HAMBURG, Germany—HF Mixing Group has developed a tire building machine to meet market demands for larger sizes, smaller batches and enhanced quality.
Labelled PLT2-SD-Flex, the TBM features a flexible drum concept, which is said to facilitate diversified production of highly complex tires.
With just a tool-change, the machine can build all tire constructions currently on the market, in a flat or high-crown building process, according to HF.
"Tire constructions, especially in the layer area, can be built ranging from a C-envelope to ply-down tires," the company said in a statement.
These capabilities, it claimed, offer advantages in the sidewall area—which HF said is a critical part in determining tire-performance.
"A precise positioning of the sidewalls over (7.87 inches) width—especially for SUV tires—or the installation of special reinforcement strips to achieve run on flat tire properties no longer limits the construction process," HF said.
Tire sizes that previously required a two-stage process can be produced directly on the new TBM, the company added.
Behind the development is the increasing variety of tires coming on to the market, especially larger tire. The machine maker said this means tire makers need to be capable of carrying out quick code changes and producing relatively small lots.
There are also increasing quality demands, linked to tire labelling along with requirements to sign OE tire sizes visually on the sidewall. HF said manufacturers need higher levels of repetitive accuracy and quality and enhanced capabilities to produce new tire designs efficiently.
HF will introduce the new TBM at the Tire Technology Expo 2018, taking place from Feb. 20-22 in Hanover, Germany.