Trelleborg will display its latest innovation the VIP – Variable Inflation Pressure - system at the Farm Progress Show 2017 in Decatur, IL, from August 29-31. The VIP system is a smart and autonomous complete wheel capable of self-adjusting the pressure of a combine harvester’s tire during operation according to its precise load, optimizing the tire’s footprint in order to reduce soil compaction.
Andrea Masella, Brand Manager for Trelleborg’s agricultural and forestry tires in North America, says, “The Trelleborg VIP system represents a major step forward and a great new advancement that producers will benefit from in North America.
“The VIP system is not only able to measure and/or change the tire pressure but also, being an intelligent system, of determining and adopting the right pressure at the right time and in the right place, without manual intervention. This is completely in-line with the precision farming philosophy.
“Self-adjusting tires to their optimal pressure during harvest, the VIP system saves the time required for pressure calculations, and to inflate and deflate tires; inflation and deflation takes place on the move avoiding downtime.”
Tests show that the VIP system achieves better flotation, resulting in lower soil compaction of up to 10.5% less and higher crop yield up to 5% more compared to a standard wheel. This is due to the fact that in a standard wheel the pressure within the tire is constant, so the footprint of the tire varies according to the load, limiting the effectiveness of the tire. As the Trelleborg VIP system changes tire pressure depending on the load, the footprint of the tire remains constant at its maximum dimension.
Directly integrated on the tire’s rim, the VIP system consists of a set of sensors measuring several parameters including load, pressure and temperature along with an electronic central processor controlling a compressor and a valve to adjust the pressure. The VIP system automatically senses whether the machine is in the field or on the road and modifies pressure accordingly, inflating on the road or deflating in the field.
The system also detects when, on the same axle, the load on the right tire is different from the load on the left tire. Giving a huge advantage on slopes, where the VIP system can set two different pressures according to data received, maximum safety is ensured along with high flotation, a constant footprint, excellent handling and low soil compaction. All of this contributes to better efficiency and productivity for the farmer.
Not only giving benefits during harvesting, the VIP system also reduces fuel consumption and emissions in post-harvest ploughing operations. This is due to the fact that a soil with low compaction allows the plough to advance more easily, reducing operating cost and working time.
Already recognized as a significant innovation, the VIP system received a gold medal at the 2017 SIMA Innovation Awards. A prestigious accolade within the agricultural industry, the award acknowledges Trelleborg’s long-standing commitment to developing innovative solutions that boost productivity and efficiency while enhancing agronomic results, reducing operating cost and overall environmental impact.
In addition to the VIP system, Trelleborg will display a wide range of premium radial agricultural tires including the VF1050/50R32 TM3000 designed specifically for spreader applications. It combines the benefits of Trelleborg BlueTire technology, ProgressiveTraction tread design, VF construction and has a D rated (40 mph) speed index.
Farming professionals and visitors will be able to discover Trelleborg’s latest innovation at booth 539 from August 29-31.
