TIRE BUILDING MACHINES: VMI INTERVIEW BY THE NUMBERS 10-20% reduction in belt thickness can reduce tire weight and use less material “ Above: Though AI and automation may reduce the need for human operators, skilled workers will remain key to the tire production process When we look at machine developments, we focus on four pillars: automation, flexibility, tire quality and sustainability” components. During a cycle, parts of the machine that are not in use can be turned off. “If you have different cycles or different components that you are preparing, and don’t need part of the machine for 10 seconds, we are stopping the machine at that point,” Korte says. Once installed in facilities that use renewable energy, this can help to reduce the environmental impact of the production process. This holistic approach to sustainability, looking at all aspects of a tire’s lifespan and supply chain, also works toward VMI’s emission targets – as well as its customers’ Scope 3 emission goals. A large part of this development will rely on advancing technology to drive innovation in the sector. When the new systems are used in combination with machine vision and inspection, accuracy will continue to improve and tire manufacturers will have more freedom to experiment with new materials. While AI and automation will make some jobs on the factory floor redundant, skilled workers with a good understanding of programming within the tire industry will be essential to tailor this technology to each specific tire maker. “It’s important that you can handle thinner belts because belt thickness has an impact on handling performance,” Korte explains. Tire manufacturers will be limited to the capabilities of their machines, so if the equipment can handle thinner materials, this can have a positive impact on the desired characteristics of the final product. Reducing belt thickness by 10-20% across several components can reduce tire weight and use less material per tire. This also feeds into VMI’s sustainability goals. Being able to make tires with lower rolling resistance makes the product itself more environmentally friendly, as well as enabling the vehicle the tires are fitted on to use less energy. “If you look at the lifecycle assessment of a tire,” says Korte, “the biggest impact on sustainability is rolling resistance as the tire is used.” With ambitious targets for net zero Scope 1 and 2 emissions, VMI is minimizing its environmental impact by reducing the amount of energy its machines need. Functions that were traditionally powered by pneumatics are now increasingly being switched to electrical 36 www.tiretechnologyinternational.com March 2024