Leading tyre building machine maker VMI has ramped up its technical support service globally. It has launched a programme of investments to enhance its consistently high-level technical support.
VMI said this service is strategically based at three global locations in Yantai (Shandong Province, China), Epe (Netherlands) and Stow (Ohio, US), enabling each expert team to provide the same level of support anywhere.
Based on the Asset Management platform, the VMI service enables engineers to respond fast and expertly when customers raise issues or questions. They can use remote monitoring for fast diagnosis, access the complete corporate knowledge of VMI’s engineering teams globally, and respond with effective solutions.
Erik Lapré, VMI VP Global Services: “We understand that regardless of the location, customers need fast access to the best advice in support of key business priorities. For example, ensuring that production is not interrupted or avoiding quality issues such as excessive waste. The fastest way to deliver this support is through remote service centres, where customers can be certain of receiving the best insights, know-how and practical advice to resolve issues and get their operations back on track. As these centres all leverage the same infrastructure, information, and processes, our services always stay consistent.”
Proactive, expert support, meet agreed KPIs and always current
The Asset Management platform ensures that support teams operate to best practice levels at all times, with new insights and experiences added to the database at once. Engineer scan collaborates with the customer to look at machine performance levels at the site, down to individual machine and component levels. They can simultaneously review the required service standards, KPIs, and all agreement details. With customer permission, VMI can conduct regular reviews and proactively offer guidance and advice designed to enhance asset performance and extend useful life while improving sustainability and productivity.
Mike Norman, VMI Chief Commercial Officer: “Customers are rightly insistent on high-security assurance levels where data is concerned. VMI’s solution is designed for fast response to customer needs, with all monitoring and data access carried out within strict, pre-agreed limits.”
Breaking new ground in-service support
The Covid pandemic, coupled with the need to manage supply chains under stress at times of economic difficulty, means that the traditional service method, which usually involves calling out an engineer on-site, is simply not fast or agile enough to deliver the support customers rightly demand today. VMI’s remote service support solution ensures expert intervention worldwide, when and where the customer needs it most. This enables most problems to be resolved fast, reducing costs, saving time and proving how valuable a more proactive approach can be.
Goodyear Blimp Completes Historic Return To New York For America's 250th
- By TT News
- July 03, 2026
The Goodyear Blimp is set to reclaim the New York City skyline during the upcoming Independence Day celebrations. On 4th July, the iconic aircraft will provide millions of Americans with a unique aerial perspective of Sail 4th 250, a premier maritime event that boasts the largest assembly of tall ships globally. The aerial broadcast is scheduled to commence at 7 AM Eastern Standard Time on NBC’s TODAY Show.
Wingfoot One, a seasoned veteran of the skies with a long history of appearing at significant national events, will be soaring over the metropolis. In a notable operational shift, the blimp will establish its ground presence in Brooklyn for the first time in half a century, marking a historic return not just to the city’s airspace but also to its soil. This strategic move is designed to capture the best possible views of the activities in New York Harbor.
This appearance marks the blimp’s fourth participation in an Operation Sail event, having previously been a staple at the inaugural 1964 celebration, the Bicentennial in 1976 and the Statue of Liberty’s centennial in 1986. Its return for America’s 250th anniversary serves as a natural role for the aerial ambassador of Goodyear, a company that has been rooted in the United States for over 125 years and remains the nation’s sole major tyre manufacturer.
Julianne Roberts, Senior Director, Marketing, said, "For more than half the history of the United States, Goodyear science has contributed not only to the success of the American automotive industry by producing tyres worth bragging about but also to the protection of the country through military service, including blimps that helped ensure the safety of the Navy.”
MICHELIN Connected Fleet Unveils AI Assistant To Streamline Fleet Management
- By TT News
- July 01, 2026
MICHELIN Connected Fleet has introduced an artificial intelligence (AI) assistant directly within its MyConnectedFleet web platform, designed to enhance operational efficiency for fleet managers. The new tool delivers immediate, data-driven responses to user queries, significantly reducing the time traditionally spent on manual research and data compilation. By integrating seamlessly into the existing portal, the assistant provides a streamlined approach to managing complex fleet information.
The AI system transforms raw fleet usage data into actionable insights, enabling managers to make quicker, more informed decisions. It supports a wide range of practical requests, from generating reports on driver fuel efficiency and identifying trucks requiring tyre maintenance to checking vehicle availability and calculating monthly fuel costs. The assistant is built as a closed, secure system to ensure the confidentiality of all fleet data, addressing key concerns about information security.
Functioning as a comprehensive partner for managers of heavy goods vehicles, passenger transport and light commercial vehicles, the tool offers real-time analysis of fuel consumption, driver behaviour and journey metrics. It provides immediate answers for both simple safety and cost-related questions and more complex analytical tasks, presenting findings in text or visual formats. Future updates to the solution will be guided by direct customer feedback, ensuring its continuous evolution.
The MICHELIN AI Assistant is currently available to customers across 10 countries, including United Kingdom, United States and several European nations. It leverages over a century of mobility expertise and three decades of data science experience, responding to the belief of most fleet managers that AI will transform their sector. The assistant can also be paired with other technologies, such as onboard cameras and tyre inspection systems, to form a cohesive, practical solution for modern fleet operations.
Sophie Foucque, CEO, MICHELIN Connected Fleet, Europe, Africa and Australia, said, “The AI Assistant is the natural evolution of our DNA, which is built around supporting our customers. Co-developed with some of our largest customers, it offers a more intuitive way to interact with vehicle usage data while removing the need to generate multiple reports. Augmented fleet managers can therefore focus fully on the performance of their operations.”
Continental Debuts Sensor Ready Tyres With Integrated Monitoring Pocket
- By TT News
- July 01, 2026
Continental Tires Americas has introduced Sensor Ready commercial tyres, designed to streamline digital monitoring for fleets of all sizes. Leveraging over a decade of expertise and more than 121,000 connected wheel positions in the Americas, the company continues expanding its data-driven portfolio. The initial rollout features the Conti Coach HA3 product line, underscoring the manufacturer's commitment to digital-first solutions.
A defining characteristic is the integration of a dedicated sensor pocket directly into the tyre during curing, eliminating aftermarket gluing that previously took up to 14 minutes per installation. The pocket securely holds Continental's proprietary sensor, a key ContiConnect ecosystem component that transmits critical metrics like pressure, temperature and mileage. A clear Sensor Ready logo on the sidewall provides immediate visual confirmation of compatibility for fleets, dealers and retreaders.
The new system significantly reduces installation time and labour requirements at maintenance facilities and retread shops while ensuring consistent, reliable sensor placement. Fleets can choose tyres with sensors pre-installed from the factory or opt for quick, tool-free installation later. The Sensor Ready logo facilitates swift decision-making across the tyre's lifecycle, and the integrated pocket remains intact during retreading, allowing efficient sensor reinstallation without compromising casing performance.
Digital monitoring delivers measurable business impact, including reduced fuel consumption, extended tyre life and fewer roadside incidents. For smaller operations, Continental offers ContiConnect Lite, a mobile application providing a plug-and-play monitoring solution. This advancement reinforces Continental's vision of a connected, intelligent tyre ecosystem that enhances safety, sustainability and cost management.
Renato Sarzano, Head of Truck Tires Americas, Continental, said, “Digital tyre monitoring is becoming essential for improving fleet safety, efficiency and sustainability. With Sensor Ready tyres, we are offering one of the most advanced and user-friendly solutions on the market – reducing installation time, improving reliability and making it easier than ever for fleets to adopt connected tyre technologies.”
Enviro Secures Three-Month Extension For Company Reorganisation
- By TT News
- July 01, 2026
Scandinavian Enviro Systems AB (publ) has secured a three-month extension of its ongoing company reorganisation, as approved by the Gothenburg District Court on 30 June 2026. The revised deadline now extends to 27 August 2026, with Johan Sölveland of Ackordscentralen continuing as the appointed reorganisation administrator. The initial reorganisation proceedings commenced on 27 February 2026.
The extension is strategically designed to facilitate the finalisation of critical long-term financing negotiations and the completion of a formal reorganisation plan. Enviro’s internal timeline projects that the plan will be ready for presentation in August 2026, concurrently with a comprehensive financing package to support its implementation. A key component of the proposal will involve a debt write-down, with non-priority creditors preliminarily offered a minimum 25 percent settlement, payable three months post-plan ratification, though this figure remains subject to revision.
The company maintains that the progress achieved during the initial phase has laid a solid foundation for a successful restructuring. Enviro’s preliminary assessment indicates that the current trajectory supports the ultimate goal of establishing a sustainable, long-term capital framework, with the reorganisation plan proceeding according to schedule.
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