Henkel and 4JET have joined hands to introduce a new process for producing silent tyres for electric vehicles (EVs). In the new LASER-FIT process, a tailor-made acoustic foam is produced directly inside the tyre from liquid starting materials, at the end of the tyre line.

The current process of making silent tyres carries along with it a number of overheads, namely a second logistics line to transport the lightweight but high-volume foam to the ‘tyre wedding’ at the end of the production line, multiple stages of intermediate storage for the foam and several additional manual or semi-automatic steps for logistics, cutting, adding adhesives and foam insertion into the tyre. Also, the appropriate foam must be provided ‘just-in-sequence’. This process increases the cost of production by up to 25 percent and leaves us with significant volumes of waste generated from the off cuts of the foam pieces.

The new direct-foam-to-tyre process aims to eliminate all these hassles. With the LASER-FIT process, you don’t need to worry about the ‘just-in-sequence’ complexity, time-consuming logistics and manual process steps. Moreover, it also provides greater freedom in adapting the foam’s geometry and volume to the tyre type, thereby reducing waste generation. This process is made possible using patented foam activation process using a laser after the application of foam. The foam forms an air-impermeable skin on the surface, which minimises the penetration of sound into the open-pored acoustic foam and prevents sound absorption.

The process concept was presented at TireTech in Hannover this March and the complete solution will be presented at RubberTech24 in Shanghai this month.

Dr Rainer Schönfeld, Global Market Strategy Head in Henkel`s Automotive Component business unit, explains, “Our new to market Loctite LASER-FIT acoustic foam achieves its sound absorption effect through a large inner surface and a pore design specifically tailored for tyre noise suppression. Without 4JET`s laser activation process, which precisely removes the foam skin, the majority of sound waves would be reflected off the foam surface instead of being absorbed. This great idea is a prime example of the innovative strength of German SMEs, which continue to be the engine of our economy!”

George Kazantzis, Global Head of Henkel`s Automotive Components business unit, adds: “This revolutionary direct-foam-to-tyre technology represents our joint commitment to innovation and sustainability. By eliminating the transportation of pre-fabricated foam and reducing cutting waste, we will enable our customers to lower their carbon footprint.”

Dr Armin Kraus, Co-CEO of the 4JET Group, stated: “In Henkel, we have found the ideal development partner for this innovation. Henkel combines expertise in the development of technically sophisticated PU foams with their mechanical application like few companies in the world. At the same time, Henkel has the necessary industry knowledge in the automotive industry as well as the global footprint required to reliably supply the tyre industry worldwide with products of consistently high quality. We witnessed this. What impressed us most was the passion and speed with which Henkel works. From the idea to the finished application in record time: we will be presenting our joint complete solution at RubberTech24 in Shanghai this month.”

Al Salem Transportation & Tourism Co. (Al Salem) is reaping the benefits of Goodyear’s CheckPoint tyre monitoring technology system, which was implemented in its Dammam depot. This is a first for passenger transport companies in Saudi Arabia and builds upon the existing partnership between Al Salem Transportation & Tourism Co. (Al Salem), Goodyear and its official Saudi distributor, Al Rashed Tires.

Goodyear CheckPoint is a connected, yard-based drive-over tyre inspection system that provides fleet managers with useful information by reading vehicle data and tyre condition. Tyre pressure and tread depth examinations are time-consuming tasks that may be completed in seconds by Goodyear CheckPoint's automated system.

The system provides the ability to access data through user-friendly reports and allows Al Salem to address all their operational needs related to tyres. This decision is consistent with Al Salem's commitment to using cutting-edge technology to achieve the greatest levels of safety and efficiency, as well as the Saudi Vision 2030 aim of boosting the quality and connectedness of transportation networks.

Mustafa Alsalem, Business Development Manager, Al Salem Transportation & Tourism Co, said, "At Al Salem, our mission is to provide safe and comfortable journeys for everyone in the Kingdom. We pride ourselves on working only with industry leaders to deliver premium safety and service levels. Partnering with a leading global tyre manufacturer like Goodyear, renowned for their premium tyres and innovative digital fleet solutions, is a testament to our commitment to this mission."

Yasser Meyer, CEO, Al Rashed Tires, said, “We have a proud legacy of supporting the development of Saudi Arabia's automotive industry. Leveraging our in-depth market knowledge, we are able to localise global tyre technology, like Goodyear’s CheckPoint monitoring solutions, to empower our valued partners like Al Salem in their achievement of business goals.”

Saban Gungor, General Manager, Goodyear Middle East & Africa, said, "As a preferred fleet mobility partner, Goodyear is dedicated to delivering not only high-quality tyres but also value-added mobility solutions, like the CheckPoint tyre monitoring, to our fleet customers. We are thrilled to support Al Salem on their digitalisation journey with the adoption of this technology, setting a new benchmark for safety and operational efficiency in the Kingdom."

Vittoria, a global leader in cycling tyres and accessories, has announced opening new state-of-the-art research and development centres known as VittoriaLabs. These facilities, located in Italy and Thailand, are designed to push the boundaries of cycling technology and performance.

The VittoriaLabs will focus on developing innovative tyre and accessory solutions that enhance rider performance, safety, and sustainability. The centres will leverage advanced testing equipment and cutting-edge research methodologies to analyse and optimise product design.

“Vittoria Labs will be the engine driving our ambitions for market leadership in innovation in a future we are already shaping,” says Stijn Vriends, Chairman and CEO of Vittoria. “By combining state-of-the-art indoor and outdoor testing facilities, we can push the limits of what’s possible in cycling tyres and accessories while keeping sustainability at the core of our innovations,” adds Vanessa ten Hoff, Chief Innovation & Marketing Officer of Vittoria.

Vittoria’s investment in these facilities underscores the company’s commitment to innovation and its dedication to providing cyclists with the best possible products. By combining advanced technology with real-world testing, Vittoria aims to deliver products that meet the evolving needs of cyclists worldwide.

With the opening of the VittoriaLabs, Vittoria reinforces its position as a global leader in the cycling industry. The company’s focus on research and development, coupled with its passion for cycling, ensures that it will continue to drive innovation and set new standards in the years to come.

Webfleet, Bridgestone’s fleet management solution, has expanded its OEM.connect partner programme to include trailers. Schmitz Cargobull, a leading manufacturer of semi-trailers, is the first trailer manufacturer to join the programme.

This collaboration allows commercial fleet operators to seamlessly connect their Schmitz Cargobull trailers to the Webfleet platform through factory-fitted telematics. By eliminating the need for aftermarket hardware installations, fleet managers can save time and reduce costs.

“Trailers are the backbone of long-haul goods transportation, but managing a trailer fleet can be challenging,” says Taco van der Leij, Vice President, Webfleet Europe at Bridgestone Mobility Solutions.

“Making our proven Webfleet Trailer solution now easily accessible via OEM data, will help even more businesses with real-time data insights and actionable intelligence to maximise trailer performance. We are happy that we are collaborating with Schmitz Cargobull, offering our customers seamless integration with Europe’s leading semi-trailer manufacturer”.

Sören Danielsen, Manager, Strategy & Business Development at Schmitz Cargobull adds:  “With the TrailerConnect Data Management Center from Schmitz Cargobull, hauliers have full control over their data and can pass on selected data to third parties in an efficient way. By intelligently linking information on the vehicle, tour and order, more than just position and temperature data can be selected, processed and transmitted to third-party systems at the touch of a button in future. The TrailerConnect Data Management Center stands for connectivity and transparency. Everyone involved along the supply chain benefits from this.”

The integrated solution provides fleet operators with valuable insights into trailer performance, including location tracking, maintenance alerts and payload monitoring, said the tyre maker.

Bridgestone has joined hands with Astrobotic Technology to develop lunar rover tyres.

Bridgestone will leverage its 90 years of expertise in developing tyres for Astrobotic’s 24U CubeRover. These tyres will be designed to withstand the harsh lunar environment, including extreme temperatures and rugged terrain.

Bridgestone’s tyres will play a crucial role in enabling the rover to navigate the challenging lunar terrain.

The collaboration highlights the Japanese tyre maker’s commitment to expanding its reach into new and innovative areas of mobility. By partnering with Astrobotic, a leading space exploration company, Bridgestone aims to contribute to the advancement of lunar exploration and space technology.

The 24U CubeRover is a compact lunar rover designed to provide mobility, power and communication support for scientific instruments and payloads on the lunar surface.

As per Bridgestone, this partnership marks a significant milestone for the company as it expands its horizons beyond Earth and into the cosmos.