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NEWS EXTRA
Galgo Develops STW Tread for Super Singles
substance.
Many of these fires in recent years originated in retreaded casings that contained residues of flammable substances found in some tyre demounting fluids. Cleaning of residues is often insufficient, or when done, is often not done adequately enough to prevent the occurrence of fires.
The main reasons of autoclave fires are:
1.Flammable vapours libarated during curing
2.Oil or solvents on tyres or envelopes
3.Foreign substances left inside the autoclave by mistake such as fabrics
4.Fan engine breakdown 5.Thermocouples breakdown 6.Short circuit on heating elements
To prevent the fires of the autoclaves, the retreaders should perform important points below: - Periodical maintenance of autoclaves annually
- Thermocouple tests should be performed and they should be calibrated at least once in a year
- Ask your autoclave producer to use a minimum of two thermocouples and an alarm system
- The pressured air to feed your autoclave should be dr y and clean, use carbon filters connected to the air inlet
- Make sure that your compressor air tank has an automatic water discharger
- Do not allow to work heating elements without a functionng fan motor
-Autoclave safety valves should also be calibrated annually
- It is also advised to make sure vacuum pumps works properly and make sure the pump oil is changed on time
-Make sure your autoclave is certified to either the CE mark or ASME
-Your operator is advised to check the autoclave every 15 minutes during operation
Akarmak is committed to autoclave safety and applies enchanced safety features to decrease fire risk. For instance, Akarmak Retreading autoclaves have 4 thermocouples/temperature probes; two of them for autoclave media, one is for the autoclave shell, and one is to control the heating elements temperature. In this way, Akarmak provides constant temperature control and if any risk arises, the autoclave curing process stops automatically. This ensures the maximum safety conditions in autoclaves and constant improvements to offer the best autoclaves on the market, according to Akarmak.
Galgo Pre-Q has developed a super single tread design for wide tyres that provides high mileage on highway applications on trailer axles, providing transport
companies with huge savings in fuel consumption thanks to its low rolling resistance
compound design. The Super Single Wide Trailer (STW) design is ideal for 445 / 50R22.5 and 455 / 55R22.5 tyre sizes.
The STW design has seven
ribs with wide rounded solid shoulders offering low resistance to lateral drag, improving uneven wear for these types of tyres.
This tread design is in the process of
being certified by the US EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) under the Smartway program, which
certifies that it offers low rolling resistance, helping
to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by lower fuel consumption on those
transport units with the Galgo Pre-Q’s STW design.
With the addition of the STW tread design
Galgo PRE-Q now offers three Smartway
certified designs, demonstrating Galgo’s
strong commitment to its customers and the environment. Galgo launched the STW design at
the recent North American Tire & Retread Expo in New Orleans.
Safety of Autoclaves
in the Retreadıng Sector
Autoclaves are used in different sectors and applications such as retreading, rubber, glass lamination, composites, sterilisation and so on. Inthe retreading sector, many retreaders have concerns about the safety of the autoclaves in terms of human and material safety. The biggest problem that retreaders face is fires inside the autoclaves and it damages both the tyres and autoclave components.
Simply, autoclaves are produced with a main shell made of special pressure vessel sheet metals, they have to be equipped with thermocouples, pressure valves and controlling units for high safety standards. Therefore, retreaders have to check the safety
functions of the autoclaves before they consider the investment cost. Due to the long expected lifetime of autoclaves, safety is becoming a more important aspect for this important component of retreading plants. According to the search of TRIB (Tire Retreading Information Bureau), almost 40 per cent of retreading plants had more than one autoclave fire in last 10 years in the US.
The tyre retread industr y has seen an increase in the number of fires in autoclaves in recent years. Fires result when flammable vapours liberated during curing are ignited by a static spark or a heating element above the ignition temperature of the flammable
Akarmak Produces Turkey's Biggest Composite Autoclave
An Autoclave with the dimensions of 4,2 m diameter and 14,2 usable length, to be used for composite material production for the aviation industry has been built by Akarmak. This autoclave will be used by Turkish Airlines Aviation Maintenance and Modification Centre.
Akarmak won this project last year after a very strict evaluation by Turkish Airlines against competition from other suppliers from the USA and Europe.
This project is very important for us because Turkish Airlines works with the aviation sector's biggest such as Airbus and Boeing, and we will create opportunities for Akarmak to work with other suppliers of those companies.
The autoclave will be used for large structural parts, such as the wings and wing components, of airplanes. Carbon fibre materials will be cured in this autoclave.
Akarmak, produces autoclaves with ASME, CE and GOST certification and provides a 10-year safety guarantee under those regulationsAkarmak autoclaves are certified by Bureau Veritas, TUV Lloyd, Turk Lloyd and Hartford Steam Boilers.