The need for more automation in tire manufacturing has grown over the last decade. The transformation has ushered new factory designs and changes in tire building machines, and process equipment. That said, requirements for more automation and sizable tires have brought enormous changes in the industry. Improvements in raw materials and chemical compounds have led to tires that perform more effectively. Whether it’s compounds offering a better grip in snow and ice or compounds providing improved wet handling, technology continues to enhance tire performance. Tire manufacturing technology has progressed in parallel with tire construction so that tires are now designed to meet specific performance targets and enable improved manufacturability, i.e., more efficiency, lower cost, and uniform production.
One of the most comprehensive technological innovations of the modern tire era is run-flat tire technology. Run-flat technology allows drivers who sustain air loss due to a puncture or cut in their tire to drive approximately 50 miles at 50 mph so they can reach a safe location to change the tire. Over the years, overall development has taken place on the material front, from elastomer, nano-filler, to reinforcing materials like aramid and polyethylene. Developments impacting tire plants and manufacturing processes are as diverse as the penetration of new vehicle powertrains, logistical burdens, the emergence of new markets, mergers and acquisitions, increased value, and scarcity of real estate.
Furthermore, the increasing demands for low-noise and high-ride quality vehicles increase the potential for run-flat tires and, eventually, pneumatics. This has forced manufacturers to build tires with silica, resins that reduce noise.
A myriad of solution providers offer best-in-class tire and rubber tech solutions that advocate ingenuity in technological innovation. In this edition, Manufacturing Technology Outlook has listed top 10 rubber and tire tech solution providers in Europe.
Here are Manufacturing Technology Outlook’s Top 10 Rubber and Tire Tech Solution Companies in Europe – 2021
