Worldwide tire makers convention pondering the potential of polyurethane production

Using polyurethane to cost-effectively construct both pneumatic and solid tires is among several topics of conversation at the International Tire Exhibition and Conference (ITEC) currently underway in Akron, Ohio.

ITEC typically attracts 2,500 visitors from as many as 20 countries. Attendees include tire plant technical directors, plant managers, manufacturing managers, tire development personnel, tire compounders, chemists, chemical engineers, materials engineers, tire designers, tire performance engineers, quality assurance, tire testing, product analysis, product development, tire mold designers and others involved in the development, design and manufacturing of tires. The three-day event features a trade show with more than 100 global exhibitors and ample opportunities to network with hundreds of tire industry professionals from around the world.

Amerityre Corp. President and CEO Dr. Gary N. Benninger will be making two presentations. “A Status Report on the Amerityre Pneumatic Polyurethane Passenger Car Tire” is a recounting of the company’s successful completion of FMVSS 139 testing on a 245/45R17 polyurethane passenger car tire. He will also discuss Amerityre’s efforts to continue prototype manufacturing operations to further evaluate tire properties and to finalize process elements to achieve a production rate of one tire per minute.

Benninger’s “Price Competitive High Volume Solid Polyurethane Tire Production” report is a discussion of Amerityre’s process for manufacturing cost-competitive MDI polyurethane solid tires at a high rate of production. Laboratory and vehicle test data will be presented to the assembled industry attendees.

In addition, a detailed pricing model will compare competitive pricing of the MDI polyurethane tire with that of a solid rubber tire. Performance and manufacturing economics will also be discussed.

“What is significant here is that we have now launched the first of several solid polyurethane elastomer tire products that Amerityre has been developing for the commercial markets, Benninger explains. “We have recently demonstrated the capability of making solid polyurethane elastomer forklift tires at the rate of a tire per minute, using Amerityre’s advanced production technology.”

In May of this year Amerityre started commercial production of solid polyurethane elastomer 15- by 13-inch gage tires for use in farm implements designed for chopping and baling alfalfa or hay.

“We are very pleased with the polyurethane elastomer tires developed for us by Amerityre,” says Gary Stich, president and CEO of customer Oxbo International Corp., a manufacturer of specialized agricultural equipment currently supplying its wares to more than 20 countries. “We believe Amerityre’s tire technology will allow us to achieve greater customer satisfaction through improvements in the durability and performance of our products.”

“We have been working with Oxbo for the past year to develop a tire-wheel combination that would be tough enough to replace the steel gage wheels that have previously been used in this application,” says Benninger. “We’re happy that the tire we’ve developed is more than up to the job and we’re currently working with Oxbo on other tire projects utilizing our solid polyurethane tire technology.”

The first-year volume of the 50-pound gage farm tire is estimated to be 1,200 units, amounting to about $200,000 in revenue, Benninger reports. Other potential commercially viable applications for the solid polyurethane elastomer technology include forklift and aperture tires used in the construction and material handling industries.

Details of Benninger’s two ITEC presentations will later be posted at www.amerityre.com. For more information about Oxbo, visit www.oxbocorp.com.