At the end of the day, the most decisive reason for innovation is that on the one hand the customer wants the best in the shortest amount of time and for the lowest price, and on the other hand the manufacturer wants to deliver the equipment as expected while making a profit. Everyone's inputs grow, and we all expect lower outputs. Both parties have fundamentally one thing in common: they want a line with the best parameters and at a good price. For one, it is budget and for the other, profit.

The path is the goal.

A well-prepared journey will help accomplish the goal. The path begins in the preparation and pricing of the project, in the communication of both parties. In modularity, in unification and standardisation. Also, in the use of the right CAD software, PLM system, linking the standing documentation with electrical documentation, with pneumatic documentation, and with hydraulic diagrams. The interconnectedness of PLM, PDM, CRM and ERP is is a necessary basis for success.

But even in this area, there is no need to go into everything headless and at once. Choosing a path is about carefully considering all the steps in assembling an imaginary puzzle. The trajectory in the imaginary pyramid of success does not have to be universal. It must be clearly defined, measurable and strategically defined and based on the vision of advancing society.

Customising incremental sections of a path creates a standard.

There is a lot of talk about I4.0 at the moment and it is being applied a lot. But are we doing it right? Are we following the right procedure?

It is not enough to deploy smart components and collect data from the line, create trends and statistics. Adding a number of sensors to have an almost perfect overview of what is happening on the line, increasing the level of automation and many marketing messages. Yes, marketing is also needed, but with a clear head, because otherwise it will cost us a lot and it will be disproportionate to the amount invested. Alternatively, the return on investment will be long and uninteresting.

FoIA, our company, significantly presents, holds, and understands areas of I4.0. However, it can also apply it correctly. Apply it so that it meets mutual expectations and ensure return on investment.

At the same time, company FoIA learns how to correctly apply the principles of I5.0. How not to create waste neither solid nor social nor urban nor waste from the process. This topic has its author, it is a new concept with fundamental principles so that with I4.0 we do not forget what we produce.

Innovation

As I mentioned, manufacturers of lines and equipment for the rubber industry are under pressure from customers, investors, the industry in which they operate. They are under pressure from new expectations and trends. The effect of this is that, in principle, the production system of semi-finished products for the production of car tyres has not fundamentally changed in recent years. I am not talking about the materials used. I have been working in this industry for 19 years, moving from mechanical design, electrical construction, project management to managerial functions and up to the level of CTO.

I have seen several devices around the world from reputable manufacturers and during my 19 years of experience, as a FoIA representative, I can thoroughly assess that the Tyre Technology Production line has a very conservative approach to new technologies and to changing the principle of thinking.

This is despite the fact that we are inspired by the industries ahead and around us, which are in the context of a huge trend in robotics and automation from other industries much further.

Finding a few trends in production facilities or smart factories or being proud that “we have put a robot on the line” will not make us an innovator.

When creating lines, experience, references and working applications often play a role, and many other aspects that we do not like to interfere with, we are glad that they exist, that it is possible to rely on them.

As manufacturers of machinery and equipment, in addition to our technical knowledge, we must also involve our imagination for non-traditional solutions and the ability to listen to the needs of the end customer.

It is also necessary to take into account the qualitative indicators of the customer. Such as the rolling resistance coefficient of a tyre or the unevenness of tyre wear. Negative parameters can be removed by the concept and functionality of the production line for semi-finished products. It is not correct if only one side deals with the problem of the common product (tyre).

Innovation is evolution.

The advantage of FoIA is an unbiased but experienced view of current solutions, the current process of creating documentation, the current thinking in creating the concept of the production line. The path is different in thinking, in the way of properly investing time in new solutions, effective deployment of R&D capabilities on a strategic path to achieve the goal.

Changing not only the product but also the product creation process. These two parallel branches are so tied that they both must go together like two skis. If one dodges without the other, you will fall. If they go together, they go together safely, correctly, and quickly.

The strategic principle will bring the benefits you expect.

If, as a manufacturer of production lines and equipment, the costs of creating new lines are constantly rising and you are proud of I4.0, innovation, automation and robotics, I dare to say that you do not have the right strategy.

If you, as a manufacturer of car tyres, have increasing cost of purchasing new lines and increasing financial return from them, increasing cost of operation and maintenance, then you do not have the right strategy.

We at FoIA strive to change the way of thinking, to firmly tie the process to products, to apply new trends and to create innovations so that the development of both parties is sustainable and brings the expected effect.

FolA is open to cooperation with machine and equipment manufacturers as well as tyre manufacturers. We can find the right path to the goal that we can determine together. Our job is to find a solution to your company’s product or process problem.

Every cause has a consequence, and every shortcoming has room for innovation.

It is necessary for us to bring new solutions, new technologies and not be afraid to apply and test them. (TT)

PS: After all, even such a multi extruders line is "only" a multi 3D printer…

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Toyo Tire Corporation said Mitsubishi Corporation has ceased to be a major shareholder after tendering its entire holding through a treasury share buyback, ending its status as the company’s largest shareholder.

The change took effect on 10^th August , 2026, following Toyo Tire’s acquisition of its own shares through off-auction trading (ToSTNeT-3). Mitsubishi tendered all its shares, excluding less than one unit, as part of the transaction.

As a result, Mitsubishi is no longer classified as a major shareholder or associated company of Toyo Tire, the company said.

Before the transaction, Mitsubishi held 30,822,206 shares, equivalent to 20.07 percent of total voting rights, and ranked as the largest shareholder. Following the change, its holding has effectively been reduced to zero.

The move follows Toyo Tire’s earlier announcement on August 7, 2026 regarding the termination of its capital and business alliance with Mitsubishi, alongside plans to repurchase its own shares.

Toyo Tire said the change would have no impact on its consolidated financial results.

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Linglong Tire has become the first Chinese tyre manufacturer to join the Global Data Service Organization (GDSO) as a full member, marking a step in the industry’s efforts to standardise and exchange tyre-related data globally.

The company joins the non-profit body as its fourteenth member. GDSO was established in January 2022 by Bridgestone, Continental, Goodyear, Michelin and Pirelli to facilitate the digital exchange of tyre data and develop common standards across the sector.

Moh Wahi, Head Of Truck And Bus Tyre Development at Linglong Europe, said: "By joining the GDSO as a Full Member and providing reliable data, we want to be the first Chinese tyre manufacturer to make a positive contribution to the further development of the tire industry and set new standards for the efficient processing of tire data in the digital age."

Riccardo Giovannotti, Secretary General of GDSO, said: "With Linglong Tire as a Full Member, GDSO is gaining one of the leading Chinese tire companies which is committed to digitalization and sustainability in the industry. Together, we will further make progress in developing standards for data processing and future-oriented solutions."

Shandong Linglong Tire Co., Ltd., founded in 1975, operates seven research and development centres globally and employs almost 20,000 people. The company runs nearly 200,000 sales outlets and exports products to 175 countries.

It supplies tyres to more than 200 production bases for over 60 automakers and has manufacturing facilities across China, Thailand and Serbia, with plans to expand further overseas.

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TyreSafe, UK’s charity dedicated to raising tyre safety awareness, has joined forces with Sussex Police’s Road Safety Team to introduce a pioneering digital reference tool for frontline officers. The initiative equips police with immediate, device-accessible tyre safety data during roadside stops.

Developed as a local pilot, the application enables consistent vehicle examinations and improves driver communication regarding tyre dangers. It offers specific checklists for diverse vehicle categories, including motorcycles, cars, heavy goods vehicles, light commercial vans and towed trailers. The system further incorporates guidance on part-worn tyres, common queries and educational talking points.

Following its Sussex trial, the programme holds potential for nationwide adoption across UK police forces. This deployment underscores Sussex Police’s dedication to roadway innovation and reinforces the essential contribution of proper tyre maintenance to overall public safety.

Stuart Lovatt, TyreSafe Chair, said, “This partnership with Sussex Police is a landmark moment for tyre safety enforcement and education. By putting reliable, accessible tyre safety guidance directly into the hands of frontline officers, we can ensure safer vehicles on our roads and help prevent avoidable collisions and breakdowns. Sussex is leading the way, and we hope this model will soon be adopted nationally.”

Superintendent Jo Grantham, Head of Roads Policing, Sussex Police, said, “Our officers are committed to keeping road users safe, and having instant access to this tyre safety resource makes a real difference on the ground. It supports enforcement while also giving us the tools to educate drivers more effectively. We’re proud to be working with TyreSafe on this project and to be the first police force in the country to pilot it.”

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The UK Towing Safety Alliance (UKTSA) has published a comprehensive four-year analysis of incident data from National Highways’ Strategic Road Network, covering 2022 to 2025. The findings reveal a 23 percent rise in total towing-related incidents, driven primarily by a maintenance crisis affecting utility and commercial trailers. While traffic collisions involving towed vehicles decreased by 17 percent, mechanical breakdowns now constitute 77 percent of all towing-related incidents, highlighting vehicle and trailer condition as the sector's foremost challenge.

The data coincides with SMMT Motorparc 2025 figures showing Britain's vehicle fleet at its oldest recorded level, with average car age reaching 9.7 years. The summer harvest season has also arrived, bringing agricultural trailers back to roads after months of disuse. NFU Mutual research indicates collisions involving agricultural vehicles are 56 percent more likely between May and September, reinforcing the need for pre-journey roadworthiness checks.

Utility and agricultural trailers now account for nearly half of all towing-related callouts, surpassing 3,000 incidents in 2025. Regionally, the North West has overtaken the South East as the most incident-prone area, with trailer failures surging 60 percent since 2022, while the North East recorded a 55 percent increase. A growing divide exists between leisure and commercial towing sectors.

Leisure sector improvements, including fewer horsebox incidents and regional caravan reductions, suggest awareness campaigns are yielding positive results. However, utility trailer failures continue climbing, indicating maintenance standards across commercial and domestic sectors require greater attention. Regular servicing, correct loading and proper coupling remain essential to prevent avoidable incidents.

For working trailers, summer represents peak operational period, with agricultural and utility trailers seeing intensive use while rural roads become busier with tourists and cyclists. The Alliance emphasises that trailers stored for extended periods require thorough inspections before returning to service.

The UKTSA urges all towers to perform three essential checks covering tyres, load and connection before every journey. Tyres must be inspected for pressure, tread and deterioration; loads correctly distributed and couplings and electrical connections verified. The Alliance will place ‘The Working Trailer’ at the centre of safety campaigns, collaborating with industry partners to boost maintenance awareness and reduce preventable breakdowns across the Strategic Road Network.

A spokesperson for the UK Towing Safety Alliance said, “It’s encouraging to see fewer collisions involving towing vehicles, which suggests that drivers are becoming more aware of safe towing practices. However, that progress is being undermined by a growing number of preventable mechanical failures. The challenge is no longer simply about how people tow – it’s increasingly about what they’re towing and the condition it’s in. As both tow vehicles and trailers get older, regular maintenance has never been more important.”

Stuart Lovatt, Chair of TyreSafe, said, “Harvest season places extra demands on both vehicles and trailers, particularly those that may only be used for a few months each year. One of the most common issues we see is tyres that appear to have plenty of tread but have deteriorated through age, weathering or prolonged storage. Whether you’re towing a livestock trailer, plant trailer, horsebox or caravan, tyres should always be inspected for correct pressure, damage, cracking and signs of ageing before every journey. A few minutes spent carrying out these checks can prevent breakdowns and significantly improve safety for everyone using our roads.”

Sarah Smithurst MBE, COO, National Trailer & Towing Association (NTTA), said, “Across the NTTA network, we’re seeing a noticeable increase in enquiries from people looking to refurbish older trailers or source second-hand trailers, including imported models, as a more affordable alternative to buying new. While extending the life of a trailer is often entirely appropriate, it’s essential that owners understand that trailers are not maintenance-free. Many have been in service for years, sometimes decades, and components naturally deteriorate over time, even if the trailer has seen relatively little use. Every trailer should be thoroughly inspected before it returns to the road, with particular attention paid to tyres, brakes, bearings, couplings and lighting. Investing in regular servicing and maintenance is far less costly than experiencing a breakdown – or worse, being involved in an incident. The NTTA continues to help and advice new and old trailer users about safety and many are asking for help when towing, especially the reversing aspect of a trailer, now the B&E test was withdrawn. We are also seeing more trailers being repatriated from North America and Europe rather than purchasing new in the UK.”

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