GRI reaffirmed its commitment to protecting our planet by launching the Ultimate Green XT, one of the most environmentally friendly material handling solid tyres in the world. 

“Environmentally sustainable growth is our strategy today and for generations to come. 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,” explained GRI CEO 
Dr.Mahesha Ranasoma. 

The Ultimate Green XT contains 42.8 percent sustainable materials, which include bio-sourced and recycled materials. The tyre is built with pure natural rubber, silica, recycled carbon black and reclaimed rubber from used tyres. This novel tyre provides a higher energy efficiency, due to its 20.4 percent lower rolling resistance than the current tyre. Therefore, using the Ultimate Green XT tyre will result in higher energy saving, whether it is an electric forklift or internal combustion engine forklift. Furthermore, this new solid tyre also provides higher lifetime as it has 26.6 percent lower abrasion loss.

The Ultimate Green XT is a premium-plus material handling tyre, built for 24 hours per day, three shift operations, enabled by lower heat build-up and higher endurance. The green version is a non-marking, high-performance tyre developed for all surface conditions and intense operating environments. “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 GRI Managing Director Prabhash Subasinghe. The tread compound of the non-marking Ultimate Green XT contains highly dispersible silica and no carbon black, lowering abrasion loss and thereby reducing particle release into the environment. In the centre and base of the tyre, GRI has used recycled carbon black. Natural oil is used instead of petroleum-based oil and GRI has pioneered the use of carbon nanotubes in the black version of the tyre.

“Ultimate Green XT goes beyond the norm to deliver the ultimate in sustainability, performance and efficiency. It was developed over two years and tested rigorously. Powerful and robust, this tyre epitomises GRI’s advanced engineering, research, development and manufacturing capabilities,” explained Dr. Ranasoma.  “As a responsible organisation,  we have aligned our activities with the UN Sustainable Development Goals of Climate Action, Responsible Consumption and Production, Life on Land and Affordable and 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,” he further added.

“I am 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,” said GRI Board Chairman Harris Premaratne.