Dr. Pairote Jittham and his research team from Natural Rubber Focus Unit, received the outstanding research project 2013, from the Thailand Research Fund for developing and coordinating research projects on the “Energy-Saving Solid Tyres for Forklifts”. The Thailand Research Fund presented the award to Dr. Pairote Jittham at the InterContinental Hotel, Bangkok on August 29, 2014.
Energy-Saving Solid Tyres for Forklifts
Research on forklift Solid Tyres is one of the sixteen finalists selected for outstanding research projects 2013, from the Thailand Research Fund (TRF), MTEC and collaborators from Mahidol University (Faculty of Science), and King Mongkut's University of Technology North Bangkok to obtain solid tyres that help to reduce fuel consumption. The energy loss of solid tyres during working comes from their deformation which results in movement of rubber molecules and aggregate breakage of the reinforcing fillers. From this point of view, well-developed rubber compound formula and engineering design using Finite Element Analysis (FEA) to decrease the deformation can reduce the energy loss of solid tyres.
MTEC research team developed the energy-saving solid tyres having 38% improvement of rolling resistance coefficient compared to the original one of the company, 14% lower than that of the world’s top foreign company, which leaded to 23% decrease in energy consumption. In addition, the tyres have been developed to double in abrasion resistance. In a field test, they could last longer about 70% for the front wheels and 55% for the rear wheels. With all developed properties, these solid tyres can help save cost up to 60,000 baht per forklift in a year. The company can launch them as premium grade solid tyres and increase in 15% sales.