HF Group’s upcoming range of digital solutions will monitor several parameters in the curing process, like cycle times, movements of the machines etc. One of the exhibitors at the Tire Technology Expo, 2022 that was held in Hannover, Germany was HF Group. Dr Bernd Pape, Digital Solutions, HF Group, threw light on the company’s plans to develop a new product line that will enable its customers to digitally monitor tyre curing machines more effectively, the significance of sharing data and having trusted partnerships.

The global tyre industry is steering more towards digitisation to ensure precision and save production time. And in this effort, HF Group seems to be the frontrunner, banking on data warehousing to produce effective monitoring solutions for tyre curing.

“HF is known as a company constantly extending traditional machine solutions. However, we are very well aware of digitisation, and the solutions will change our previous way of doing business at a global level,” said Dr Bernd Pape, Digital Solutions, HF Group, while we interacted with him at the latest edition of the Tire Technology Expo held this year in Hannover, Germany.

“I joined HF last year in June to build up a new product segment. However, due to the pandemic, I had limited chances to visit customers or talk to potential partners for development, and this conference has been an optimum opportunity to perceive an overview of our industry,” Dr Pape mentioned while he talked about the expo.

Digital solutions
HF’s upcoming range of digital solutions will monitor several parameters in the curing process, like cycle times, movements of machines etc. It will then churn out the alarm messages of the machines and correlate them to identify discrepancies. The new-age solutions will monitor machine data at different stages and have communication modules that will share the data from the machine control software to the internet using IoT gateways.

Extra sensors will be placed on the machines to measure certain component parameters like pressure, temperature, energy consumption etc. Leveraging the combination of cycle time monitoring, alarm messages and specific measurements of the sensor technology, the data will be analysed to bring out in-depth information about the machines’ performance.

Answering whether the sensors are capable of identifying the problems, Dr Pape informed, “In order for them to work efficiently to identify problems, we need quite some data. And when we have that data, we can do two things – analyse that data and see if insights can be derived automatically, or work with experts to derive insights and then transfer the knowledge into the digital solutions. He further added, “The entire research and development process demands a lot of communication and learning together with pilot customers, too.”

It’s important to share data
Initially, HF plans to implement the solution in their own curing press and further develop solutions for other machines. “We may need cooperation from customers to better understand other machines or even the OEM of that specific machine. If you look into digital transformation, it’s all about partnership. And if you don’t share data, you will not be able to flourish. And so far, my gut has been that our industry still has room to improve. We can still learn from each other by sharing data. With every new machine, we will have a growing database and knowledge on how to improve production,” Dr Pape asserted.

Digital benefit
HF strives to keep the cycle time of a machine at a constant low level. The curing process for one tyre may take 14 minutes. With the solutions, it can be reduced by 10 to 20 seconds. This would add up for the customer to produce roughly between 500 and 1,500 tyres per press per year, informed Dr Pape. Moreover, the solutions will enhance machine availability by detecting warnings for errors or repair time.

Trusted partnerships
The new solutions will require huge amounts of data to effectively do its task, but protection of proprietary data is a major concern. Speaking in this context, Dr Pape cited, “Digital transformation is about partnership, and you need to share data. So, partnership is all about trust. You need an initial amount of trust to provide data. There is no way around that.”

“On the other hand, once you give me the data, it is on me to keep it carefully and not to share it,” he further averred and went on, “Because if I do not comply, then the alliance will be harmed. So, there is a great opportunity because we are a long-standing partner for the whole industry. Therefore, we have trusted partnerships and projects with a lot of customers.”

Explaining the timeline from implementation to resumption of services, the executive said, “Once we are up and running with this solution, we just need a couple of days to implement it. But for new machine types that have not been analysed before, a couple of weeks are needed. Once knowledge of the specific machine type, how to adjust the software and how to analyse and interpret the data is known, we can configure same machine types within days.”

Current monitoring landscape
According to the executive, currently technicians might face severe problems while monitoring the machines as the industry has witnessed a generation shift. Experienced technicians retire and new ones have to learn the entire process. With the automation of unloading and loading systems, which are getting more and more automated, there might be no operators available who can point out if the machines have any problems.

“If we get the data from the machine and analyse it, we can redirect technicians to the area that causes the problem, so that they are faster in remedying it. The data will also help us to predict problems in the near future,” Dr Pape pointed out.

Stepping into the Indian market
HF has expanded its footprint across the globe and wants to market its products worldwide. The company’s pilot customers are in the Americas, followed by Europe. It also plans to tap into the Asian market.

Speaking on its plans to enter India, Dr Pape cited, “The country has great companies and some of them might be interested in the solutions. For building up a new product segment in India, we have to know what kind of customers are interested. We will then start operations on a remote basis and develop further.”

Collaborations for the long term
HF Group has also collaborated with Possehl Analytics as its solutions partner, which will also allow it to build a network for digital solutions in the industry. On the reference side, HF refers them as their solutions partner, while Possehl Analytics refers HF as a good operations partner.

Change is the only constant
While the tyre industry itself isn’t one that changes every day, we know that digitisation will have a pivotal role in its growth, including the tyre curing process, making sure the final product is of high quality. At the same time, sharing data and making long-lasting partnerships will only make the process and final outcome more competent.

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The Global Data Service Organisation for Tyres and Automotive Components (GDSO) has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with the RAIN Alliance, a move designed to accelerate the harmonisation of electronic tyre identification and support broader digitalisation throughout the international tyre value chain. This agreement formalises a mutual commitment to advancing interoperable, scalable and globally consistent standards that can be adopted across the sector.

GDSO is responsible for establishing and promoting global data standards for tyres, enabling comprehensive lifecycle applications that serve a diverse group of stakeholders – from manufacturers and logistics providers to fleet managers, recyclers and regulatory bodies. The RAIN Alliance, in parallel, champions the widespread implementation of RAIN RFID technology within a framework that is open, standards-based and interoperable.

The growing importance of electronic tyre identification is underscored by its role in enabling traceability, meeting regulatory requirements, advancing circular economy goals and improving operational performance. Within existing standardisation frameworks, embedded RAIN RFID technology is currently the sole passive data carrier capable of supporting item-level traceability across the full lifespan of a tyre. This partnership seeks to align data standardisation efforts with the underlying identification technologies, thereby reinforcing the ecosystem necessary for reliable and scalable digital identification solutions worldwide.

Although GDSO acknowledges the established position and technical maturity of RAIN RFID, the organisation maintains a technology-agnostic stance. Its primary focus remains on developing robust and adaptable global data standards that foster an inclusive and resilient identification ecosystem. Such an approach supports ongoing innovation and ensures that all actors across the tyre value chain can participate effectively, regardless of future technological shifts.

Through this alliance, GDSO and the RAIN Alliance intend to drive globally aligned standards, enhance system interoperability, support digital use cases throughout the product lifecycle and contribute meaningfully to sustainability and circularity targets. This partnership reflects a shared strategic vision to strengthen the digital infrastructure underpinning the tyre industry.

Riccardo Giovannotti, Secretary General, GDSO, said, “I’m pleased to share that GDSO has signed a collaboration MoU with RAIN Alliance. The collaboration is grounded in a shared commitment to industry-wide standards and to advancing digitalisation across the tyre value chain. As the organisation leading the definition and deployment of global data standards for tyres, GDSO focuses on enabling cradle-to-grave use cases through interoperable and scalable solutions. Within today’s standardisation landscape, the embedded RAIN RFID (i.e. passive RFID) is currently the only data carrier standardised and technically capable of supporting item-level identification across the full tyre lifecycle, which makes this collaboration both relevant and timely.”

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A new milestone in agricultural tyre technology has been achieved through the partnership of Titan International, Inc. and Cerebrum Sensor Technologies, Inc. Together, they have unveiled Titan Pressure Perfect (P2), a smart sensor system designed to transform how farm tyres perform and communicate. This system marks the emergence of a broader category known as Intelligent Tyre Solutions (iTS), developed jointly by the two companies.

At the core of Pressure Perfect (P2) is real-time monitoring of tyre pressure, temperature and load. This data enables continuous oversight and works seamlessly with onboard inflation systems, allowing automatic pressure adjustments while the vehicle is in motion. Whether shifting from roadway to field or responding to varying load demands, the system can reduce air pressure by as much as half. This flexibility helps lower soil compaction by up to 35 percent and has been linked to potential corn yield increases of four to six percent.

Pressure Perfect is compatible with all Titan and Goodyear Farm Tyre products and integrates with nearly all inflation management systems already in use. By supporting more precise tyre management, it contributes to longer tyre life, improved machine efficiency and reduced environmental impact through less ground disturbance.

The innovation draws on Cerebrum’s licensed portfolio of patented technologies, including advanced sensors, proprietary algorithms and sophisticated software capabilities. This technical foundation sets a new standard for intelligent tyre management in agriculture. While other industry players focus on replicating existing central tyre inflation and tyre pressure monitoring systems, Titan and Cerebrum are advancing a more comprehensive and forward-looking approach. Pressure Perfect reflects Titan’s longstanding engineering heritage and its continued commitment to leading the field through purposeful collaboration and applied innovation.

Dubbing it the ‘Holy Grail’ of innovations, Scott Sloan, Global Ag & LSW Product Manager for Titan, said, “This is the first system of its kind that delivers dynamic inflation management. Load, tyre pressure and temperature data are gathered by a single tyre-mounted sensor and integrated with tyre-industry load-inflation tables in real time. Imagine bringing together Central Tyre Inflation System (CTIS) and Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) technologies, and now they can work together and talk to each other – all without operator intervention."

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Anyline is displaying its AI-powered TireBuddy platform at the 2026 National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) Show in Las Vegas (from 3–6 February), demonstrating how it brings objective, digital tyre inspections to automotive retailers. The technology, which standardises tread depth and condition assessments, is used by dealerships, reconditioning centres and independent shops to enhance operational consistency and customer transparency. At Booth 7649N, live demonstrations will show the system’s guided scanning and intuitive workflow, which technicians have adopted for its ability to generate clear, data-backed reports directly in the service bay.

A key adopter includes EchoPark, a national pre-owned vehicle retailer under Sonic Automotive, Inc., which utilises TireBuddy as part of its rigorous 190-point vehicle inspection process across multiple states. The platform provides repeatable measurements that strengthen technical recommendations and build buyer confidence by turning subjective checks into documented insights. Since its 2025 launch, the tool has been implemented by large-scale automotive groups seeking to improve decision-making and efficiency.

Anyline’s exhibition will focus on these real-world applications, showing how digitising tyre inspections creates a more transparent and trustworthy service experience. By replacing visual estimates with precise digital data, TireBuddy helps businesses streamline workflows, empower technicians and ultimately support safer, more reliable vehicle assessments for customers.

Christoph Braunsberger, CEO, Anyline, said, “Our goal with TireBuddy is to equip technicians with the tools they need to make accurate, fast and confident decisions, an important message we’re bringing to the forefront at this year’s NADA Show. By providing objective, AI-powered data, TireBuddy delivers a far clearer path to cost savings, operational efficiency and customer transparency for retailers – benefits that matter at every level of their operation.”

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As urban areas around the world grow increasingly louder, traffic noise has emerged as a critical environmental and public health challenge. Recognised by health authorities as a major risk factor, this pervasive issue extends from European cities to megacities across Asia and Latin America. Continental is addressing this problem by pioneering tyre technologies that significantly reduce rolling noise, thereby contributing to quieter urban environments and enhanced in-vehicle comfort.

The transition to electric mobility has brought tyre noise into sharper focus. With the near-silent operation of electric motors replacing traditional engine sounds, the acoustic contribution from tyres becomes far more prominent, even at moderate city driving speeds. In response, Continental engineers have developed specialised solutions that target noise generation without compromising the safety, durability or performance of the tyre.

One such innovation is the Silent Pattern tread design, featured on models like the EcoContact 7. This technology disrupts the conventional, uniform arrangement of tread blocks that typically creates a rhythmic humming sound on pavement. By intelligently varying the spacing and angles of these blocks, the pattern breaks up this acoustic consistency. Furthermore, it is tuned to cancel out specific sound frequencies, akin to the principle behind noise-cancelling headphones. This results in a measurable reduction of traffic noise at speeds around 50 kmph, where rolling noise is most perceptible to pedestrians and residents.

For reducing noise inside the vehicle cabin, Continental employs its ContiSilent technology. This involves lining the inside of the tyre with a lightweight polyurethane foam that absorbs vibrations caused by the tyre’s contact with the road. By dampening these air vibrations, the technology can cut perceived in-cabin rolling noise by up to nine decibels – a reduction the human ear experiences as nearly halving the volume. This substantial increase in acoustic comfort is integrated into various product lines, including high-performance summer tyres, without affecting driving dynamics or efficiency.

The company’s commitment to low-noise mobility spans multiple vehicle segments. From the Conti Urban NXT for city buses to passenger car tyres like the EcoContact 6 Q and van tyres such as the VanContact A/S Eco, these products are designed to meet stringent noise standards. Consumers can readily identify these quieter options through regulatory labels, like the EU tyre label, which provides clear decibel ratings for external rolling noise. Through these continuous advancements in tread design and sound-dampening materials, Continental is systematically working to diminish the acoustic footprint of road traffic.

According to Achillefs Tsotras, head of Continental’s Tyre-Vehicle Interaction department, “Noise, especially traffic noise from cars, buses and delivery vehicles, is a major burden for people and the environment. With tyre technologies like ContiSilent and innovative tread designs, we are actively reducing rolling noise without compromising safety. This makes every ride noticeably quieter, benefiting drivers, pedestrians, residents and the environment alike.”

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