GRI introduces “most environmentally-friendly” tyre

Green has long been a byword for environmental awareness, and to ensure nobody doubts the credentials of its latest product, GRI Tires is offering the new Ultimate Green XT in this particular colour. The company says the tyre is its “most environmentally-friendly” product so far.

The GRI Ultimate Green XT contains 42.8 per cent sustainable materials, including bio-sourced and recycled ingredients. GRI builds the tyre with pure natural rubber, silica, recycled carbon black and rubber reclaimed from used tyres. The tyre represents a step forward in energy efficiency, too, with GRI reporting that its rolling resistance is 20.4 per cent lower than the current product. It reduced abrasion loss 26.6 per cent to provide the solid tyre with higher working life.

“Environmentally sustainable growth is our strategy today and for generations to come,” comments Dr Mahesha Ranasoma, chief executive officer of GRI Tires. “We work towards this goal through the way we produce our tyres as well as develop new tyres. The Ultimate Green XT solid tyre for the material handling industry is a result of our drive to create and manufacture products that are sustainable.”

Developed for round the clock use

GRI has developed the Ultimate Green XT over a two-year period as a “premium-plus material handling tyre” that can be used 24 hours per day in three-shift operations thanks to its lower heat build-up and higher endurance.

The green colour version is a non-marking, high-performance tyre developed for “all surface conditions and intense operating environments.” The tread compound of this non-marking tyre contains highly dispersible silica and no carbon black. This formula lowers abrasion loss and thereby reduces particle release into the environment. GRI has used recycled carbon black in the centre and base of the tyre and utilises natural oil instead of petroleum-based oil. For the black version of the tyre, GRI shares that it has “pioneered the use of carbon nanotubes.”

Goes beyond the norm

“In creating the pioneering Ultimate Green XT, we not only considered environmental protection by using a high degree of sustainable materials, but we also focused on improving performance such as increasing energy saving of forklifts as well as extending the lifetime of the tyre. With innovations such as this, we strive to inspire our industry towards making a positive impact on our planet.” stated Prabhash Subasinghe, managing director, GRI Tires.

Mahesha Ranasoma states that GRI Ultimate Green XT “goes beyond the norm” to deliver the “ultimate in sustainability, performance, and efficiency.” He continues: “As a responsible organisation, we have aligned our activities with the UN Sustainable Development Goals of Climate Action, Responsible Consumption & Production, Life on Land, and Affordable & Clean Energy. The Ultimate Green XT has been developed in line with these goals and our unique Green X Circle, thus reiterating GRI’s commitment to sustainability.”

Praise also came from Harris Premaratne, chairman of the GRI Board of Directors, who says he’s “extremely proud” of GRI for having invented such a “visionary and innovative” solid tyre for its customers. “It’s a first on many fronts for the company, the country and the world,” he adds.