News on the show floor on Day 1 came from Arlanxeo with its innovative new self-sealing rubber compound. The solution offers a replacement for a spare wheel, repair kit or runflat tire. When the compound is applied on the interior of the tire, any holes that occur are automatically sealed, so the driver can continue on his way. The tire is sealed immediately, regardless of the location and environment, while the vehicle is in motion.
Matthias Gotta, head of global sales and marketing in the tire and speciality rubbers business unit (BU TSR), explained, “To ensure that our compound can guarantee optimal sealing in any climate zone regardless of the speed a vehicle is travelling, we are currently carrying out further tests under extreme conditions following successful laboratory tests. Even in the case of strongly fluctuating external temperatures, the tires must be sealed to the same standard.”
Once field tests have been successfully completed, the compound will be launched on the market later in 2018.
Frank Lückgen, global marketing director for tires, BU TSR at Arlanxeo, added, “As a spare tire and the corresponding tools are no longer required, the weight of the vehicle and subsequently also its energy consumption are further reduced. In the case of electric vehicles, this can result in a longer range, for example.”
Visit Arlanxeo at Stand 4014 at Tire Technology Expo 2018 to find out more about its new rubber compound. The show runs until 22 February. More information at www.tiretechnology-expo.com.
20 February 2018
