THE 2025 PREVIEW

With a strong history in the ‘Go-to-Market’ sector of off-the-road (OTR) tyres since 1998, spanning multiple continents, Koen Vandermeersch launched his consultancy agency, 102psi, in Antwerp, Belgium, in 2017.

To Vandermeersch, responsible OTR tyre management goes beyond tyre life – it’s about helping fleet operators meet business goals. While tyre longevity is important, he stresses the need to maximise business return and consider all related technologies, not just the tyres themselves.

In 2019, he launched The Global OTR Library (www.TheGlobalOTRLibrary.com), a free online resource offering technical information on safety, tools, repair, chains, and more. OTR-related manufacturers and solution providers can submit data books for review and publication.

Inspired by visits to the U.S. and Tire Industry Association events, Vandermeersch curated The Global OTR Conference, set to debut in 2025 after 24 months of planning. The 3-day event will bring together leaders like Yokohama, Kal Tire, AME International/Haltec, Continental, Marangoni, Michelin, Moveero and Tech-Salvadori for a packed agenda in Belgium.

The event opens Wednesday, October 1st, with a keynote by Ciaran Little, Vice-President at Smithers, offering a global OTR market outlook. This is followed by a panel of established and emerging tyre manufacturers discussing future strategies.

On Thursday, Peter Flade, Partner at All in Works (London), will lead an interactive session on team motivation. The day continues with panels on Safety and Service, Tyre Repair, and ‘Extended Tyre Technologies’ like TMS, TPMS, Chains, and Tyre Filling. It ends with discussions on business and technical issues around Wheels and Rims, followed by the formal Conference Dinner.

Friday, October 3rd, wraps up with a networking session and ‘Goodbye Lunch’. David Wilson, Publisher at Retreading Business, will moderate panels on Tyre Retreading and Recycling, key topics reflecting the industry’s shift toward sustainability. Vandermeersch will open the day by sharing his vision and future plans.

While the event naturally draws OTR professionals, it specifically targets fleet owners and managers. With the tagline ‘Meet all your key contacts in one go,’ The Global OTR Conference offers executives a chance to refine tyre strategies and connect with suppliers.

The Global OTR Conference will be held from October 1st–3rd, 2025, at the Hilton Old Town in Antwerp, Belgium. For more info and registration, visit www.theglobalotrconference.com

MEET SOME OF THE SPONSORS

TRC TECH

TECH Europe, a proud subsidiary of the American based TRC Group, has been at the forefront of manufacturing tyre repair materials for over 85 years, supporting every vehicle type across various industries. When it comes to Off-the-Road (OTR) applications specifically, the company recognises the critical challenges many companies face – repairing OTR tyres is not just a cost-saving measure, it’s a necessity.

TECH has long collaborated with industry leaders such as Kal Tire, Bridgestone, and Goodyear, delivering solutions aligned with their specific needs. TECH's Thermacure range of radial repair patches are manufactured to industry standards including ECE 108/109 & BS AU 159 and are approved for use by Bridgestone for European Bandag dealers.

In addition to operational efficiency, repairing tyres rather than replacing them contributes to a more sustainable future - which is a clear focus for TECH & TRC as a global organisation. By extending tyre life, repairs help reduce waste and promote responsible resource use, an increasingly important factor for environmentally conscious businesses. TECH’s VP of Sales & Training, Walter van Loon adds, “At the heart of our mission is a commitment to being a true one-stop solution provider. We don’t just sell repairs, we deliver value, build trust, and help our customers maintain momentum in the toughest working environments.”

JUST EASY TOOLS

Just Easy Tools will be highlighting their Easy Gripper range, an innovative tyre handler engineered for heavy-duty tyre service in mines, ports, quarries, tyre workshops, and OEM assembly lines.

The Easy Gripper’s quick-shift solution ensures it can be easily mounted on a wide variety of carriers – including forklifts, front loaders, telehandlers, and truck cranes – making it a versatile tyre handling solution for any fleet setup.

At the heart of the Easy Gripper’s success is its unique three-point grip, providing exceptional stability and control during all phases of tyre handling. Operators benefit from +/-25° rotation, 90° tilt (carrier-dependent), and integrated cameras and LED lighting, ensuring safe and precise operations – even in low visibility or confined environments.

The flat-top arm design enables it to grip around the tyre even in situations where there is minimal clearance between the tyre and the mudguard or fender – a common challenge in underground mines and ports. And it's not just tyres that are handled with ease; the Easy Gripper includes tools for safe and controlled manipulation of rims, side rings, and bead seat bands – a major improvement in safety and efficiency!

Visit Just Easy Tools at the Global OTR Conference this October.

KLINGE

For over 50 years, KLINGE have been supporting mining operations worldwide in managing their most critical assets: tyres and rims. Through expert services and innovative technologies, KLINGE helps enhance safety and performance across the industry. Their offerings include advanced software, hands-on training, tailored consulting, and rigorous safety audits.

At this year’s Global OTR Conference, KLINGE will showcase their OTR Tyre Service Training, which focuses on best-practice techniques for safe and efficient service. Delivered in a hands-on, workshop-style format, the training encourages active participation and real-world application. KLINGE aims for every trainee to walk away with a new mindset, understanding that “if they weren’t here, the tyres wouldn’t change themselves, and everything would stop. They’re not just tyre guys.”

With over 1,000 people trained across every continent except Antarctica, KLINGE multilingual team delivers programs in English, Spanish, and Portuguese. Their training is tailored to the client’s needs whether for tyre dealers, service providers, or mine site tyre bays.

KLINGE’s team is globally mobile, fully insured, and committed to a safety-first approach. Proudly developed in Australia and supported worldwide, their solutions meet the real-world challenges of tyre management, helping keep operations safer and smarter. KLINGE is trusted by some of the world’s largest mining operators with their field team bringing over 280 years of combined experience.

Following strong global success, KLINGE is now expanding into the European market, and the Global OTR Conference presents the perfect opportunity to introduce their solutions to this new audience.

TMS

UK- and US-based company Tire Monitor System Ltd (TMS®) will be showcasing their TPMS systems specifically designed for Earth Moving equipment. The TPMS kits available can include both internal and external sensors. The Internal Sensors are mounted onto the tyre wall or onto the wheel rim, and the external sensors are screwed onto the valve. Both sensor types transmit tyre pressure and temperature data periodically and when pressures change to the local Hub, which time stamps and stores this data.

TMS® specialises in TPMS (Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems) for industrial and Off-The-Road (OTR) vehicles, supplying industries including construction, mining, and agri-forestry. TMS® is completely independent, enabling customers to choose the best tyres for their application and for each vehicle, offering them the flexibility to change tyre suppliers as required. Customers can therefore make huge cost saving on tyres.

All systems can be supplied as standalone or fully connected to the web-portal so users can get a real-time view of the whole fleet as well as SMS/email alerts when pressures or temperatures are out of specification.

TMS® also offers a free trial of their TPMS, allowing potential customers to try before they buy and see improvements in vehicle safety, performance, and productivity.

At the OTR Conference, TMS® is keen to give demonstrations and show how flexible the system is, how easy is it to configure and all the benefits of the TPMS linked to the web-portal.