Mining tyre chains major Las Zirh is a family firm, established in 1978 by Hüseyin Şedele and now led by his son, the current President and CEO, Fatih Sedele, who IM Editorial Director Paul Moore met at the Global OTR Conference in Antwerp earlier this year. Sedele has worked at the company for over 25 years, a period where it has seen rapid evolution and expansion.
While initially serving the market in Türkiye, after its first chain export to Greece in 1997, export growth at Las Zirh was rapid – it moved to a new location of 10,000 m2 in Hadimkoy, Istanbul, in 2003 and started to operate at a second 11,000 m2 facility in Kirikkale in 2007, which is located east of Ankara.
Las Zirh President and CEO, Fatih Sedele
Las Zirh is a true end to end, fully integrated manufacturer – from the raw special steel wires and bars it sources based on its technical specs, it carries out all the steps in tyre chain production. The steel is mainly sourced in Europe including Italy, Belgium and Spain.
Las Zirh has a large forging and welding shops as well as heat treatment furnaces, metallurgical labs and painting and packaging facilities. The forged links forming the protection chain are produced using 25 Kj and 16 Kj hydraulic hammers to maximise the strength and durability. The rings themselves are welded without using wire rods, electrodes or additional metal in automated welding machines and all must pass the bending, tensile and compression tensile tests. Atmosphere-controlled furnaces have a capacity of 2 t each, with every step of the heat treatment process automated so perfect hardness and strength is guaranteed.
Today, Laz Zirh is one of the three largest mining chain makers in the world, along with Pewag and RUD, and produces all sizes up to solutions for the largest tyres. It produces tyre protection chains in every size for every type of tyre in 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22 and 23 mm models in square, hexagon and decagon patterns. These protective chains are high-strength steel mesh systems designed to shield heavy machinery tyres from external factors, creating an armour effect that protects tyres against sharp rocks, hot slag, metal scraps, and abrasive surfaces.
They are used on tyres right up to and including the Firestone 70/70×57 radial tyre used on the largest wheel loader – the Komatsu WE2350 – as well as for other large loaders including the Komatsu WE1850 and WE1350, plus the Caterpillar 992, 993 and 995. Mining companies are its main customers – and it today exports to more than 70 countries. It is particularly strong in its home mining market in Türkiye and other countries and regions with important mining sectors including Chile, Peru, Australia, southern Africa and others. It has also developed a significant market in North America where it has an inventory warehouse in Florida. The Indian market is also a major strength for the company, especially in quarrying and iron ore.
It has also developed a wide range of protective chain models for different terrain conditions and machine types. Each model offers distinct advantages in terms of ring thickness, mesh structure, material hardness, and lifespan. Its most popular models include the X12 Universal, X14 Royalrock, X16 Superstone, X18 Ultra, and X20 Universal Plus series. Each model is produced from high-carbon steel and heat-treated to enhance wear resistance. Las Zirh uses only certified high-carbon steels in its production process. Each chain link undergoes controlled heat treatment and weld points are tested for break resistance. Products are manufactured according to ISO 9001, EN 663 and IQNet quality standards and pass through a strict quality control phase before delivery.
With a serial number given to each chain, all data can be accessed, from the raw material used in the production of the chain to the details of the workmanship during the production phase. In its modern laboratory, tests such as hardness scanning, microstructure analysis and tensile compression are carried out with reports kept for each chain and presented to its customers as part of a zero defect policy.
Sedele said that selecting the right protective chain model depends on the working environment. For open-pit mining, thicker ring and wider mesh designs are preferred, while underground mining, tunnelling or recycling operations require more flexible, tightly connected structures. Las Zirh engineers perform a customised analysis for each client to determine the most suitable model. In general, high durability steel chains are widely used in heavy industry. They last longer on abrasive surfaces and provide maximum protection against impacts. Alloy chains, which are lighter yet strong, are preferred in environments requiring flexibility and longevity. Corrosion-resistant coatings offer long-term usability.
He also emphasised that regular inspection of protective chains is essential for long-lasting performance. It is crucial to check tension, connection strength, and tyre pressure. Before each shift, chain connections should be checked and worn links replaced. The chain tension must be kept at an optimal level to avoid loose use.
In terms of the aftermarket and spares, the user needs to ensure compatibility of the part with the original Las Zirh code and size, plus correct selection based on the chain model. Part replacement should be timely when there are any signs of wear, deformation, or cracks, and the company says that if more than 5% of a complete chain has been replaced with spare parts, then the chain has reached the end of its economic life. It is crucial to check tension, connection strength, and tyre pressure.
When not in use, tire protection chains should be stored under proper conditions. Chains left in humid environments can rust over time, reducing their durability. Storing them in a dry, well-ventilated space helps prolong their lifespan. Furthermore, applying protective oils to chains that will not be used for a long time provides additional rust resistance.
We talked about the primary role of chains in mining, where the main market is for large wheel loaders: “While tyre chains are mainly known for wheel loader front tyres that have most contact with freshly blasted rock, we recommend to customers to have chains on all four tyres. This is to protect the tyre investment from damage and cuts, but also to keep the equipment balanced due to weight, and actually the rear chains act as an additional counterweight during loading of rock, especially high density material.”
Sedele adds: “Other reasons to use tyre chains on all four tyres is better traction, such as in very wet and muddy conditions, or in show, as well as allowing for better penetration of the rock pile. And of course last but not least operational safety to protect against tyre bursts.”
The vast majority of wheel loaders in mining, especially the larger ones, use tyre chains – because of all of these factors, and maximise availability and equipment efficiency in 24/7 operations. One exception is coal, where the softer overburden material does not bring the same cut risks.
As one of the three main global players – what are Las Zirh’s differentiators? “We have our own link geometries and designs which were developed according to the needs of different operations. For example, for vehicles carrying hot slag in smelters you need to prioritise heat protection; whereas in some mining operations the challenge is the ore abrasiveness which requires a special alloy. We have all the possible required options and a variety of production methods to produce them. There are also differences in the design between mining wheel loaders and mining trucks. Some high altitude mines – such as in Chile, Argentina and Peru, commonly use chains on truck tyres for extra traction due to slippery conditions caused by ice on haul roads.”
He added: “We have years of experience of trial and error, so we know what works for particular customers – so we believe we offer the best design fit for each application, whether its iron ore, granite or copper.”
How much longer do tyres with chains last and how does that relate to the application? “We say at a minimum the chains will increase the tyre life by three times up to a maximum of around ten times. For example in a typical iron ore mine, the tyre life is around 3,000 hours – with a chain that increases to 8,000 or 9,000 hours. In a limestone quarry, a tyre without chains might last 6,000 hours but with the chain it might last 25,000 hours or more.”
The chain almost always lasts longer than the tyre, with premature chain failures mainly due to factors such as improper installation or maintenance, especially in relation to tensioning. With trucks, operating at too high a speed or being overloaded can also damage chains. Failures due to defects or production errors are very rare due to the testing Las Zirh carries out before shipment.
Las Zirh mainly works with local distributors – mainly tyre companies and their dealers. Many of them offer a complete solution including tyres, rims/wheels and chains. Many of them also supply tyre management services and so they are also fitting the chains, or the mining company’s own maintenance team is doing it. It also offers its own training program for chain fitment – and offers this free of charge to customers for the first chain fitting. The local partner then carries out additional training after this point.
It also recently joined forces with Spain’s BYG, a leader in direct spare parts manufacturing and distribution. BYG was founded in 1967 as a family-owned company. It manufactures and distributes direct replacement parts for all major OEM brands operating in the mining, quarrying, and construction sectors. Initially specialising in fastening elements for infrastructure and construction machinery, BYG has gradually expanded its product range to include wear parts and various other spare parts.
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