Tire Machine builds large passenger tires.
Press Release Summary:
Model VMI 348-S, with dual-drum design, builds radial tires with maximum bead diameter of 24 in. and 1000 mm OD with tread-over-sidewall or sidewall-over-tread construction. Features include ultra-sonic cutters, length measurement of components, and CCD camera-guided material applications. Synchronized operation of breaker and tread drum and carcass building and shaping drum facilitate construction of large size tires. Automatic servicers enable continuous production runs of up to 300 tires.
Original Press Release:
VMI Revolutionary Solution to the Large Passenger Tire Issue
VMI has launched a revolutionary new passenger tire building machine to extend the range of VMI machines that have become synonymous with high uniformity and quality throughout the global tire industry.
The new machine - the VMI 348-S - offers a unique solution to the increasing demand for large passenger tires that range in size up to a maximum bead diameter of 24", and with an outside diameter of 1000mm. The machine adopts the same, well-proven single stage building technology successfully employed as the standard by all modem VMI tire building machines. It produces green tires at minimum cost and with superior uniformity.
As with the well-established VMI 248-S, the VMI 348-S is designed to build radial passenger tires with either tread over sidewall or sidewall over tread construction, but with significantly wider components. Features such as ultra-sonic cutters, accurate length measurement of components, and CCD camera-guided material applications are employed by the new VMI 348-S to ensure excellent tire quality and repeatability.
Designed for quick size change, the flexibility offered by this machine makes economic production of tires -even in small batches - possible.
"VMI's two-drum configuration is a proven design that will change the way tires will be built in the next decade for large tire sizes", says Chuck Fritz, President and CEO of VMI Americas. The synchronized operation of the two-drum configuration - one breaker and tread drum, and one carcass building and shaping drum - has proven to be ideal for common tire constructions in these large sizes. The VMI 348-S breaks down all the traditional productivity barriers, thereby reducing the cost per tire.
The two breakers, capstrip and tread (standard tread out of spools) are applied to the B&T drum and then transferred to the carcass drum in one continuous and fully automated operation. Simultaneously, all carcass components are applied to the carcass drum, and when complete, the carcass is finished with the breaker and tread package.
The VMI 348-S can be supplied with either standard bladder-type drums or VMI's unique new carcass drum with mechanical turn-up. Instead of bladders and rollover cans, the new drum is fitted with mechanical arms which, in movement from both sides, turn the material up onto the pre-shaped carcass. This action produces greater uniformity in the stretched carcass components than possible with bladder systems and gives a good consolidation in bead and sidewall area. The drums in use on the VMI 348-S are designed for the special requirements needed for large tire sizes. Another important issue is the high forces which are required to make the turn-up for the heavy sidewall constructions in these big tires. The new drum is equipped with mechanical "high" shoulders to provide excellent support for the [heavy] bead area of this type of tire.
Advanced unistage for "large tire" technology
Simply put, the VMI 348-S builds a complete green tire on one machine with superior uniformity and quality. A major contributing factor to tire uniformity is the machine's advanced automation, which ensures highly accurate placement of the tire components with the added benefit of reducing the machine's manpower requirements to just one operator. Other features contributing to superior tire uniformity are VMI's proprietary mechanical bead locking and mechanical shoulders. Through a sophisticated controls system, rapid changeovers can be made to different bead diameters, tire constructions and number of components. This machine is suitable for standard tires to high performance tires - low aspect ratio tires to high aspect ratio tires with heavy constructions.
Adapted servicers
The breaker and carcass component servicers and material applicators are designed for efficient operation of the VMI 348-S at both high and low volume runs. The tread is supplied from a dual shuttling spool system with automatic scrap removal and splicing. The automatic servicers enable continuous production runs of up to 300 tires. In addition, measuring, cutting and component applications are fully automated. The new VMI 348-S is also equipped with an automatic, green tire removal system.
Ongoing R&D
VMI is committed to continuous innovation. The two-drum single stage VMI 348-S offers excellent opportunities to incorporate the newest technologies for application and measuring of the different materials.
The VMI 348-S is the result of extensive R&D by VMI, in addition to its 25 years of continuously evolving experience in single stage tire building technology. VMI is committed to creating state-of-the-art solutions and supplying production systems with price performance ratios that enable customers to enhance their financial performance.
With more than 40 years of experience in the rubber and tire industries, VMI is a leading global supplier of rubber processing machinery, tire assembly, stock preparation, and indoor tire testing machinery. The company's Research & Development is headquartered in The Netherlands, with production, sales, and service facilities located in Epe, Holland; Stow, Ohio, USA; and Yantai, China. VMI is committed to creating state-of-the-art process solutions and supplying systems that provide compelling returns-on-investment.
Website: www.vmi-group.com
