TractEasy, TLD’s new autonomous baggage tractor, comes equipped with Camso’s Solideal AIR 561

TractEasy TLD new autonomous baggage tractor

Camso’s Solideal AIR 561 ground support equipment tire has been singled out by TLD to equip its new driverless baggage tractor TractEasy – which has been developed in collaboration with EasyMile, as well as its Jet-16 baggage tractor, their flagship vehicle. Since June 2019, both ground support equipment come standard-fitted with Solideal AIR 561 full assemblies (tires and wheels). “We’re impressed with the dedication of Camso’s development team in designing not just a long-life solution, but one that tackles the specific challenges of ground support applications,” explains Yves Crespel, Communication Director at TLD. “With the Solideal AIR 561, we’re confident customers will be equipped with a performing solution that will lower their overall operating costs.” Camso’s ability to provide a long-lasting tire specifically designed for this GSE application was a determining factor in this partnership. The Solideal AIR 561 is the ideal solution to meet the baggage tractors' unique set of requirements for versatility and manoeuvrability. These vehicles were previously equipped with block tread pattern tires, which are poorly suited for the high-speed, long distances, and short-turning radius of these machines, causing uneven wear of the tires, which leads to recurring vibration issues. In the case of the Jet-16, this affects driver comfort and results in lower tire life – all of which triggered TLD to investigate a more suitable and performing solution.

Tackling challenges linked to GSE applications

“We’re thrilled that Camso has been chosen as the tire provider for TLD’s new autonomous and zero-emission electric baggage tractors,” says Richard Philippe, OEM Sales Regional Director – EMEA at Camso. The Solideal AIR 561’s distinctive ribbed tread pattern minimizes vibration due to uneven wear and reduces snaking, two important challenges when operating on airport grounds. It provides greater stability, ensuring increased operator comfort and tire life. Its energy-efficient rubber compound also helps reduce wear and rolling resistance, while its unique “lug with sipes” design increases traction in low-grip conditions. “As a driverless vehicle that operates in normal traffic, without infrastructure modification and in all weather conditions, the need for a GSE tire that would excel in reliability, lifespan and versatility was critical. The field tests we conducted confirmed that Solideal AIR 561 was the right tire for the application, not only for our new autonomous vehicle, but also for our core product, the Jet-16,” adds Crespel. Global leading ground support equipment OEMs like TLD seek performing solutions that tackle the specific challenges of GSE applications: turning to tire specialists like Camso who focus on the highly specific needs of industrial niche markets is a natural fit.