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.

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.