SSAB Strenx steel

 

In 2014, Derek Hird, a Canadian manufacturer of equipment and components for skid-steer loaders, founded his company Evolution Wheel with the express purpose of setting a new performance standard in the demanding skid-steer segment.

Fast-forward four years and Evolution Wheel is making a name for itself as one of the quality leaders in its field. The company designs and delivers a skid steer tire system that allows for maximum traction, durability, puncture resistance and versatility across machine sizes and brand types. It also offers a segmented approach for tire repair where one or more components can be replaced as needed rather than 100 percent replacement required by competitor tires. 

One of the reasons for the company’s success is the superior quality steel used in its products, according to Owner Derek Hird. Evolution Wheel uses Strenx 700 steel from SSAB in the rims of both of its EWRS-AT and EWRS-HS series of non-pneumatic tires. “To the best of my knowledge, we’re the only manufacturer using premium-grade QT100 steel in the rims of our tires,” says Hird.

With customers from a variety of demanding sectors – from heavy construction to mining, agriculture and waste management – quality and durability are two of the non-negotiable features for Evolution Wheel. “We’re able to offer our customers a higher return on investment due to the premium quality of our products,” says Hird.

He explains that using Strenx instead of mild steel for the rim of the tire reduces the weight of the rim by as much as 20 to 30 percent, which, in turn, cuts the weight of the tire by 10 to 15 percent. 

“A lighter tire reduces stress on the drivetrain motors of the skid-steer loader,” he says. “Stress on the machine is one of the primary causes of premature failure, but, with our products, this risk is significantly smaller.”

The robustness of the rim is crucial because it makes the tire serviceable and retreadable. The rim on Evolution Wheel’s tires is designed to withstand up to 20,000 hours of use and up to 12 retreads. Hird explains that, while these tires may have a higher upfront investment cost, they more than make up for it with their extended lifespan.

SSAB Strenx steel wheels“We estimate that our tires reduce total lifecycle costs by up to 20 percent,” he says. “We wanted a steel that could handle abuse over time and would be almost indestructible. In fact, Strenx has met and exceeded our expectations: of all the tires we’ve sold, we’ve still never had a rim failure.”

In addition to using Strenx in its products, Evolution Wheel also recently joined SSAB’s My Inner Strenx program.

“Using SSAB steel is like a stamp of quality,” says Hird. “It tells the market we’re investing in premium quality materials to make a first-rate product.”

“Being part of the My Inner Strenx program allows us to differentiate ourselves as the only company using premium grade QT100 steel instead of mild steel in our rims. “Going forward, we’ll use the Strenx brand in our digital marketing and social media to set ourselves apart from the competition,” he concludes.

The Evolution Wheel Advantage
- By using Strenx, Evolution Wheel is able to reduce the weight of the rim on its tires by as much as 20 or 30 percent
- A lower rim weight reduces the weight of the tire, limiting the stress on the drivetrain motors and thus extending the lifecycle of the skid-steer loader
- Evolution Wheel’s rims are designed for up to 20,000 hours of use and up to 12 retreads
- A serviceable, retreadable tire has a longer product lifespan, and can result in up to a 20-percent reduction in total lifecycle cost

http://www.evolutionwheel.com/