More and more machinery manufacturers are currently facing customer demands to streamline the technical support of their equipment. Despite the possibilities of local service in each country, the speed of response and customer support is a key factor, especially for machinery that is defined as strategic. Also, our equipment is classified as strategic in production facilities due to their high productivity and thus the need for a small number. We are fully aware of this fact and come up with a solution to support our customers with the Augmented assistance programme. With this solution, we try to bring the best solutions and develop our customer service module. In cooperation with external partners, our engineers have prepared a product that will enable the production plant to connect online between the manufacturer, specialists, and other experts in the online space. The advantage of this service product is the possibility of online image sharing and meeting between participants and thus instruct the end customer to correct the device's condition. At the same time, it is possible to see the result of the service immediately. An alternative option, as the result of increasing production variability, is augmented reality (AR) as a form of employee education in interactive training. AR is a unique tool for training and integrating new employees.

On the other hand, it provides a unique tool for overcoming and solving the so-called generational exchange (efficient and effective transfer of many years of experience in training). This type of support brings the end user a benefit in the form of a quick response and, by its nature, can be used for all types of VIPO devices anywhere in the world. All these services become an integral part of the offered equipment and respond to the latest trends in the tyre industry, including IoT, predictive maintenance and analytics (using neural networks and AI).

The production trend of a wide portfolio of products fundamentally affects the performance and productivity of production equipment, not only in the field of tyres. Bead winding machines also face this challenge in semi-product material preparation, where the product portfolio has expanded significantly in recent years. We are aware of this fact in VIPO, and our goal is to dramatically reduce the downtime when changing production, which will create space for increasing the production of equipment. For this reason, we have identified the most significant effects of downtime and we try to eliminate them with new technical solutions on our devices by applying R&D activities. One of them is the automatic adjustment of the manipulator for removing beads from the mould according to the type of product produced. Selecting a recipe will automatically set the manipulator on either a Single or Multi Bead winding machine, which will significantly save the time of setting up the machine when changing production. Additionally, seemingly routine procedures are revised through SMED and Poka-yoke approaches, considering ergonomic principles when replacing individual tools of production equipment. By solving this challenge, we managed to eliminate the necessary setup time by the operator significantly and, in the long run, increase machine utilization time, especially with a high frequency of changes in manufactured products.

To ensure consistent production, it is essential to use the right tools for the product. Many times, in production, we encounter an error caused by the human factor. This can cause a manufacturing mismatch or damage the device if the wrong tool is used. At VIPO, we, therefore, designed a system for automatic detection of used tools according to the selected product type on the device. The machine can automatically check whether the used tool is in accordance with the selected product type and thus eliminate any manufacturing error and collision on the machine. With this solution, we prepare our equipment for autonomous adjustment and production without further necessary mechanical changes by the operator when changing production.

The resulting parameters of the final product are fundamentally affected by the identical production process throughout its course. To meet this requirement, it is necessary to ensure its control and evaluation in its sequence of operations. In the field of beads production, several control points monitor the required parameters, such as the temperature of the preheated wire and the geometric dimensions of the coated wire. These parameters are important indicators of the accuracy of the final product and the stability of the production process. The VIPO R&D team, in cooperation with partners, prepared technical solutions that allow you to check these parameters and, in case of a mismatch, notify the operator of the need to react to a change in the machine settings. Online control mechanism and timely intervention in the process will prevent the formation of non-conforming semi-finished product, which has a positive effect on economic indicators of production.

We are grateful to our customers and partners for developing R&D solutions and putting ideas into practice that improve our products and solutions. Through cooperation, we thus achieve a higher technical level of production and the support of our customers. (TT)

As part of a strategic effort to increase its presence in the region's premium original equipment (OE) market, Kumho Tire has confirmed its plans to establish its first tyre production facility in Europe by 2027.

The company has shortlisted Poland, Serbia and Portugal as possible locations for the plant, which is projected to need an investment of more than KRW1 trillion (USD 705 million). The decision is closely linked to Kumho’s ambition to strengthen its partnerships with European automakers and was revealed by Kumho Tire CEO during the South Korean premiere of Kumho's new Ecsta Sport tyre line.

Kumho has recently secured OE supply contracts with major brands such as Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Volkswagen Group. At the moment, Kumho runs eight tyre production plants in China, Vietnam, South Korea and the US. Its capacity to compete in the premium OE market, however, has come to be perceived as being constrained by the absence of a European production base. Through the benefits of local production, the new facility will improve response to European client requests, save freight costs and shorten delivery times, all of which will strengthen the company's partnerships.

Sentury Tire USA has opened pre-enrolment for its two associate dealer programmes (ADPs), the Delinte HYPERDRIVE Associate Dealer Program and the Landsail Elyte Associate Dealer Program, underscoring the company’s commitment to rewarding dedication and partnership to the Landsail and Delinte brands.

The ADPs, which are customised for each brand and intended to encourage dealers, will formally start on 1 June 2025. Both programmes give dealers access to special benefits, incentives and strong tools to help them expand their businesses. This involves dependable customer service, effective marketing and worthwhile financial incentives to promote dealers' success at every stage.

Beginning in Q3, dealers may earn up to USD three per tyre through the Delinte HYPERDRIVE Associate Dealer Program. Dealers can receive retroactive benefits for purchases completed in Q2 if they register before 1 June. The awards are available for all Delinte PTR, LTR and the new DV3 LMD AS last-mile delivery tyres. For all Landsail PTR and LTR tyres, independent dealers that sign up for the Landsail Elyte Associate Dealer Program can also earn up to USD three per tyre. For customers who sign up by June 1, the new LMD 100 AS last-mile delivery is also eligible for the benefits and will get the same early bird incentive for Q2 2025.

No initial order is necessary. Dealers only need to register to begin making money. According to the monthly programme rewards structure, 48 tyre purchases each month are eligible for a reward of USD one per tyre, 120 tyres are eligible for a reward of USD two per tyre and 240 or more tyres are eligible for a reward of USD three per tyre.

ENSO, a London-based tyre manufacturer engaged in the production of sustainable tyres specially designed for electric vehicles (EVs), has launched its new ENSO Premium range of EV-specific ultra-high-performance (UHP) tyres aimed at drivers of high-performance EVs such as the Tesla Model 3 and Model Y.

Specifically designed for electric passenger vehicles, the ENSO Premium range comes with A/A EU-label ratings for both energy efficiency and wet grip. The tyres are designed to provide safety, increased range and a reduced total cost of ownership. Conventional tyre designs frequently fall short of the special performance needs of electric vehicles, which include greater vehicle weight, regenerative braking and higher torque loads. By lowering tyre wear and rolling resistance, ENSO Premium takes care of these issues.

The company is an authorised provider of replacement tyres for LEVC's electric taxis and has partnered with Uber to install its tyres in high-mileage metropolitan areas. The company now plans to grow throughout Europe and North America, and with ENSO Premium, it is now offering its services to individual EV owners throughout the United Kingdom. According to ENSO, the range offers advantages including longer tyre life and fewer replacements, lower energy usage, fewer charging stops and lower CO₂ emissions and tyre particle pollution.

Gunnlaugur Erlendsson, CEO and Co-Founder, ENSO, said, “We’re plugging a long-standing gap in the tyre market by offering EV drivers a purpose-built, affordable, premium EV tyre alternative that matches the innovation of their EV.”

Kraton Corporation, a leading global sustainable producer of specialty polymers and high-value bio-based products derived from pine wood pulping co-products, has announced a general price hike in North America for its SBS, SIS and HSBC product lines with effect from 1 May 2025.

Following a careful analysis of the effects of recently implemented tariffs, related cost increases and a conclusion that the company cannot independently absorb these repercussions, Kraton is adopting these pricing hikes, according to a company statement. The company further said that it will keep an eye on the scene and reassess these measures promptly in the event that conditions and US import tariffs alter.