Still GHmbH has introduced the "Tire-Matrix" smart wheel system for its EKG 216 series high-reach narrow aisle order pickers. In high-density warehouses, reach trucks elevate operators and loads up to 9 meters while turning in aisles less than 1.6 meters wide. The intense, continuous turning at height creates severe lateral shear forces on the load wheels. This causes asymmetric tire wear, where the outer edge of the rubber degrades faster than the inner edge. Worn load wheels create a "spongy" feel at height, degrading operator confidence and reducing the truck's residual capacity.
The Tire-Matrix system embeds a "Piezoelectric Vertical Load Matrix" directly into the polyurethane tread of the rear load wheels. The engineering breakthrough is "Dynamic Toe-Angle Compensation." As the operator turns the steering wheel, the lateral force shifts to the outside wheel. The piezoelectric sensors map the exact pressure distribution across the tire's contact patch in real-time. If the system detects that the outer edge pressure is exceeding the inner edge by a threshold (indicating the tire is being dragged rather than rolled), the ECU commands a micro-electric steering actuator on the wheel hub.
The actuator physically alters the wheel's toe-angle by 1.5 degrees, shifting the contact patch to align with the truck's instantaneous center of rotation. This completely eliminates tire scrubbing and the resulting edge wear. Furthermore, the system features "Wear-Balance Logic." Over a 500-hour cycle, the system continuously logs pressure data to detect tire degradation. If one wheel begins to wear faster, the system slightly biases the steering geometry to shift the load to the less-worn wheel, equalizing tread life. This smart wheel technology extends polyurethane tire life by 60% and maintains rigid mast stability at maximum lift heights.
