With a strong focus on sustainability and innovation, Tire Technology Expo 2024 is shaping up to be one of the biggest and best yet. Held on March 19, 20 and 21, 2024, at the Deutsche Messe in Hannover, Germany, the show includes a superb line-up of exhibitors, conference topics and speakers, as well as a range of accredited short courses, the official Tire Technology International Awards for Innovation and Excellence, and ample opportunity for peer-to-peer networking. Register for your free fast-track exhibition entry pass here.
The exhibition
The industry’s premier technology showcase, the free-to-attend exhibition features all the latest equipment and materials from more than 240 specialist suppliers, covering the complete spectrum of the tire manufacturing process.
Cerebrum Sensor Technologies’ smart tire system can accurately measure real-time tread depth to ±1mm on most vehicle tires. The company has now expanded its offerings by leveraging strategic relationships and agnostic tools to create a suite of tire management solutions all sourcing from the company’s intelligent tire network, Cerebrum ITN. For example, Cerebrum has demonstrated its tread depth algorithms using standard TPMS sensors from third parties, as well as software-only applications using data from OE vehicle systems.
Color Service, a developer of automatic dosing systems for powder and liquid products, will introduce its collaborative robot dedicated to small chemicals weighing. Known as the COBOT, it works closely with humans in the manufacturing environment, dosing any type of product with high precision, to protect the operator from dangerous products. It can be supplied alone or combined with the MagRob handling robot for automatic storage system of raw materials.
Otego has developed a high-release film liner for rubber component preparation and storage, which the company says provides the highest release without silicone or fluor. Otego says that this liner, named 5519, brings 80% more release than existing polyester films and more resistance to abrasion than silicone-coated materials; and that it offers tire makers a high-quality film with contained weight and thickness, good lateral stability for all profiles requiring good tack preservation and non-stick properties to avoid quality issues during extrusion and storage.
Desmasa will showcase its patented solution for a fully automated winding system for the tire industry. The complete automation of the winding application enables the company to have a more stable and nonstop production, which translates into improved results. A feeding turntable at ground level enables easy handling by AGV or an operator of the reel/cassette. The table has a loading and unloading position with the ability of 360º positioning. The solution has an automatic loading and unloading reel/cassette system. The key to the complete automated system is the patented Automatic Liner Manipulator, which manages the tension control in winding and unwinding on a mobile roller column.
Micro-Poise Measurement Systems will introduce the AkroMark Duo at the expo, which it states is the industry’s first marker to offer LTA and hot stamp marking capability within a single marking head. The AkroMark Duo is designed to enable customers to easily shift between expensive LTA marking media to meet specific OE requirements and inexpensive HS media to meet all other marking requirements. Per customers’ unique requirements, users can either have a dual LTA and hot stamp system, hot stamp only or an LTA-only marker configuration.
The 2023 awards saw the debut of a host of new categories – which enable the awards to recognize and reward an even greater selection of worthy winners – and these will remain in place for the 2024 awards. The full shortlist is available here.
The conference
Bringing together leading industry figures, the Tire Technology Expo Conference will consist of three days of presentations, discussions and networking on the latest developments in tire manufacturing, sustainability and the global tire business.
The conference will feature more than 180 expert speakers from leading companies and institutions, such as Michelin, Apollo Tyres, Sumitomo Rubber Industries, GDSO, Kumho Tire, Jaguar Land Rover, University of Twente and many more, including the European Commission.
Leading speakers include: Li Yanguo, compound and material research, Linglong Tire; Guy Heywood, vice president, Hankook Tire Europe; Mohammad Behroozi, senior vehicle dynamicist, GM; Tetsuya Maeakwa, manager – material planning, Sumitomo Rubber Industries; Jan Prins, technical group leader for wheel and tire development and modeling, JLR; and Dalia Broggi, project manager, scientific research, European Commission.
With new topics and streams announced for 2024, the conference is set to bring more insight than ever. In addition to its regular content, speakers will discuss AI applications in tire R&D and manufacturing, intelligent connected tires, sensors and data acquisition, sustainable tire manufacturing, the circular economy and mitigating TRWP. This year there will be more than 40 presentations on simulation, modeling and test and development alone – you can view presentation highlights here.
Short courses
Three short courses will be held concurrently with the exhibition and conference.
The University of Akron Tire Mechanics is a four-day short course held on March 18, 19, 20 & 21, 2024. Starting the day before the exhibition opens, it will provide engineers and scientists with an in-depth, intense study of the latest developments surrounding tire engineering. The basic and practical aspects of the mechanics of pneumatic tires will be introduced by internationally renowned experts in tire mechanics, and those who complete this course will receive a certificate from The University of Akron.
The Tire Modeling and its Application in Tire and Vehicle Development three-day short course (March 18-20) will be organized and co-presented by Mohammad Behroozi from GM. The course covers computer modeling of tires in a full vehicle system and is aimed at engineers and researchers working in industry or academia. The subject matter will be of primary interest to vehicle dynamics engineers, for whom the tire is the primary force and moment generation element on the vehicle. It is also useful for engineering managers who wish to understand existing tire modeling activity and its challenges, or to successfully implement new tire simulation processes in the workplace.
The 10th Tire Reinforcement Materials, Applications and Fatigue Testing one-day short course (March 18) will provide an understanding of the use of materials and constructions for rubber reinforcement in the tire. This course is intended for tire reinforcement engineers from design and material laboratory departments at tire manufacturers and their reinforcement suppliers.
Please visit www.tiretechnology-expo.com for the full exhibitor list, conference program and short courses schedule, and to register for your free exhibition entry pass. You can read Tire Technology International’s full show preview, here.