Galileo released airless tires for forklifts
The Israeli company GalileoWheel has released new airless tires called SkidCup for forklifts, made using the patented CupWheel technology and featuring a concave sidewall design and a non-hermetic cavity, which "ensures excellent shock absorption and traction, while also making the tires puncture-proof."
Galileo adds that, while operators of special equipment usually have to choose between solid tires, which are more durable, and pneumatic tires, which improve shock absorption, the new solution combines the advantages of both types of products, without requiring inflation.
It is also reported that airless tires are the most innovative product since the spread of Run-Flat tires in the 1970s and outperform both pneumatic and solid tires in terms of characteristics. At the same time, the global market for special equipment tires is estimated at $16.85 billion.
The main advantage of SkidCup, of course, is that the tires prevent equipment downtime due to punctures, and also reduce the load on equipment components and improve ride comfort by reducing vibrations.
"Equipment downtime can result in costs of over $400 per unit of equipment per day, and since there have been virtually no changes in the tire industry for decades, tire problems can significantly increase these costs due to punctures and equipment damage," said Armin Schoen, CEO of Galileo. "We're not just introducing new tires, we're rethinking what they can be. Our patented CupWheel technology represents a fundamentally new tire design that opens a new era in the history of tires for industrial equipment."
Galileo's range also includes AgriCup tires for tractors and IrriCup tires for circular irrigation systems.
"Traditionally, tire development involves gradual improvement of material properties and tread patterns, which leads to only a small increase in operational characteristics," says Avishay Novoplski, Technical Director and Co-Founder of Galileo. "We have applied a fundamentally new approach and completely rethought the tire architecture, significantly increasing their efficiency. In the industry, the usual difference in traction between basic and premium level tires is 7-8%, and the fact that our products have a 30% advantage confirms the revolutionary nature of our technology."
The premiere of the new tires followed a recent funding round (Series C) carried out by Stine Seed Farm, one of the largest private seed production companies in the US, which brought Galileo around $8 million. The company also received strategic investments from the large Japanese conglomerate Marubeni Corporation.
Galileo Wheel products are sold directly and through dealer networks across the US, and the company is also expanding its partnership with customers in Europe, Asia, and South Africa.
Photo: Modern Tire Dealer, Galileo Wheel