HF Tire Tech Group is one the largest manufacturers of high-end technical, tyre building machines and curing presses in the global tyre industry.

“HF Q Guard is the next step to our HF ONE tyre building machine and lifts tyre production to a new level when it comes to precision, quality and traceability. High-resolution images are taken with LEDs. We can get details of the height and width of materials inside the high-resolution images. HF Q Guard can also detect the edge of the materials, and that is a new thing,” said Hartmut Hoops, Head of Process Engineering, Tire Building Machines, HF TireTech Group. 

HF Q Guard comes into two variants: HF Q Guard 1000 and HF Q400 covering inspection width of 1000mm and 400 mm respectively. HF Q Guard sensor technology works with high precision and accuracy. It measures splices in real-time with an accuracy lower than half of a millimetre. The system covers a drum speed of up to 1500 mm/s speed, and distance to the surface is about 1.4 metres.

With its features, the HF Q Guard offers advantages to over the current laser splice measurement systems, which have to be closer to the drums, need better light and are sensitive to vibrations of the drums.

Another feature of HF Q Guard is its compatibility to the existing and new tyre building machines available in the market, and it can be integrated very quickly and at low cost.

The new product is so robust, which could be fitted at any position to the drums, which is another advantage over the laser splice measuring machines. As it takes a few hours for installation, HF Q Guard needs minimal production downtime.

“The whole system is calibrated. A key factor about the installation of HF Q Guard is that we need a few information. We need to know the positioning of the drums. We can start with very limited interfacing to the machines. We need some information as such as the layer sequence, building procedure and tolerance of the tyres. Data collection is initiated by elegant technology,” says Hoops.

Over the years, HF has developed innovative products that can be upgraded easily. The company has developed machine platforms such as PCR/LTR, PLT 2, and PLT 2 SD along with the award-winning HF ONE for which upgrades are planned to include the latest technologies such as auto bead loading, automated tyre handling, and the latest control systems with state-of-the-art HMIs. Servers can be added for additional strips such as Run-Flat technology or reinforcement strips.

According to the company, HF Q Guard can be used with almost all platforms.

Tyres could be damaged due to defective manufacturing. During manufacturing, if cord-cutting, building or vulcanising process are not done correctly, it could lead to damages in the tyres. The result is that the inner layers of the tyre are too close to the surface or that structural defects in the tyre occur. HF Q Guard significantly reduces the risk of the faulty tyre through permanent quality checks. The digital twin of a tyre can thus store the complete data on the surface of each layer and all splice length information.

“We have one IPC which does the algorithm for splice analysing, and that also connects to the cameras, and compression of data. We could also have possibilities to connect the existing PLCs in the machines, and we can connect data such as tolerance, width, building sequence as from there as well. On other hands, there are new tyre building machines have their data set on built tyres, and we can combine all data from the splice measurement systems and the machines itself for analysing systems,” said Hoops.

Measurement data of tyres are prepared for visualisation according to individual needs, and this makes it possible to inspect the individual surfaces of the materials to identify defects in the construction or the tyre material used. Expand the existing scope of functions of the splice measurement of the HF Q Guard at any time to include features needed for improving quality assurance. HF Q Guard grows with specific requirements.

Overall market trends for the mobility and regulatory pressure are putting pressure on tyre manufacturing to have equipment that not only makes quality products but also are smart, flexible and compatible. OEs will be more focused to check its supplier’s consistency in process and quality. From tyre makers, OEs now expect data on the material mix, extrusion process, tyre building, curing and finished products.

As HF Q Guard collects data and manages the complete documentation, it can help to prove that non-defect building of tyres at the factory any point of time.

The company has already spent a year on engineering the units and hardware, cameras and other components running.

In the next six months, HF Tire Tech will work on the collection of data and the results of HF Q Guard, and after that, the company will bring the product into the market.

“HF Q Guard has been tested in house on materials and are still in the process do the same in next months. We start a field test in the next months. The company will install HF Q Guard at the customer’s factory to collect the data, and the company already found the customer to conduct the actual test,” said Hoops. HF Group, the global market leader in machinery and systems for the rubber processing tyre industry, has brought out another innovation, HF Q Guard, to meet the growing demand for precision in splice measuring, quality control and traceability in the entire manufacturing process.

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

NASA has launched a three-phase competition offering USD 155,000 in prizes to develop next-generation wheels for lunar rovers, as the US space agency prepares for sustained exploration missions to the Moon’s surface.

The “Rock and Roll with NASA Challenge” seeks lightweight, durable wheel designs capable of traversing the Moon’s harsh terrain of razor-sharp regolith whilst maintaining performance in extreme temperature variations and carrying substantial cargo loads at higher speeds.

The competition addresses critical mobility challenges facing future lunar missions, where traditional rover wheels have struggled with the Moon’s abrasive surface materials and temperature extremes that can plummet to minus 173 degrees Celsius during lunar nights.

“The next era of lunar exploration demands a new kind of wheel – one that can sprint across razor-sharp regolith, shrug off extremely cold nights, and keep a rover rolling day after lunar day,” NASA stated in announcing the challenge.

The programme unfolds across three distinct phases. Phase 1, which opened on 28 August and runs until 4 November 2025, will reward the best conceptual designs and analyses. Phase 2, scheduled for January through April 2026, will fund prototype development. The final phase in May-June 2026 will test leading designs through live obstacle courses simulating lunar conditions.

For the concluding phase, NASA will deploy MicroChariot, a 45-kilogram test rover, to evaluate top-performing wheel designs at the Johnson Space Centre Rockyard facility in Houston, Texas. The testing ground will simulate the challenging lunar terrain that future missions must navigate.

The competition remains open to diverse participants, from university student teams and independent inventors to established aerospace companies, reflecting NASA’s broader strategy of engaging private sector innovation for space exploration technologies.

NASA mobility engineers will provide ongoing feedback throughout the competition phases, offering participants insights from the agency’s extensive experience in planetary rover operations, including successful missions to Mars.

The challenge comes as NASA intensifies preparations for the Artemis programme, which aims to establish a sustained human presence on the Moon and serve as a stepping stone for eventual Mars exploration missions.

Current lunar rover designs have faced limitations in speed, cargo capacity, and durability when operating across the Moon’s challenging surface conditions, creating demand for breakthrough mobility solutions that can support extended surface operations.

The competition timeline positions Phase 2 prototype funding to commence in January 2026, allowing successful Phase 1 participants several months to refine their concepts before advancing to hardware development.

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

VMI will display its automated Strainer Plate Cleaning Station, a significant innovation designed to address a longstanding challenge within the rubber manufacturing industry, at the upcoming Global Polymer Summit in Cleveland. This comes at a critical time of rapid economic expansion in the United States, largely fuelled by construction and industrial renewal, which is driving increased demand for high-quality, efficiently produced rubber components.

These components are essential across a vast spectrum of applications, from microscopic seals and industrial machinery to pipelines and specialised products for extreme environments. To keep pace, US manufacturers are actively seeking advanced equipment that combines superior quality, shorter lead times and robust stateside support. For over two decades, VMI has met these exact needs from its Ohio operations, offering German-engineered solutions supported by responsive local service.

The new Strainer Plate Cleaning Station exemplifies VMI's pioneering ‘Hands-off, Eyes-off’ automation philosophy, previously applied to its industry-standard tyre building machines. This system utilises advanced robotics to completely transform what has traditionally been one of the most labour-intensive, unpleasant and hazardous jobs in a rubber factory. The automated Strainer Plate Cleaning Station will be demonstrated in operation at VMI’s booth, number 1430, during the Global Polymer Summit from 8th to 11th September.

The benefits of this automation are substantial. Companies can reallocate skilled workers to more value-added production roles, thereby boosting overall productivity and driving down unit costs. This enhanced efficiency allows businesses to become more competitive and responsive to dynamic market demands. The system integrates seamlessly with VMI’s extrusion and gear pump systems, which are backed by proprietary management software that enables the flexible production of both standard and highly specialised components on a single platform.

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

The Qingdao Municipal Government Information Office recently hosted a media briefing on ‘Shandong's Top Brands on the Industrial Chain – Intelligent Equipment Industrial Chain’ at the MESNAC Jiaozhou Equipment Industrial Park. Senior leaders from MESNAC and three other prominent firms were in attendance to present their advancements and field questions from journalists.

A central focus was on MESNAC's proprietary ROC R&D platform, a unique modular system engineered specifically for the rubber equipment sector. This platform is fundamentally structured around client requirements, integrating comprehensive product design, technological development and rigorous testing protocols. This architecture facilitates a configurable development process, allowing for both large-scale customisation and remarkably agile product delivery. The company's operational philosophy was explained as a dedicated team model, where a single unit focuses its expertise on one product for its entire lifecycle. This meticulous approach has generated significant industry innovations in recent years, including fully automatic material weighing systems, unmanned tire building machinery and intelligent tyre curing press workshops capable of operating as fully unmanned ‘lights-out’ facilities.

The event included a practical demonstration of this technology in action. Attendees witnessed the NPS Semi-steel One-stage Building Machine, which achieves a single-tyre production cycle of just 35 seconds through complete automation. This system boasts world-class efficiency, requiring only one person to supervise multiple machines simultaneously. It embodies a new generation of intelligent manufacturing by seamlessly integrating cutting-edge technologies such as precision machine vision, industrial robotics, sophisticated industrial IoT software and autonomous learning capabilities.

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

NEXEN TIRE has inaugurated a cutting-edge High Dynamic Driving Simulator at its Magok-based NEXEN UniverCity R&D centre in Seoul. A first-of-its-kind installation within the South Korean tyre industry, this advanced system represents a pivotal step in modernising tyre development by leveraging virtual reality and artificial intelligence.

The simulator functions by creating a highly realistic virtual driving environment. Engineers can input specific vehicle data and parameters to conduct precise testing of performance metrics such as acceleration, braking and handling across a diverse range of simulated road conditions, all within a controlled laboratory setting.

This technological advancement is expected to significantly streamline NEXEN TIRE’s research and development operations. It will reduce the need for physical prototypes and extensive real-world vehicle tests, which in turn accelerates development cycles and lowers associated costs. A major strategic benefit is the enhanced ability to meet the exacting performance standards required by global automakers for original equipment tyres, especially for new and high-performance vehicle models.

The shift towards virtual testing also supports the company's sustainability objectives by diminishing the fossil fuel consumption typically involved in traditional road testing, thereby supporting its broader environmental, social and governance (ESG) commitments. This move aligns with a larger industry trend where automakers are rapidly adopting virtual processes to improve efficiency.

Looking forward, NEXEN TIRE plans to build upon this simulator to establish a comprehensive Full Virtual Development Process. This long-term strategy aims to integrate advanced simulation with finite element method analysis and AI, ultimately working towards a future where physical testing is largely replaced by virtual validation.

John Bosco (Hyeon Suk) Kim, CEO, NEXEN TIRE, said, “Ahead of the industry trend towards virtual development of vehicles and tyres, the establishment of our High Dynamic Driving Simulator is a strategic investment to lead the future mobility sector. By combining VR and AI technologies, we will enhance both the efficiency and precision of our R&D while contributing to ESG management, thereby strengthening our global competitiveness.”

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!