HF advances new tire building machine

Hamburg, Germany – At Tire Technology Expo 2018, HF TireTech is highlighting its development of a tire-building machine (TBM) to meet market demands for larger sizes, smaller batches and enhanced quality.

Labelled PLT2-SD-Flex, the TBM features a flexible drum concept, which is said to facilitate “diversified production" of highly complex tires.

With just a tool-change, the machine can build all tire constructions currently on the market, in a flat or high-crown building process, according to HF.

“Tire constructions, especially in the layer area, can be built ranging from a C-envelope to ply-down tires,” said a company statement.

These capabilities, it claimed, offer “decisive” advantages in the sidewall area – a critical part in determining tire-performance.

“A precise positioning of the sidewalls over 220 mm width – especially for SUV tires – or the installation of special reinforcement strips to achieve run on flat tire properties no longer limits the construction process,” HF stated.

Tire sizes that previously required a two-stage process can be produced directly on the new TBM, the company added.

Behind the development is the increasing variety of tires coming on to the market, especially larger tire.

This, said the machine maker, means tire makers need to be capable of carrying out quick ‘code changes’ and producing relatively small lots.

There are also increasing quality demands, linked to tire labelling along with requirements to sign OE tire sizes visually on the sidewall.

Manufacturers, said HF, need higher levels of repetitive accuracy and quality and enhanced capabilities to produce new tire designs efficiently.

Tire Technology Expo 2018 takes place 20-22 Feb in Hanover, Germany.