For centuries, inventors and entrepreneurs have tried to reinvent the wheel, but one company, Global Air Cylinder Wheels®️, (https://globalaircylinderwheels.com/ ), just may have pulled it off by creating its unique wheel technology, Air Suspension Wheel (ASW), offering an eco-friendly, cost-effective, stronger, and safer alternative to the highly pollutive traditional rubber tire.
Think of it as a wheel where the steel meets the road.
To further develop its Air Suspension Wheel, the Phoenix-based engineering company has already raised more than an impressive $2.5 million on StartEngine (https://www.startengine.com/gacw ) a patented airless mechanical design constructed primarily of steel with in-wheel suspension.
How it works
The ASW combines an inner steel hub with an outer steel drum which is connected by 8-12 nitrogen-filled air cylinders and four to six oil-filled dampers that provide suspension. On the outer drum, individually bolt-on steel or polyurethane treads are fitted. These individual treads can be replaced without removing the wheel, a time-consuming process that takes up to eight hours with OTR rubber tires.
"The ASW is so much more than just another wheel," said Dr. Zoltan Kemeny, president and CEO of Global Air Cylinder Wheels. "As opposed to the traditional pneumatic tire providing suspension outside the rim, the ASW suspension is located inside the wheel. Essentially, our wheels become part of the vehicle's overall suspension system. Our wheels are an effective and viable option to rubber tires. They are cost-efficient, safer, and are better for the environment, and for those industries that rely heavily on tires."
Stronger, Safer
Shedding rubber also means no more overheating tires or dangerous explosions that can be associated with conventional tires. When rubber heats up, if the heat is not dissipated, it builds up, increasing the tire's pressure and becoming a troubling safety problem.
Eco-friendly
Then there are the environmental benefits of ASW. Old rubber tires are frequently buried or burned, releasing harmful chemicals and heavy metals into groundwater and air. Tires also end up in landfills, wasting space or filling up with water, creating a breeding ground for disease-carrying pests such as mosquitoes.
Mining is an industry that uses and disposes rubber tires at an alarming rate. With more than 35,000 open-pit mines globally, the number of environmentally damaging tires disposed of each year is staggering. A study published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health estimated that tires account for as much as 10% of overall microplastic waste in the world's oceans. A report by the International Union for Conservation of Nature raised that number to 28%.
GAWC's wheel technology has been tested in real-world conditions, and the company has been developing the ASW for OTR mining vehicles since 2015. The company's ASW was trialed at a gold mine site in South Africa in 2015, and the latest version of the wheels was successfully tested in 2019 and 2020 at a gold mine in the U.S.
Kemeny added about his company's wheel technology's potential: "Many industries operate under status quo, resistant to change. Companies that are reluctant to innovate will not survive. Those companies that do adopt new technologies and embrace innovation will prosper. Tire use and its negative environmental impact will change inevitably. Governments are starting to mandate change on tire disposal and this is already accelerating our technology's adaptation into the market. We provide a breakthrough multi-vertical high potential technology. For end-users, it solves a real problem. For investors, it gives them a unique opportunity to invest in an old market."
Cost-effective
Rubber tires are expensive and account for the mining industry's largest expense after payroll. Rapid wear and tear caused by impacts, rock cuts, and extreme and uneven loading mean the lifespan of an expensive mining tire is short.
By contrast, the ASW is durable and designed to have the same lifespan as the vehicle itself (approximately 10-15 years), meaning fewer replacement costs and less time spent swapping out damaged tires. The ASW can become part of the vehicle and has the potential to become a capital asset. Unlike rubber tires, the ASW can be leased with a 15% residual value after 10 years of service. They can also be refurbished and leased again.
"Beyond these serious environmental and budget concerns, off-the-road mining tires represent a huge safety problem for maintenance crews due to potential explosions from overheating, improper inflation or installation, and lightning strikes. Mining companies are forced to use 'Band-Aid' solutions such as patch-up repairs, tire pressure monitoring, tire retreading, tire cooling systems, and tire rotation to extend the tire's useful life. One 13,000-pound OTR mining tire can cost over $75,000 and only lasts six to nine months. That is a large expense for a product that does not last," Kemeny explained.
Top features and benefits of GAWC's ASW technology include:
- Durable and heat resistant, reducing downtime caused by tire failure and replacement.
- Safer: No risk of explosion.
- Easy installation requires no specialized equipment, and individually replaceable treads do not require wheel removal.
- Self-aligning, self-balancing, no wheel rotation necessary.
- No need for tire pressure and temperature checks.
- Up to 40% higher payload capacity.
- Saves at least 8% fuel.
- Reduces cost per hour/mile by up to 60%.
- Up to 30% reduced rolling resistance, reducing CO2 and NOX emissions, and making electrical cars go farther.
- Functions as a flexible torque coupler.
Origins of technology
While working in Germany for a large car manufacturer, Kemeny was inspired to create a new kind of wheel. Through his work, he realized that the physics behind the traditional rubber tire is far from ideal. He put down his first idea for the ASW on a napkin in June 2011. After a few years of "testing in the kitchen" and acquiring the patent, the prototype for a mining vehicle was created in 2015.
His company has teamed up with experts in the field of suspension, steel manufacturing, cylinders, and treads and features more than 200 years of combined engineering experience. The ASW technology has a strong patent portfolio with six granted and 52 patents pending.
Looking ahead: Investments, Market Outlook
The company's ASW is currently in the pre-production phase and is not currently available on the market. However, this year GAWC has ambitious plans to ramp up the production of its wheels with its partner, OTR Wheel Engineering. The company expects ASW to be fully commercialized with rapid adoption into mining fleets in the next two years.
"At this point, our plan is to expand our distribution network and really start taking the OTR tire industry by storm," Kemeny said. "GACW's focus is catering to the demand from miners seeking viable tire solutions, and it is a substantial market for us. However, the ASW technology can be applied to all verticals where traditional rubber tires are used, and this market is immense. Our wheels are gaining the traction we need to thrust us into the main market."
He added that the global OTR tire market is estimated to reach $30 billion in 2022. The overall global tire market is anticipated to reach $322 billion by 2022, with a projected CAGR of 8.4%.
GAWC has raised approximately $4 million so far, created an experienced board of directors, and formed a first-class advisory board. Additionally, they are entering a project agreement with a global over-the-road rim manufacturer for ASW testing in commercial trucks and cars.
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