October 2005 - OMEGA handles tyres safely on-site

The Omega Tyre Handler has been designed and purpose built in Australia to change tyres safely and efficiently on-site.

Clark Equipment Australia Pty Ltd was approached by Marathon Tyres to develop a purpose-built tyre handler that not only met the specific and stringent safety procedures of Marathon Tyres, but those of its clients in the mining industry. The procedures were drafted in response to a tyre-handling incident at a mine and have subsequently been widely adopted.

After the successful commissioning, Marathon Tyres ordered another Omega Tyre Handler for a client in the Hunter Valley.

According to Dean McGuiness (National OTR Manager, Marathon Tyres) "The Omega Tyre Handler is a dedicated unit which offers a number of important safety and operational features. The operator has excellent visibility from the cab through the custom wide mast, which is critical for correct handling and protection of the dump truck or mining and quarry equipment.

The operator can complete the tyre change from the safety of the fully- featured ergonomically designed cab without going into the 'restricted zone' between the handler and the tyre. Further, there is no set up required and tyre changes can be completed faster and more economically compared to hand fitting or the truck mounted Hiab type". He was also quick to add, "The operators are very happy with the significant improvements."

The Omega Tyre Handlers ordered by Marathon Tyres for the two Hunter Valley mines have a nominal lift capacity of 16 tonnes and can handle tyres from 1.5m to 3.9m in diameter with a weight of up to 7.5 tonnes.

Marathon Tyres provides complete servicing and management of off-the-road tyres in the industrial, civil construction and mining sectors in Australia.

Omega Tyre Handlers are designed and built in Australia by Clark Equipment Australia Pty Ltd. They can be specified to suit a specific application and are supported by a national service and parts network.