Dramatic innovations can sometimes be a tough sell in the tire and wheel industries. After all, how many times have you been told “No need to re-invent the wheel?” However, in this episode of What’s Treading, Harmen Van Kamp, CEO and co-founder of Global Air Cylinder Wheels, aims to challenge that mindset with a new alternative that replaces the traditional tire-and-rubber setup with a fully mechanical steel structure and an internal air suspension system known as an “air suspension wheel.”
The wheel uses air cylinders to absorb shock and provide deflection inside the wheel itself. The company is currently testing the technology with OTR mining fleets. According to Van Kamp, the testing has shown that the air suspension wheels have produced better ride quality, a tighter turn radius, and more vehicle control compared to standard rubber tires. The result, he says, is a major shift in how fleets think about safety and downtime.
“You’re 11 times more likely to die in a tire bay on a mine site than anywhere else on the mine,” Van Kamp says. “Stop trying to mitigate risk. We’re actually eliminating the risk.”
The wheel is engineered for infinite structural life, Van Kamp says, with bolt-on treads that can be changed during regular service intervals. For mining fleets spending millions on tires over the life of a single truck, Van Kamp says the total cost of ownership could shift significantly.
The Vision for the Air Suspension Wheel
In this episode, Van Kamp also explains:
- Why OTR mining was the logical first application for this product;
- What kind of fuel savings and tread life fleets can expect;
- How the wheel eliminates the risk of blowouts and reduces downtime;
- And how the design reduces rolling resistance by shifting vehicle weight.
He also touches on the long-term vision: licensing the technology for other applications. This could include construction equipment, wheelchairs, and possibly even passenger cars.
If you’ve ever asked whether it’s possible to “reinvent the wheel,” this conversation is a good place to start.
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