gkn armstrong wheels

ENGINEERING THAT MOVES THE WORLD
ENGINEERING THAT MOVES THE WORLD
Introducing GKN Plc & GKN Land Systems
A leading global engineering group,
of quality and innovation, operating
Technology and engineering from GKN is at the heart of the vehicles and aircraft produced by the world’s leading
automotive, off highway, aerospace and defense manufacturers. More than 40,000 people work in GKN companies and
joint ventures in more than 30 countries.
“Every day we harness our considerable technology and manufacturing resources to supply the highest quality systems,
structures, components and services.”
GKN operate in four key business areas:
GKN Driveline
GKN Land Systems
GKN Aerospace
GKN Powder Metallurgy
GKN Driveline is the world’s
leading supplier of automotive
driveline systems and solutions.
As a global business serving the
leading vehicle manufacturers,
GKN Driveline develops, builds
and supplies an extensive
range of automotive driveline
products and systems – for use
in the smallest ultra low-cost
car to the most sophisticated
premium vehicle demanding
the most complex driving
dynamics.
GKN Land Systems is a
leading provider of technology
differentiated power
management solutions
and services. It designs,
manufactures and supplies
products and services for the
global agricultural, construction,
utility vehicles and industrial
machinery markets. In addition,
it provides global aftermarket
distribution and comprehensive
through-life support.
GKN Aerospace is a world
leading global first tier supplier
of airframe and engine
structures, components,
assemblies and transparencies
to a wide range of aircraft and
engine prime contractors and
other first tier suppliers. It
operates in three main product
areas: aerostructures, engine
components/sub-systems and
special products.
GKN Powder Metallurgy is the
world’s largest manufacturer
of sintered components. It
comprises Hoeganaes and
GKN Sinter Metals. Hoeganaes
produces the metal powder
that GKN Sinter Metals uses
to manufacture precision
automotive components for
engines, transmissions and
body and chassis applications.
It also produces a range of
components for industrial and
consumer applications.
Wheels & Structures (W&S)
Power Management (PM)
PowerTrain Systems
& Services (PSS)
GKN Land Systems comprises three specialist businesses:
Power Management - world leader in the
design, manufacture and supply of PTO
driveshaft, drive line components, gearboxes,
clutches and tractor attachment systems for
the global off highway markets.
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Wheels & Structures - world leader in design,
development and manufacture of wheels for
off highway applications and pressed steel,
structural assemblies, modules and chassis
systems for the automotive market.
PowerTrain Systems & Services - a global
aftermarket distribution and service business
providing technology for automotive,
commercial vehicles, agriculture, construction,
industrial, military, marine and alternative
energy markets.
with over 250 years heritage
in more than 30 countries.
GKN Land Systems offers a full range of integrated electro-mechanical
PowerTrain components, systems and solutions that transfer power from
the source to your application and with a continually expanding capability
for electric and hybrid drives.
Our world class, service focused, application engineers have a proven
history of building solid, mutually beneficial relationships with
customers and on engineering components and systems into integrated
solutions with increased efficiency.
By taking joint product responsibility, and providing a single source
of overarching project management, we successfully collaborate to
consistently exceed customer expectations.
With extensive experience in the off highway and industrial markets, we
have built a market leading organization, a position we intend to keep as
we continue to develop innovative solutions to tomorrow’s challenges.
It is our constant desire to improve that enables us to design ever more
technologically advanced systems that will allow our customers to produce
more efficient, more environmentally sustainable vehicles and machinery.
Rockford
Armstrong, Estherville
Dessau Nagbøl
Brno
Unna
Rushden
Dayton
Sohland
Telford
Ribemont
Offenbach
Carcastillo
Bruneck
Lohmar
Tokyo
Shanghai:
PM, Stromag
Carpenedolo
La Guerche
Liuzhou
Sarreguemines
Woodridge: PM, W&S
Pune
Wichita
Auburn Hills
São Paulo
Porto Alegre
Montevideo
GKN Land Systems
– manufacturing locations
Wheels & Structures
Power Management
Multi-business
PSS Reman
Stromag Production
– engineering centres
Auburn Hills & Offenbach
Bruneck
Carpenedolo
Lohmar
Rockford
Woodridge
www.gknwheels.com
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GKN Wheels
– the supplier of choice
GKN Wheels’ history dates back to 1910, when
the first steel wheel was manufactured in Joseph
Sankey’s factory in Telford, England.
The steel wheel was strong, mass produced, economical and represented a leap forward for
industry at the time. It may have been a simple spoked design but it bore the hallmarks of a
company growing through innovative products and delivering solutions to the marketplace in
a cost effective way.
Today GKN Wheels is a world leading manufacturer of off highway wheels and an innovative
engineering solutions provider, offering a full service from design, manufacture and testing to after
sales support from our global team of commercial and engineering experts. GKN Wheels supply
the global mining, construction, industrial and agricultural industries and many of the leading
international OEMs, distributors and integrators
GKN Wheels has its headquarters in the UK with manufacturing bases in China, Denmark, Italy, the
UK and the USA with major, world class, test centers in Italy and the USA.
At GKN Wheels, manufacturing facilities incorporate a proud heritage of wheel making backed
by multi-million pound investments in multi piece wheel manufacturing facilities, processes and
painting systems. New materials, design and development and world class testing facilities backed
by a proactive service support team add further value to the supply chain.
GKN Wheels’ products are designed and manufactured to serve in the most challenging environments.
Continuous investment in research, development and testing - and commitment to engineering and
design excellence - lie at the heart of our reputation for outstanding products and service.
Customized solutions, drawing on sophisticated design and development capabilities, are backed by a proactive service
support team focused on adding real value to the supply chain. GKN Wheels is working on industry leading innovations that
will meet the demand for bigger payloads, increased speed and ever more stringent technical specifications.
GKN Wheels truly supports its customers and markets with a global reach and local presence.
“…you can be assured that we will always supply you with the products to meet your needs.”
A brief history
1908 – The first pressed and welded detachable
wheel was designed and manufactured at the
Hadley Site, Telford, UK and
subsequently patented the
development.
1920 – Joseph Sankey
became part of the
GKN Group.
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1970 – Over 3 million
wheels a year were being
produced by GKN Sankey.
1973 – Karl Moller Nagbol
of Denmark became a
wholly owned subsidiary
of GKN Sankey.
1989 – GKN Sankey and
Nagbol Denmark were
combined to form GKN Wheels.
Key
Ag Wheels
Earthmover/Construction
On Highway Wheels
Telford HQ
USA NATC,
Chicago, IL,
USA
Nagbol,
Denmark
Fork Lift Truck
Distribution/Tire Fitting
Structures
Telford, UK
EUTC,
Carpenedolo,
Italy
Liuzhou, China
Armstrong, IA,
USA
Carpenedolo,
Italy
1998 – GKN Wheels
acquired manufacturing
plants in Northern Iowa, USA
(now GKN Wheels Armstrong).
2000 – GKN Wheels acquired
Carpenedolo in Brescia, Italy (now
GKN Wheels Carpenedolo).
2006 – GKN Wheels purchased
Liuzhou Steel Rim Factory (now
GKN Wheels Liuzhou) in Guangxi
Province, China.
2009 – Consolidation of GKN Hubs
and Spindles into the GKN Wheels
business based at GKN Wheels
Armstrong.
2010 – GKN Wheels forms part
of GKN Land Systems.
www.gknwheels.com
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Product Design and Material
Customers demand cost effective products that have
high performance, reliability and durability, and the
expectation is that these requirements increase over time.
GKN Wheels has extensive product design and development capabilities
and are committed and engaged in continually developing and improving existing products as well
as the development of new and innovative solutions. Development is undertaken in close liaison
with tire manufacturers to ensure product compatibility and compliance with relevant regulatory
standards (ETRTO, T&RA, JATMA).
Before any product design is undertaken, a thorough and comprehensive study to fully understand
the customer and machine requirements is commissioned. Initial designs can be based on
engineers’ extensive knowledge of existing products and their applications, or, if there is an
element of uncertainty in the load cases, collect load data from the vehicle itself, using either strain
gauges or a Wheel Force Transducer.
This data is then used to drive advanced analytical models to develop high quality solutions in the
virtual world, before committing to the manufacture of any parts. Finite Element Analysis techniques, coupled with fatigue analysis
supported with a comprehensive material database, are used to develop efficient wheel sections that will meet the performance
and durability requirements. Wheels are designed to meet the requirements of the customer and application without adding
unnecessary weight, which adds costs in terms of higher product costs, increased fuel consumption or reduced payloads.
Innovation on the move
You can be assured that all GKN’s products are designed, manufactured and tested to the highest quality standards, to maximize
strength, durability and ease of servicing. All products have a well proven protective e-coat and paint finish as standard to protect
against corrosion resulting from the on-site harsh environmental and atmospheric conditions such as high humidity and extended
exposure to sunlight.
Testing
GKN Wheels has invested heavily in world class, in-house laboratory testing equipment that is used to support
product development and to verify that new products fully meet customers’ design requirements.
All products are validated at our world class technical centers in Carpenedolo, Italy and Woodridge, Illinois, USA which
provide some of the most advanced purpose built, electronically controlled systems in the industry, including:
• Rim durability testing
• Disc durability testing
• FEA modelling and simulations
• Strain gauge testing and analysis
• Field testing and data acquisition
• Life expectancy/fatigue analysis
We have unrivalled research, development and testing facilities, enabling us to create customized wheel solutions to
match specific equipment and operating condition requirements. Working in close collaboration with customer and tire
manufacturers we can offer a consistent world-wide interface, regardless of customer location.
GKN tests wheels with and without tires, on electronically controlled, purpose-built test rigs, to ensure the durability
of both the rim and the disc. Computers are used to measure strains caused by complex load combinations so that
designs can be optimized.
Wheels can be developed to enhance performance in any application. Designs must meet the requirements of the
customer and application without adding unnecessary weight, which can impact on costs in terms of higher fuel
consumption or reduced payloads.
A rigorous test programme will confirm reliability and suitability, whatever the load or however hostile the environment.
Only when completely satisfied with test results will volume manufacturing begin. Total Quality Management
techniques ensure that every wheel matches the requirements of the original specification once designs go into
production. The company is approved to ISO 9001.
Integrating the feedback and experience from laboratory testing, field tests, strain gauge data and finite element
analysis is used to continuously improve product designs and bring innovative solutions to customers.
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Agricultural Wheels
As the leading agricultural wheel manufacturer for tractors, combines, powered and trailed
machinery, irrigation and spraying equipment, GKN Wheels manufacture single and multi piece
wheels with both round and square, fixed and adjustable discs.
Used globally by all the major agricultural OEMs, GKN’s MAVT wheels have become an industry
standard and incorporate a wealth of design features, making it the most capable adjustable wheel
on the market today. GKN’s MAVT has 16 offset positions and is suitable for operating at speeds in
excess of 30mph. GKN Wheels also design and manufacture wheels which can handle dual tire arrangements.
• Standard product size range width 7” to 36”, diameter 16” to 54” in standard rim profiles W, DW and TW profiles.
Light and Heavy Construction Wheels
GKN Wheels has a leading reputation in the design, manufacture and supply of single
piece, 3 and 5 piece multi piece wheels to the light and heavy construction industries
as well as for a range of industrial machinery.
Suitable for a range of applications including backhoe loaders, skid steer loaders,
motor graders, wheeled excavators, wheel loaders and articulated dump trucks.
Development over recent years has included the move from 5 piece to 3 piece wheels,
meaning fewer components, less material, less
weight, cost effective and enhanced performance.
Standard fixed wheels have excellent strength
properties giving excellent performance at
high loads and high speeds suitable for
extreme on-site working conditions.
Smaller diameter, lightweight wheels are also available for industrial implements such as
telehandlers, harbor cranes and fork lift truck wheels.
• Light and Heavy Construction standard products size range: width 8.5” to 36”, diameter 24” to 35”
• Industrial machinery standard products size range: width 4.5” to 25”, diameter 8” to 30”
Mining Wheels
GKN Wheels design, test and manufacture using leading edge technologies in material specifications and manufacturing processes in a range
of wheels sizes up to 63” diameter to suit a variety of vehicle applications, including haul trucks, loaders, rigid dump trucks, articulated
dump trucks and motor graders.
In response to the very demanding requirements of the mining industry, GKN uses high strength, low alloy structural steel and quality carbon
structural steels, carefully selected to meet the basic structural requirements. Forged material is used in key areas,
including the gutter band and back section, which greatly increases their strength
and fatigue resistance performance. Welds are inspected using ultrasonic
and x-ray techniques to ensure consistent high quality and freedom from
defects. This translates into a greater service life, safer application and
lower maintenance costs.
By working with customers’ design engineers GKN has reviewed the
critical characteristics of mining applications, operating requirements
and the harsh climatic environment to design and manufacture reliable
and durable products to operate under these extreme conditions.
Wheels are designed to meet the requirements of the customer and application without adding
unnecessary weight, which adds costs in terms of higher product costs, increased fuel consumption
and reduced payloads.
• Standard products in size range: width up to 52”, diameter up to 63”
www.gknwheels.com
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GKN Wheels Headquarters
PO Box 85, Hadley Castle Works, Telford
Shropshire TF1 6TG, United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0) 1952 244 321
Fax: +44 (0) 1952 249 551
GKN Wheels Armstrong
PO Box 48, 5453 6th Avenue
Armstrong
Iowa 50514
USA
GKN Wheels Nagbol
Nagbolvej 31
DK – 6640
Lunderskov
Denmark
Tel: +1 712 864 3202
Fax: +1 712 864 7413
Tel: +45 79 84 51 00
Fax: +45 75 58 52 99
GKN Wheels North American Test Center
2715 Davey Road, Woodridge
Illinois 60517
USA
GKN Wheels Carpenedolo and European Test Center
Viale S. Maria 76
25013 Carpenedolo (Brescia)
Italy
Tel: +1 630 972 1281
Fax: +1 630 972 1348
Tel: +39 030 99861
Fax: +39 030 9986234
GKN Wheels Liuzhou
7 Liutai Road, Liuzhou
Guangxi 545007
China
GKN Wheels Telford
PO Box 85, Hadley Castle Works
Telford, Shropshire TF1 6TG
United Kingdom
Tel: +86 772 3915 390
Fax: +86 772 3915 089
Tel: +44 (0) 1952 244 321
Fax: +44 (0) 1952 249 551
© GKN Land Systems Limited 2013
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www.gknwheels.com
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