Find out more about some of the companies headed to Hannover in March. Vipo CEO Peter Duchovič explains how the company is developing innovations in integrating production processes in component preparation and digitalization
Tell us a little about your company.
Vipo was founded in 1974, at which time its main mission was the research and development of machinery and chemistry for footwear production. However, its origins go back even further, when Tomáš Bat’a created a strong foundation for the technical/technological system in the town of Partizánske, Slovakia, in 1938. Following various changes, the company now consists of three divisions: chemical research, testing, and machinery and electronics.
For more than 25 years Vipo’s emphasis has been on its machinery and electronics division, focusing on the research, development and production of machinery for the tire and rubber industry. The first equipment for the production of bead wires was delivered to our customers in 1998 and since then Vipo’s equipment has been used to manufacture tire components on five continents. The company currently employs 140 people in its development, engineering, project management, production and sales departments.
What will Vipo be showcasing at Tire Technology Expo in March 2024?
Tire Technology Expo is a strategic space in the tire industry for presentations and meetings with our customers, partners and friends. Vipo is an established brand worldwide and we have been a regular participant in the exhibition since 2008. Every year Vipo brings innovations that have been developed by our specialists. It will be the same this year, as we are planning to present various innovations, such as the integration of production processes in component preparation as well as in the field of digitalization, where our R&D team has developed very interesting products and services.
Which areas of the tire manufacturing industry does Vipo specialize in, and how does the company’s expertise make it a valuable partner for the tire business?
In the tire industry, our specialization is in semi-finished products preparation, namely bead apex solutions. Our production portfolio includes equipment and services that are suitable for all types of tires. Vipo has specialized in this field since the beginning of its activities in the tire industry. Our solutions bring added value to customers through highly automated processes and operations that optimize production costs. Last but not least, a number of technological and digital innovations have been implemented and bring a major shift in the quality, performance and user-friendliness of our products.
Who are you hoping to connect with at Tire Technology Expo 2024, and what would you like them to learn about your company?
We are looking forward to meeting with our customers and partners, who have come a long way with us in the tire industry. Thanks to them, the Vipo brand is well known and respected worldwide. We believe that our booth will also be visited by new customers, and we will be able to acquaint them with our products and services, which are based on high reliability. Meetings during the exhibition are always inspirational for us, as many suggestions and incentives from our customers might later be turned into new solutions.
What trends does Vipo see affecting the tire industry and how is the company leveraging its technologies and innovation to react to these shifts?
We have been focusing on the automation of processes for a long time, improving equipment performance, and have a number of great solutions that have long proved themselves with our customers. We also strive to optimize and integrate processes in the preparation of semi-finished products to achieve higher added value in the equipment and minimize costs for customers.
Our research and development team pays great attention to digitalization, data collection and its evaluation, with subsequent solutions for process optimization. We can apply innovations from the digital world and thus influence the possibilities for our products. Finally, our environmental responsibility has guided our activities and, due to various applications and optimizations on our machines, we have reduced our environmental impact both as an equipment manufacturer and for end users. As our activities are worldwide, we see this as a global endeavor.
Are there any specific areas of tire production that you are excited to see the Vipo team apply its innovation to in the future?
Vipo’s solutions are no longer focused solely on the production of semi-finished products. In the field of semi-finished product preparation, the solutions we offer our customers are adjusted to their needs and visions for the future. The company also brings added value in process automation, the evaluation of parameters during production and information, and digitalization of the process in its entirety according to customer requirements.
Our equipment has been continuously developed during our time in the tire industry through contact with our partners in external companies and universities, and based on customer requirements. We have a long-term vision for semi-finished product production working with our R&D, engineering and project teams, and are very excited about the digitalization possibilities that can be applied in our solutions, which we are planning to share with our customers during the expo.
Find out more by visiting Vipo at Booth 7064, Tire Technology Expo 2024, Deutsche Messe, March 19, 20 & 21
