to
ensure that it won’t let air pass through it and, consequently, through the tyre’s carcass, which could cause serious prob-lems. However, there are tyres with a 20” or 24” rim diameter that can be used tubeless. Such products are intended for niche markets (e.g. military use) and have been designed specifically for use with run-flat/bead-lock systems that can-not be used with an inner tube. Should you not need these accessories, it is nor-mally possible to mount the tyre with a tube (following the manufacturer’s in-structions) using a specific fixed-valve modular rim with seal (either round or triangular).
Winter tyres The snowflake
mark found
on the side
of the tyre
Tread sipes Key to
obtaining proper tyre
performance
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Pirelli Tyre has always been synonymous with research and innova-tion, and a commitment to creating cutting-edge
technologies to produce performance tyres of the highest quality. The great many patents that Pirelli has collected over the years are a testament to this commitment.The first tyres for heavy-duty vehicles, typically for military use, date back to the 1920s. Then the 1960s saw the ar-rival of the “radial” revolution in indus-trial tyres.
Pirelli then introduced “Zero Degree” technology in 1970. The use of two belts positioned parallel (so at “zero degrees”) to the tyre’s longitudinal axis and positioned at the edges of the main belts has resulted in a reliable product that offers an optimal balance of dura-tion, handling and grip. The evolution of technology, of proc-esses, and of materials then led to a se-ries of refinements and new belt struc-tures in order to further improve the performance of Pirelli tyres.The introduction of SATT technol-
ogy came out of the application of the well-known MIRS technology, which Pirelli uses in the company’s products for cars and motorcycles. The prod-
uct is manufactured literally piece by
piece using a technique of materials assembly that features a constant feed-ing of the compounds and reinforce-ments (belts) in a spiral direction onto a “drum” that provides the form. This spiral technique for belts has had two important effects on technology in heavy-duty transport, as well, where it has been adopted for the spiral place-ment of the zero-degree belts. This innovation provided Pirelli Truck engineers with a variety of possible configurations for new belt structures, which led to the creation and patent-ing first of SATT, then of SATT Next and, finally, of the new SATT structure be-ing extended to the Supersingle tyres, which have tread widths in excess of 40cm. The evolution of technology and processes in the creation of belt designs then combined with a series of other Pirelli patents aimed at opti-mizing tread profile (Rotated Shoulder
Rib) and at increasing regularity in tread wear, which culminated in the solution found in the traction treads of the 01 Regional line.For truck tyres, a particularly impor-tant role is played by the structure of the bead area, which needs to en-sure strength both in new tyres and throughout the various retreads that the carcass will undergo.Beginning in 1989, Pirelli patents re-fined the technology of the company’s flat, hexagonal bead wire, which both made tyres easier to install and al-lowed for continued improvement in strength and duration. The use of new processes, together with new, highly resistant, highly flex-ible materials, led to the development of a very robust bead structure, which
provided tyres with improved retread-ability. Finally, the latest generation of Pirelli tyres are the result of many other technologies related to the use of new polymers and new metal cords, which provide belts with greater age resist-ance and improved permeation and ad-hesion of the compounds to the metal cords (which is key to achieving optimal stress resistance for the belts and bead).The new lines of Pirelli truck tyres are the result of a perfect integration of pat-ented techniques and technologies, which have led to the creation of solu-tions that are increasingly focused on the needs of the specific segments in which they are used.
HEXAbeadCore
PirelliPatent
A tradition of research and innovation
technIcAl InFormAtIon
Since the 1920s, the goal has always been that of developing products that unite performance, safety and reduced environmental impactby Fabio Montanaro
Pirelli means innovative
technology for
high-performance tyre
Pirelli TL New Bead Structure
trUcK tAlKs to reAders
FAQA column answering the questions on the use and maintenance of tyres in the road transport sector
20 The magazine for transport professionals 21No. 3 DECEMBER 2009
1984The Cal
A wave, large and green, is coming in off the Atlantic. But she shows no fear. She just looks at the photographer and giggles. The photographer had just told her the blue pattern on her body, almost like a costume, was a “battistrada” (tyre tread). She has no idea what a battistrada is. All she knows is it took
forever to paint on, and it would have been a shame if the Atlantic washed it away. But there she stays, on a beach in the Bahamas, displaying her blue tyre tread and waiting for the slap of the ocean waves. They told her that, in the calendar, she’d probably be September.
22 The magazine for transport professionals
