Hunter 'WalkAway' tire changer earns SEMA Media Award

LAS VEGAS — Hunter Engineering Co.'s Revolution tire changer with "WalkAway" operation has garnered a Global Media Award from the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) in voting by a panel of international journalists at the recent SEMA Show in Las Vegas.

The latest Hunter Revolution changer — which automates the bead-breaking and demounting functions — was judged a winner by the editors of "Off-Road Drive," a Russian monthly magazine and website.

The SEMA Global Media Awards Program recognizes those companies that manufacture specialty equipment products and accessories that would have mass appeal to consumers in countries outside the U.S.

"Our goal is to have media experts from around the world determine which new products are likely to succeed in their home markets," said Linda Spencer, SEMA Director of International and Government Relations.

This year's program included 30 judges from 19 countries, who reviewed and evaluated nearly 3,000 product entries at the SEMA Show, which ran Oct. 31-Nov. 2 at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

The Hunter Revolution with WalkAway allows the operator to walk away from the machine for up to 80 seconds, freeing him or her to perform balancing procedures or other shop tasks during the longest portion of the tire changing action, Hunter said.

WalkAway also reduces operator effort and the potential for errors, Hunter claims. Self-monitoring WalkAway-equipped changers can be set for tires two through four in a set, Hunter said.

A status indicator lamp signals when the machine is in operation, stopped or requires operator intervention.

The Revolution also features additional autonomous functions such as WalkAway inflation and WalkAway bead massage, Hunter added.