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)

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MAXAM Tire has further expanded its off‑the‑road tyre portfolio by adding a new 45/65R45 size to the MS406 E4/L4 series. This larger variant is specifically engineered for heavy loader applications, offering operators an additional high‑performance solution that prioritises strength, longevity and cost efficiency over the long term.

The tyre’s deep E4/L4 tread pattern is designed to deliver strong traction while resisting wear and cuts, even in severe working conditions. This aggressive yet durable design helps loader fleets boost productivity, as the tyre maintains grip and reduces downtime. Over its service life, users can expect a lower cost per operating hour.

To withstand harsh job sites, the MS406 incorporates a thick undertread that provides enhanced puncture protection. Its robust casing not only endures heavy use but also supports excellent retreadability, further extending the tyre’s usable life and improving overall return on investment. A wide, flat footprint contributes to superior stability, ensuring dependable performance and operator confidence when the vehicle is under substantial loads.

With this new size addition, MAXAM Tire continues to strengthen its off‑the‑road product line, giving customers another valuable option that balances durability, traction and long‑term operating efficiency in demanding loader environments.

Jimmy McDonnell, Vice President – Sales and Marketing, MAXAM Tire North America, said, “With the addition of the 45/54R45 size, we’re continuing to respond directly to market needs while expanding access to a proven loader tyre. Our focus is always on delivering market-leading value and tyres that perform in real-world conditions while helping customers control operating costs.”

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Hankook Tire, the exclusive tyre supplier for the FIA World Rally Championship, will face the demanding Croatia Rally from 9 to 12 April 2026. This event marks round four of the season and takes place in and around the port city of Rijeka. Among the most gruelling rallies on the calendar, it will feature both the Ventus Z215, engineered for precise dry handling and cornering stability, and the Ventus Z210, designed to deliver superior traction and rapid water evacuation in wet and unpredictable conditions.

The 2026 route spans roughly 300.28 kilometres across 20 special stages, with the service park relocated to the historic Grobnik Circuit. The course covers four counties, including shakedown stages on the island of Krk and technical tests through the Lika-Senj highlands. Drivers must contend with extreme grip variations along the Adriatic coast, from abrasive volcanic tarmac in the mountains to smoother, dustier sections near the sea, the latter becoming dangerously slick with even light rain.

Throughout the event, Hankook will operate its Brand World marketing booth inside the service park, reinforcing its unified global premium image. The booth will offer interactive experiences such as a motorsports history zone, racing simulator, tyre fitting activities, merchandise sales and a photo zone, giving fans an immersive brand encounter. Meanwhile, intense competition is expected: while Toyota GAZOO Racing has a strong history in Croatia, both Hyundai Shell Mobis World Rally Team and M-Sport Ford World Rally Team aim to exploit the new coastal terrain to challenge for the podium.

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Sri Trang Agro-Industry Public Company Limited has earned a total of 23 CSR-DIW awards, demonstrating its longstanding commitment to operating with ongoing responsibility towards society, local communities and the environment. In 2025, the Department of Industrial Works honoured the company under the CSR DIW to MIND for Sustainability programme, which recognises industrial factories that enhance their social and community responsibility for sustainable coexistence.

Among these accolades, five facilities received the CSR DIW Award for maintaining these high standards continuously for a decade, while another 18 facilities received the CSR DIW Continuous Award for consistently implementing responsible practices, collectively celebrating industrial organisations that serve as models for industry growing in harmony with communities under the principle of good industry coexisting sustainably.

These achievements reflect how the Sri Trang Group balances economic, social and environmental priorities, allowing the industrial sector to work alongside communities effectively and advancing Thailand’s rubber industry towards a sustainable green future. The group has steadily carried out community focused and socially responsible initiatives across six key areas, including youth development, arts and local traditions, livelihood and career support, environmental management, workplace health and hygiene as well as disaster relief and assistance for vulnerable groups.

This recognition further underscores Sri Trang Agro Industry’s role as a leading organisation that drives sustainable industrial practices while consistently creating lasting value for society, communities and the environment.

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Bridgestone has announced its participation in the 41st Space Symposium, the largest space conference in United States, taking place in Colorado Springs from 13 to 16 April 2026. The company’s exhibit will be hosted within the Japanese Space Industry pavilion organised by Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), marking its third consecutive year at the event since 2024. A key focus of Bridgestone’s presence is its ongoing development of lunar rover tyres, a project that embodies the company’s belief that ‘tyres carry life’.

Since 2019, Bridgestone has advanced research on lunar rover tyres and pursued co-creation with international partners to commercialise space mobility technology. In 2024, the company collaborated with Astrobotic Technology, followed by a basic agreement with ispace in 2025. These efforts aim to generate new value in the rapidly evolving space mobility sector.

At the symposium, Bridgestone will demonstrate tyres for small and medium lunar rovers, first unveiled in 2025, by mounting them on a mobility vehicle. Attendees can see and touch the tyres, experiencing their high traversability on simulated lunar challenges like fine sand and rocky ground. Through this showcase, Bridgestone seeks to expand its space business network and foster co-creation opportunities, ultimately supporting safe lunar mobility and humanity’s exploration goals.

The lunar rover tyre project applies Bridgestone’s AirFree technology, an exploratory business under its 2024–2026 Mid Term Business Plan. By refining this technology in the extreme lunar environment, the company aims to eventually bring those innovations back to Earth, enhancing conventional tyres and contributing to broader social value.

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