In a short time, OTR has cemented its reputation as a central source for tyre, wheel and axle needs, with all products and services under one roof.
The past couple of years have seen OTR firm its position as a one-stop shop for tyre, wheel and axle customers across the construction, mining, transport and agriculture industries.
Its nationwide service strategy expanded its presence across the country, with OTR’s seven branches being joined by another nine.
The additional locations have enabled the business to create nationwide connectivity to service large commercial customers in the truck and bus radial (TBR) market, in addition to off-road, mining, agriculture and passenger vehicles.
Earthmoving Equipment Magazine caught up with OTR Business Development Manager Greg Lowe to discuss how the company has consolidated its success as a complete solution for tyres, wheels, axles and everything in between.
“Innovation in design, new materials and advanced manufacturing techniques are constantly evolving at OTR,” he said.
“We work closely with our customers to offer products that suit the task at hand, while offering market-leading pricing.
“This strategy is supported by sustainable manufacturing policies that have made us one of the only Australian manufacturers left in this market.”
Extended life for haul truck wheels
Key developments by OTR have included the introduction of the Ultra-Life-eXtreme (ULX) wheel, which uses improved materials and design principles to strike the right balance between utilisation hours and product longevity.
“By being a heavier-duty item with data-backed fatigue reductions, the ULX wheel allows operations to save downtime and money by extending the testing frequencies and replacement regimes,” Greg said.
“The ULX wheel brings a high level of safety for haul truck operators, together with an improvement in end-of-life strategy for wheels and rims.”
Tough Australian designs
A milestone was the introduction of the TerraTyre, developed to meet demand from the Australian mining industry for an economical tyre that is hard-wearing, hard-working and delivers performance and durability.
Greg said the design of the product was originally targeted at the heavy machinery market to operate at an attractive value point.
“Since this tyre was introduced, the TerraTyre brand has grown into a standardised range that offers good value, not only in the mining sector but also in the TBR and agricultural fields,” he said.
High performance loader wheels
In response to a need for an efficient, robust and long-lasting wheel that operates in punishing conditions, a new 45-inch HD loader wheel was developed for the OTR range.
Targeted at heavy quarry and mining applications and for use in other extractive industries, this wheel design was specifically developed for the Cat 992 and the Komatsu WA 800/900 loaders.
“These 45-inch HD loader wheels are manufactured to OTR’s XHD design and specification and exceed the Australian Standard AS1554.5,” Greg said.
“Additionally, welding on the production wheel is fully ultrasonically tested to ensure high integrity of the manufacturing process.
“This loader wheel uses the same heavy-duty mounting disc as in the 51-inch heavy-duty wheel. All these advanced heavy-duty components, materials and high-level engineering add up to solid construction and durability for these wheel loaders.”
Specialised tools
A full range of wheel tooling has been developed by OTR. The range includes planetary handle kits and a bolt press tool for use in heavy-duty earthmoving and mining applications.
OTR has designed, engineered and manufactured in Australia a lever-style stand with a 2500kg working load limit to fit 49–63 inch components, complete with integrated forklift pockets for easy handling.
OTR’s reusable transport frames form part of its tool range. These enable users to save on freight costs because they are durable for a long life span and have the benefit of being a preferred option for transport companies.
It also offers pre-seating stands used as part of the tyre fitting process to improve efficiency and decrease machine downtime during tyre servicing.
Benefits of a single supplier
Greg said the OTR single-supplier strategy gives customers practical and financial advantages over using multiple vendors.
“There are many advantages of sourcing tyre, wheel and axle solutions from a single proven and trusted source. For one, it lets you focus on streamlining your operations, ensuring product consistency and improving the efficiency of long-term fleet maintenance,” he said.
“With one point of contact, you manage one relationship, one set of contract terms and one invoicing system, dramatically reducing the administrative burden on your procurement and accounts teams.
“Additionally, having a well-resourced and reliable single supplier reduces the risk of mistakes and miscommunication. Such arrangements ensure uniformity in tyre and wheel specifications, which is crucial for safety and optimal machine performance across the entire fleet.
“OTR has always seen itself as a business partner, which leads to a stronger relationship and a willingness to offer custom solutions or priority service. Our field experts work directly with a customer’s team, offering proactive guidance on tyre selection, maintenance best practices and the integration of new technologies.
“No matter which way you look at it, a single-supplier approach for tyres and wheels shifts the relationship from a transactional purchase to a comprehensive asset management partnership, resulting in a safer, more predictable and ultimately more profitable operation.”
For more information, call 1300 CALL OTR or visit www.otrtyreswheelsaxles.com.