By Madelyn Ostendorf
When dealing with tires that weigh over a ton each, safety is a top priority. At the Agricultural Engineering and Agronomy (AEA) Farm, where employees like Nathan Meyers, AEA manager, change up to 30 tires in a year, the emphasis on proper training, equipment and procedures ensures that every tire change is done with precision and care.
The farm’s newest addition helps minimize risk and maximize efficiency. The TireGrabber, a patented tire handler that easily attaches to the front of the farm’s skidloader, holds the tire securely and safely while farm employees remove or tighten the bolts. What once could take several people, a forklift and an extensive amount of time to ease the tire off and put a new one on now only takes two people and about 5 minutes.
“We can more safely handle the tires, which is important because we move a lot of tires due to research projects going on. We also have equipment coming here to the farm and we are shipping equipment out, so we’re constantly changing tires,” Meyers said.
Last year, Darcy Goossen, the inventor and president of the TireGrabber, and Steven Minken, the TireGrabber’s business development manager, were driving through Iowa for the Farm Progress trade show. They took a detour to visit Iowa State University’s campus and check out its farms and facilities. The pair had previously met Meyers at a trade show, and the university had purchased a sprayer jack from their company for use at one of the farms.
As a result of their connections with Meyers, Goossen and Minken decided to lease the TireGrabber to Iowa State at no cost, in addition to a second sprayer jack.
“Steven and I decided we want to start actually donating to causes where we could see the impact and plant seeds of safety for future generations,” Goossen said. “The TireGrabber is user-friendly and perfect for a university setting. Anyone can learn how to use it; it’s very self-explanatory.”
Meyers said the product is a win for everyone and expects the TireGrabber’s use to extend beyond just the AEA Farm.
“We want everyone to be safe, so when we aren’t using it, our other farms are welcome to borrow it,” Meyers said.
Kendall Lamkey, associate dean for facilities and operations, said tools like this help ensure Iowa State is a place that promotes safety and models safe behaviors to students.
“My top priority is to ensure the safety of all my employees,” Lamkey said. "I want to send them home the same way they came to work. I consider the TireGrabber a huge addition to keeping our faculty, staff and students safe, both here on campus and our facilities around the state.”
About The TireGrabber
The TireGrabber is a Canadian-based company that specializes in innovative tire-handling solutions for heavy-duty equipment. Founded by Darcy Goossen, a farmer and inventor, the company developed its flagship product in response to the need for safer and more efficient ways to manage large tires in agricultural and industrial settings.
With its proven safety and efficiency, The TireGrabber’s products are now being adopted worldwide across agriculture, construction, mining, and forestry operations.