UK retreader begins shearography testing

ERJ staff report (DS)

Ivybridge, UK -- Bandvulc Tyres Ltd said it recently took delivery of a new high speed shearography machine from Steinbichler in Germany. Assembly and installation was completed within three days and all went without a hitch, said the company.

The machine is now being used to inspect casings (worn tyres) entering the retread manufacturing process.  Testing showed that casing shearography can save on in-process rejects due to casing failures which would otherwise not be detected until each tyre is finally inspected before leaving the factory.

Following its installation this £150 000 machine is now handling 250 per casings per day. Through further automation and potentially extending the period of operation this will increase the quantity processed close to 80 percent of total volume through the manufacturing facility.