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PRODUCT NEWS
Electrostatic Cling Balancing Technology from Counteract
Counteract Balancing Beads claim to be revolutionising the truck tyre balancing industry through their patented Electrostatic Cling Tire Balancing technology that aims to fulfil the needs of truck tyre- balancing in an efficient and economical way. Counteract
Balancing Beads have been developed and marketed following many years of research carried out by the firm. The system has been proven effective in truck tyres and is based on introducing small spherical beads of insulating material into the tyre. Due to their properties, the beads attain an electrostatic charge as they roll on the inside of the tyre, which is sufficient to hold the beads in place when the tyre stops. The company, Counteract Balancing Beads Europa Lda, is situated in Portugal, thus providing a manufacturing and distribution hub for the European Union, as well as Africa.
The Balancing Beads from Counteract balance the complete wheel assembly in all wheel positions on both trucks and trailers, whilst doing so economically. Further to this, they balance for the life of the tyre, due to the fact that they can adjust to the balanced position as required, providing a one-time balance. This is a function which lead weights are incapable of doing. Another additional benefit is that the beads are protected from road hazards and obstructions inside the tyre and will not fall off in the way that lead weights are prone to doing.
In addition, Counteract’s Balancing Beads have a number of further advantages over other internal balancing agents. The Beads do not absorb moisture, which means the
threat of clumping is reduced. Counteract’s Balancing Beads will also not break down into a dust, which normally causes mounting and demounting problems for installers. This dust is usually created by other dry internal balancing agents that fall to the bottom of the tyre every time the vehicle stops, causing the vehicle and its wheel assembly to vibrate until it rebalances, which occurs after every stop. The repeated nature of this action following every stop can break the product down, leading to the creation of dust and clumping, which is negated by Counteract’s patented
product design that uses electrostatic to keep the tyre balanced even when the vehicle is stationary. This also ensures that drivers, passengers and freight can travel with exceptional levels of ride comfort.
Bill Cross from the US based Cross Truck Equipment substantiates these points by stating that, “Our customers like Counteract Balancing Beads because they’re easy to use, they don’t get a vibration after every stop and they don’t clump up like other brands.”
Also, the product does
not react to metal or alloy wheels or to rubber. Counteract’s product has the added advantage of not damaging the liner of tyre as the beads are non-abrasive micro beads with no edges. Finally, Counteract’s Balancing Beads are environmentally friendly and don’t pollute in the way that lead weights can. They are free of toxins, highlighting their suitability for public authority recycling programmes. The product’s environmentally friendly credentials are illustrated by the fact that it is reusable. Counteract can be
collected from old tyres before being disposed of, retreaded and reinstalled, and once the product has been proven to be free of contaminants and pollutants, the beads can be applied directly into the new tyre. These unique characteristics provide the best of both worlds; mechanical fixed weight balancing of the tyres and the automatic adjustment of internal balancing agents.
Counteract first introduced their Balancing Beads ten years ago and they are now manufactured and sold globally. Counteract Balancing Beads are very clean to work with and
work very well on our trucks and trailers. We run to California and back every day with 80 trucks and trailers so it is very important to me for our units to get the best ride and best fuel mileage possible, and the beads make that happen for me.” The even tyre-wear also guarantees that the product delivers reduced levels of tyre noise by decreasing tyre-tread squirming. Furthermore, Counteract’s Balancing Beads are easily installed by replacing tyres or buying new equipment. This is achieved in a simple way by dropping a pre-measured package of Counteract Balancing Beads into the
result in even tyre wear and reduced rolling resistance, thereby delivering considerable fuel savings, which, according to Counteract, can be up to 9% if used in all wheel positions. Economy is further enhanced by increased truck tyre tread life on steering or free-rolling wheels of approximately 40%.
US based haulage company Delta Express’s, Jeff Harrison supports Counteract’s ability to make fuel savings saying that, “I have been using Counteract’s beads for about 6 months now and have found it to
tyre cavity before mounting the tyre on the wheel. Alternatively, is possible for them to be injected via the tyre valve stem.
Since tyres have different sizes, they have different balancing needs. Due to this, Counteract have developed an easy to follow colour-coded system to ensure customers select the right size application. There are eight package sizes of Counteract Balancing Beads, with each package being a different colour. An application chart is included in every box of Counteract, listing all the common tyre sizes and the corresponding size/colour package to be used.
Further to this colour-coded system, Counteract have created a simpler installation method with their “Bag in Bag” Packaging. The tyre installer opens the outside bag and throw the inside bag directly into the tyre cavity. This method is highly preferred by installers, since it was specifically designed for use with the air-blasting tool to seat the tyre on the rim, thus eliminating the necessity to use an application pump and saving time.
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