New drive axle from Hyster will significantly improve tyre life Empty container handling operations can now drastically reduce their tyre bills thanks to AxleTech International’s new ‘XTL™’ (‘Xtended Tyre Life’) drive axle offered by Hyster. The XTL™ drive axle is featured on Hyster’s latest H16.00-22.00XM-12EC series of Empty Container Handlers. AxleTech’s patented axle technology, offered exclusively in Europe by Hyster in 2010, will be shown at TOC 2010.

The new XTL™ ‘tyre saver’ drive axle used on Hyster’s latest Empty Container Handlers will significantly reduce the overall cost of running empty container handling operations. Tyre wear can now be reduced by an anticipated factor of 3 for the front (drive axle) tyres, plus 1.5 for the rear (steer axle) tyres, according to the leading materials handling manufacturer.

“No other forklift truck manufacturer has access to this technology in Europe at present” explains Antoon Cooijmans, product manager for Hyster Big Trucks. “We can confidently prove that the new XTL axle significantly extends tyre life and greatly reduces costs for ports and terminals”.

The Axletech XTL axle has the differential mounted in the wheel ends at each side of the axle, allowing the wheels to rotate independently, greatly helping to minimise tyre scrubbing. Typical conical wear of ‘fixed’ twin-tyre sets, as found on conventional axles, is eliminated but still provides full acceleration and braking power.

“Tyre changes on container handlers are costly and can be time consuming” Antoon adds. “Fewer tyre changes means less downtime, plus less rubber waste means a better environmental footprint”. The axle also provides easier handling and turning manoeuvrability. The introduction of the XTL is the result of a seven year product development programme.

Antoon concludes “Hyster equipment is highly regarded as tough and dependable with the lowest total cost of ownership. The new AxleTech XTL axle is a major breakthrough for both Hyster and the container handling industry that reaffirms our position as a leader in heavy duty handling innovations for demanding operations everywhere”.

The new XTL drive axle technology will be demonstrated on Hyster Europe’s stand, D4, at TOC Europe 2010 in Valencia, Spain.

Hyster plans to roll-out the new AxleTech XTL axle technology across its range of heavy duty forklift trucks and container handlers progressively. Visit www.axletech.com for information on the XTL™ axle technology.