Michelin to advance use of automation, AI at tire plants

Clermont-Ferrand, France – Michelin Group has achieved annual gains of around €60 million through the use of digitalisation and AI technologies at its production facilities.

For the last five years, the group has been ‘collaboratively' leveraging automation and data capabilities at its tire plants, Michelin said in a recent media day presentation. 

The ‘‘factory 4.0’ approach, it explained 13 March, combines robotics with AI towards enhancing machine up-time, production efficiency, quality, working conditions and employee skills.

To further advance the concept, Michelin plans to triple its number of robots in operation by 2025, while also applying new AI and vision technologies, for example, in monitoring product quality.

In a related move, the group is accelerating a shift from steam- to electric-curing, which can be six-to-eight times more energy-efficient and significantly reduce CO2 emissions.

"As curing generates 25% of our total energy consumption, we are more than doubling our investments to faster capture the savings from this... patented electric presses technology," said Michelin.