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NEW ORLEANS REVIEW
Ironhead Tread Range Set for European Debut
Sales of Sailun’s pre-cured tread programme, manufactured at the company’s factory in China, has been available for some time through the company’s North American operation, where the company’s products are marketed under the Ironhead brand name by Ironhead Rubber
Technologies of Woodbridge, Ontario. Here the company offers a full range of tread patterns covering drive, all-position and trailer fitments for long haul, regional and on/off road applications. The range was recently displayed at the North American Tire & Retread Expo in New Orleans.
Now the Ironhead range is being reviewed by Sailun’s European operation with a view to introducing the range in the European market.
Says Salin Europe’s MD Martin West; “The Ironhead (Sailun) retread programme has mainly been driven by
our colleagues in North America, but we would now like to implement a European programme.” According to West, Sailun is now in the process of reviewing the product range and potential methods of distribution within the European market.
Hawkinson Profiles the
NDT- III – Digital Nail
Hole Detection
Hawkinson Group’s NDT nail hole detection machines are among the best known pieces of equipment for retreaders on the
picked up when the machine was new. The new NDT-III, however, lets you know if your SPS dips below 45.
market. The first NDT was introduced as far back as 1983. Now, the company has brought the NDT into the digital age with the launch of the NDT-III. Initially introduced to the market in June of last year, there are now already over 30 NDT-III’s worldwide, and Hawkinson has upgraded over 500 machines to the new digital technology. According to Hawkinson, the new technology has allowed the company to guarantee the best nail hole detection on the market, finding more flaws then any other NDT on the market and improving flaw analysis by as much as 500%.
The NDT-III starts with a new digital power supply that produces a very clean power source at 26kv that won’t fluctuate with incoming power from the outlets. The digital detection board analyses and records each detection spark 500 times compared with just once with the old analogue technology.
All new NDT machines produce over 50 sparks per second (SPS - the key to flaw detection), but as carbon balls, resisters and capacitors age, that can decrease to 20 sparks per second or lower. Since the difference in sound is not noticeable to the human ear, this means that users of older machines could be missing flaws that they otherwise would have
The NDT-III incorporates a number of additional improvements over its predecessor, the NDT-II. These include fewer parts to replace reducing downtime and maintenance, the incorporation of a foot pedal control for tyre rotation and mounting keeping hands free, and a high signal to noise ratio eliminating electromagnetic interference. The new machine also has a smaller footprint than the NDT-II, thereby maximising space and includes an adjustable table allowing the operator to inspect tyres at any height.
NDT-III models now also come with inspection tool holders, power outlets, additional air connections, LED lighting on the inspection arms, an overhead light system and an easily accessible vacuum.
Hawkinson sells HawkPro upgrade kits to turn any style of NDT digital. This includes carbon balls, resistors and capacitors, a new digital detector board and a professional-grade current transformer. Installation of the upgrade kit is easy and can be done in 2-4 hours. Hawkinson now plans to launch a new CE certified inspection spreader this year in conjunction with partners in a number of countries.
Insa Turbo Win
Miss Retread Contest
A competition to ascertain the best looking retread always used to be part of the now defunct Louisville show. This tradition has now been continued by the organisers of the North America Tire & Retread Show in New Orleans.
Dubbed the Miss Retread Contest, the
competition
was hugely
successful with an entry of 22 tyres judged by an expert panel consisting of David Stevens, Managing Director, Tire Retread & Repair Information Bureau, Frederico Schmidt,
Commercial Manager, Vipal Rubber Corporation, and Ron Mohler, Commercial Development Manager, Elgi Rubber Company, LLC.
The winner of the competition was Spanish retreader Industrias del Neumatico, who walked away with a cheque for $5,000.
Pedro Antonio Perez Sanchez and Salvador Perez Lucena of Insa Turbo receive their award for winning the Miss Retread Contest
46 Retreading Business