Sumitomo Rubber Industries has decided to deploy Rockwell Automation's manufacturing execution system (MES) platform at its largest domestic factory in Shirakawa City, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan.

The factory will begin operations using the new platform in the second half of 2025.

This move comes as part of the company’s efforts to promote the use of digital technology in tyre production, aiming to enhance and streamline factory operations globally.

Kenji Saito, Executive Officer, General Manager of Manufacturing HQ, Tyre Business HQ Sumitomo Rubber Industries, said, “We believe that leveraging Rockwell Automation’s expertise and flexibility, and our strong partnership with PTC to the maximum will enable us to standardise manufacturing management and enhance operational efficiency globally, driving our growth. To implement DX management as set out in our management vision, we intend to deploy the MES system beginning with the domestic factory and other manufacturing sites thereafter. We will continue to collaborate with Rockwell Automation, a global leader in manufacturing, and embrace new challenges with a forward-looking approach, making full use of AI.”

James Glasson, Vice President, Global Industry Auto, Tire and Advanced Mobility, Rockwell Automation, said, “This initiative will enhance operating efficiency, minimise manufacturing risks, reduce implementation costs and significantly accelerate speed to market.”

In recent years, the manufacturing industry has faced numerous challenges, including rapid changes in the business environment and labour shortages due to Japan’s declining working-age population. To address these challenges, Sumitomo Rubber Industries has been working with PTC since 2019 to adopt PTC’s IoT platform and develop applications to integrate data across production lines and manufacturing sites.

This system has been rolled out at nine of the company’s 11 tyre manufacturing sites, including all four factories in Japan.

The deployment of the Rockwell Automation MES platform will accelerate data organisation and enable the accumulation and sharing of valuable data such as quality and production forecasts across the company. By linking the collected and managed data with the enterprise resource planning (ERP) system, corporate management can gain a comprehensive view of manufacturing operations worldwide.

The Shirakawa Factory will begin operating the MES platform in the second half of 2025. After verifying its effectiveness by the end of 2026, Sumitomo Rubber Industries aims to standardise and roll out the platform to its factories in Japan and overseas.

The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company and TNO have successfully demonstrated that the integration of tyre intelligence technology into the automatic emergency braking (AEB) system of a vehicle has the potential to mitigate crashes even in challenging road conditions.

According to recent wet road testing, an improved AEB system with Goodyear SightLine technology may help reduce collisions at up to 80 kmph (50 mph) by applying brakes early. All things considered, the combination of AEB and SightLine insights on tyre and road condition data contributes to reliable performance in a variety of situations. This follows Goodyear and TNO's successful CES 2024 demonstration of tyre intelligence integration with antilock braking systems (ABS).

The automotive industry has placed a lot of emphasis on the AEB system, which applies the brakes automatically when a collision is about to occur in order to assist prevent or lessen the severity of crashes. The AEB system can work more efficiently in a variety of driving conditions, including low-friction surfaces like wet roads or ice, by integrating Goodyear SightLine, the company's suite of tyre intelligence solutions. Currently, existing systems are usually tuned for high-friction surfaces like dry asphalt. Tyre intelligence may give the AEB more detailed information about the real tyre and road conditions through the contact patch with the road, allowing for more intelligent and accurate decision-making.

Chris Helsel, Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer, Goodyear, said, "Safety is a cornerstone of Goodyear's commitment to innovation. By providing critical inputs about tyre and road conditions into AEB systems, we are helping OEMs and their customers take a leap forward in safety, well ahead of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA) 2029 mandate for AEB systems in passenger vehicles. Beyond this mandate, AEB systems will play a critical role in automated driving, helping to provide a comprehensive safety solution at all times."

Martijn Stamm, Marketing Director, Unit Mobility & Built Environment, TNO, said, "TNO is dedicated to enhancing the safety, efficiency and sustainability of vehicles. Our collaboration with Goodyear aims to predict the braking distance of a vehicle in more conditions, like dry and wet asphalt, and trigger the AEB timely to reduce accidents and ultimately safe lives. This knowledge is a key enabler for a safe introduction of higher levels of automation."

Italy-headquartered Rodolfo Comerio, a leading supplier of advanced systems for calendering lines, has come out with a new innovative solution, which it believes will further make plants more sustainable.

The company’s new calendering lines provides rigorous control, which enables thickness uniformity. Its production versatility processes a wide range of technical materials with different chemical and physical properties. This reduces production times and maximises productivity all the while cutting down on wastage.

Rodolfo Comerio stated that energy efficiency in buildings starts with roof insulation, which is also an effective way to cut down on thermal dispersion and enhance indoor comfort.

The company claims that materials manufactured with its calendering lines are higher efficient, have better durability even in extreme weather conditions and are much more sustainable.

Comerio Ercole, the Italian machinery manufacturer, is poised to enhance industrial performance with its advanced calendering solutions, which enable greater flexibility, precision and efficiency in production processes.

The company’s innovative Shuttle CE windup unit is designed for fully automated roller changes without halting operations, offering substantial cost savings and improved productivity.

The Shuttle CE unit features two identical stands on a shifting platform. While one stand operates under the cross-cutter unit, the other remains offline for roller replacement. This dual-stand configuration, combined with offline loading and unloading via dedicated cranes or integrated systems, eliminates manual intervention and enhances process optimisation.

Further demonstrating its technological leadership, Comerio Ercole recently commissioned a cutting-edge MINIDUPLEX rubber sheeting calendering plant. The plant’s HYDROPLUS configuration achieves ultra-thin rubberised sheets as fine as 0.075 mm, marking a significant breakthrough in precision calendering. The company continues to invest in R&D to refine its solutions and maintain competitive leadership.

Brembo, a global leader in braking systems, and Michelin, a leading tyre manufacturer, have signed a global agreement to collaborate on the development of advanced braking technologies.

The partnership leverages Brembo’s expertise in braking systems, vehicle modelling, and artificial intelligence and Michelin’s leadership in tyre modelling and algorithm development.

The innovation relies on the continuous exchange of real-time data between Michelin’s connected solutions software, which provides tyre grip data, and Brembo’s innovative SENSIFY braking system. This data enables engineers to fine-tune the braking system with exceptional precision, enhancing SENSIFY’s performance.

Michelin’s tyre-connected solutions utilise the company’s expertise in tyre physics modelling and simulation. Through live vehicle data analysis, Michelin has developed software that provides real-time information on tyre wear (Michelin SmartWear), load (Michelin SmartLoad) and grip (Michelin SmartGrip). This software is compatible with all tyre brands.

Serge Lafon, President of the Business Line Automotive Original Equipment at Michelin, commented: “We are thrilled to join forces with a brand like Brembo, a leader in its field. Our shared passion for innovation and excellence allows us to take a new step forward in enhancing user safety. Allowing customers to keep their tires in use as long as possible with total peace of mind is a core objective of Michelin, thus protecting their purchasing power and the environment. Today, Michelin is a “data-driven company” where simulation and software development are essential tools in the real-time monitoring of tyres. Together, Michelin and Brembo are building a unique solution for the vehicles of the future, developed today by the car makers.”

“At Brembo, we believe in the power of technology and artificial intelligence,” said Daniele Schillaci, CEO of Brembo. “In fact, we are increasingly becoming a company combining software capabilities with our expertise in the corner of the vehicle, mastering callipers, discs and friction materials with unique know-how. SENSIFY represents the new standard in braking that will target a zero-accident vision. This partnership with Michelin illustrates the power of collaboration and innovation in the automotive industry.”

Brembo’s SENSIFY sets a new benchmark for braking systems, designed for integration into any modern vehicle. It combines Brembo’s braking components with a digital brain that utilises AI, algorithms, and sensors to independently control each wheel.

Initial virtual and on-track tests have demonstrated promising results. In the first phase, Michelin’s tyre models and algorithms were integrated with Brembo’s intelligent braking models in a virtual environment. In the second phase, physical tests were conducted at Michelin’s Research Center, confirming the simulation results.

Tests demonstrated braking distance reductions of up to four metres (13 feet) during Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) events, with the same tyres in various conditions. The braking system also exhibited quicker response times, minimised traction loss, improved lateral stability and eliminated wheel locking, contributing to a smoother and more comfortable driving experience.