Cimcorp to automate Petlas PCR expansion

Ulvila, Finland – Cimcorp has won a “significant order” to supply a fully automated handling system to Petlas Tire Corp. at its factory in Kirsehir, Turkey, the Finish automation supplier announced 9 Nov.

The automation order will be based on Cimcorp's Dream Factory concept and will cover the handling of PCR finished tires in the tire-finishing and palletising areas.

Work on the order, said Cimcorp, is already underway with the turnkey material handling system expected to become operational in the autumn of 2017.

The order for Cimcorp is part of a large investment programme to expand the Kirsehir plant: increasing Petlas’ PCR production capacity to meet growing demand.

Turkey achieved record car production and export levels in 2015, with production up by 16% and exports up 12% over the preceding year.

The automation of the Petlas plant’s material handling will include robotic buffer stores, tire conveyors and control software.

Using linear robots operating on overhead gantries, the system will automate the handling and transfer of finished tires from the trimming stations, through visual inspection and uniformity testing, to palletising, Cimcorp added.

“Cimcorp’s software integrates the machines into one entity and keeps the flow of material and data under complete control,” said Yahya Ertem, general manager at Petlas.

He added that order would help Petlas fulfil its vision to achieve ‘excellence in business’ and “strategic goals.”