Emerson, a global automation solution supplier, is known for its solutions that help tyre manufacturers to have efficiency, safety and precise operations in five production areas- mixing equipment, wire and fabric calendars, extruders, tyre building machines, curing presses and finishing process.

Currently, the company is focusing more on solutions for the tyre curing process, which consumes the greatest amount of energy during the tyre production. If tyre curing process does not work correctly, it could also lead to tyre scrap and even breakdown.

“Today, we are focusing on increasing our value as a solution provider to monitor the health and performance of the curing system. Within the curing process, we are not just supplying valves or components, but we also deliver the controller, pneumatic valves and sensors that monitor each step of the process,” said Chris Bart, Director Business Development Automotive & Tire at ‎Emerson Automation Solutions.

According to Bart, the challenge in the tyre curing process is to have precise control on temperature and pressure. With Emerson’s technologies, tyre manufacturers can maximise output and reduce energy and costs through better diagnostics, sensing and monitoring.

 “The main challenge is the management of steam and nitrogen used to heat the mould and bladder pressure.  So, any small deviation in the inputs can have severe negative effects on the quality of the products and overall productivity of the production line or the plant,” explained Bart.

In the tyre curing process, Emerson’s pressure-operated valves work in demanding steam applications and provide reliable and precise control, enabling rapid cycling and tight shut-off to ensure the curing press operates correctly and efficiently.

“Emerson’s valves system controls the movement of the steam and nitrogen into the process. Our valves are critical to supply steam and nitrogen in the proper time with proper temperature and pressure and make sure that there is no leakage during the cycle or between cycles,” explained Bart.

Digitisation helps Emerson’s steam valves to monitor the travelling time of the steam valve and detect anomalies, which ultimately assist in a predictive maintenance programme. “If any deviation happens, the system alerts the maintenance team, and downtime could be avoided,” said Bart.

Traditionally tyre manufacturing companies put a temperature gauge and a pressure gauge to monitor temperature and pressure in the piping system. “Earlier, it was tough to point out the reason for the deviation in temperature and pressure.  We have developed our products that control the steam and nitrogen and also included the sensors that tell the exact position of the valves. So, we can also monitor the leakage of nitrogen, steam and the air we use in operation. It also monitors the air pressure that opens and closes the steam valves. We can monitor the total consumption of the compressed air as well,” said Bart.

“Today’s typical approach to see the only results, but with our system, we are giving is infinite detailed inside the system. This gives customers actionable insights to improve their tyre curing process.”

Emerson, not only provides the solution in the curing but also extends its offering to other components in the system. Historically the steam traps used to be checked manually.

If not work correctly, either a large amount of steam can escape or damage the valves and pipework. Emerson offers wireless acoustic transmitters that monitor steam trap health and detect failures in real-time. “The steam trap monitoring system is one of our biggest innovations in energy-saving efforts. With this, we can avoid damage or loss of steam and improve energy efficiency,” said Bart.

As part of its product development, Emerson regularly visits tyre companies to understand the pain point in the production processes. “Looking at their process and our expertise with the components as a solution supplier, we always look into further potential scope in monitoring, measuring and reporting in the tyre production,” said Bart.

For the mixing process, Emerson offers flow control and pneumatic directional control devices, such as pressure operated valves that optimise the mixing process. At a manufacturing production plant, the mixing is a crucial stage that decides the quality of tyres. All ingredients have to be mixed with accurate weight and in a controlled sequence. Emerson valves keep the weighing and hopper systems running efficiently and reliably while ensuring batch quality.

Emerson, for Fabric/wire calendars and extruder, provides products that increase reliability and material guidance precision of bead wiring and rubber coating, improves pneumatic system performance to avoid premature valve failures and reduces commissioning time through onsite/pre-set tuning. The overall company solution can significantly increase the lifespan of valves by purifying compressed air and regulating pressure and improve safety conditions for your workers by locking systems down during maintenance.

Repeatable, high precision pneumatic directional control ensures the production meets the highest quality specifications every time. Using Emerson’s modular and compact valve manifolds tyre manufacturing companies can achieve greater application flexibility, reduce costs, simplify commissioning, maximise the availability of tyre building machinery and achieve higher throughput targets. Increased visibility into the health of valves also lowers maintenance costs, says the company.

In the finishing process, Emerson’s products ensure precise and reliable motion control and positional accuracy. By offering higher repeatability and reliability, these devices reduce machinery downtime and maximise throughput. Emerson’s ISO and NFPA-conforming actuators and linear-guided cylinders are extremely durable, providing greater test equipment machinery reliability and extended lifespans.

According to Bart, the growing complexity in each process of tyre manufacturing is a challenge. “Complexity in mixing, calendering, tyre building, curing and in the finished products is growing, and it is demanding more control on each process. The evolution of the tyre manufacturing processes requires more insights and integration of process information. This enables continuous quality improvements and energy savings.,” said Bart.

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AI mobile data capture company Anyline has released the latest version of TireBuddy, a smartphone-based system for automotive tyre inspections. Version 1.8 introduces fully automated sidewall capture that removes human variability from data collection. The tool has already helped service teams achieve faster, more uniform inspections over the past year, leading to increased tyre sales and stronger customer trust.

The automated mechanism uses on-device guidance that evaluates each image against four criteria: full sidewall detection, sharpness, proper distance and angle and overall clarity. This real-time feedback minimises redo scans by guiding technicians to capture optimal images immediately. The system addresses common challenges in busy service bays where accuracy often suffers due to varying experience levels.

Standardisation of inspection quality is a primary benefit, as consistent results are achieved regardless of who holds the phone. This removes dependency on technician skill or training duration. New or seasonal staff can perform scans confidently from day one without extensive instruction. The automated capture now serves as the standard protocol for all inspections across locations and shifts.

Additional features include tyre mismatch alerts that flag size discrepancies, automated email reports to back-office systems and a redesigned results screen consolidating sidewall information and tread measurements. With hundreds of thousands of annual inspections, this update reinforces TireBuddy's role in modernising tyre service operations.

Lukas Kinigadner, CRO, Anyline, said, “A shop is only as consistent as its least experienced inspector. Automated sidewall capture gets every scan to the same standard, so teams can stop treating inspection quality as a variable.”

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Epson, a global leader in SCARA robot manufacturing, has unveiled its next-generation industrial robotics portfolio at Automation Expo Mumbai 2026. The newly introduced lineup features the high-end CX-A Series 6-axis robots, the LS-C Series SCARA robots, the RC+ 8.0 programming software and the advanced SafeSense safety technology, all designed to address diverse manufacturing applications such as pick-and-place, precision assembly, parts transfer and material handling.

The new offerings significantly expand Epson’s existing industrial robotics family, which already includes the 6-axis C-Series and SCARA T-Series and LS-Series models with payloads ranging from 3 to 20 kilogrammes. With the addition of the CX-A and LS-C Series, manufacturers across various sectors can achieve heightened productivity, flexibility and operational efficiency. The CX-A Series is engineered for complex tasks with a payload capacity of up to seven kilogrammes and a reach of 900 millimetres, available in IP67, cleanroom and ESD variants, while the LS-C Series provides a compact SCARA platform with a 50-kilogramme payload, a 1,000-millimetre reach and cycle times as fast as 0.298 seconds.

Complementing the hardware, the RC+ 8.0 software offers an integrated environment for programming, simulation and system management, facilitating faster automation deployment with support for Visual Studio and C++ development. Additional efficiency features include enhanced diagnostics, OPC UA, GUI builder and safety functions, alongside co-creation tools like Library Builder and RC+ Extension. Meanwhile, the SafeSense technology promotes safer human-robot collaboration by incorporating Safety Limited Speed and Safety Limited Position functions, which can potentially reduce the need for extensive safety fencing and thereby increase operational flexibility.

With over four decades of industrial robotics expertise and more than 200,000 robotic arms deployed globally, Epson continues to drive operational excellence for businesses. Attendees at Automation Expo Mumbai 2026 have the opportunity to view live demonstrations of these solutions and consult with Epson specialists about transforming their manufacturing operations.

Siva Kumar, Sr General Manager – Sales and Marketing, Epson India, said, "India is rapidly emerging as a global manufacturing hub, and automation will play a pivotal role in shaping its future. With our new industrial robot lineup and RC+ 8.0 platform, Epson is delivering the speed, precision and intelligence manufacturers need to compete in an increasingly dynamic marketplace. We remain committed to enabling businesses to accelerate automation adoption and build smarter, more agile and globally competitive manufacturing operations."

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A consortium of Fraunhofer institutes has reached a key milestone in the Technology Platform for Tire Abrasion and the Identification of its Emissions in Road Traffic (TERIS) project, moving closer to establishing standardised laboratory methods for generating, analysing and predicting tyre wear.

The project, led by the Fraunhofer Institute for Structural Durability and System Reliability LBF, together with Fraunhofer ICT, Fraunhofer IGD and Fraunhofer IWM, aims to provide the tyre industry, testing organisations and environmental agencies with reliable and practical laboratory procedures for assessing tyre abrasion emissions.

The first project milestone has been completed following a successful review by an advisory board comprising industry experts.

The consortium has developed reference methods for tyre abrasion, particle analysis, tribological modelling, artificial intelligence-based surface analysis, a laboratory test bench concept, accelerated ageing techniques and volatile organic compound (VOC) detection.

According to the consortium, combining different particle collection and measurement techniques enables more precise analysis of both airborne and deposited tyre wear particles. At the same time, tribological models have been developed to better understand the relationship between loading conditions, material properties, surface structures and particle formation, allowing real-world tyre wear processes to be replicated under laboratory conditions.

Researchers have also developed a specialised test chamber for accelerated ageing, enabling tyre samples to be exposed to controlled environmental conditions before evaluating their abrasion behaviour.

Another development is an optical detection system that uses artificial intelligence to identify and classify surface structures. The system has been validated using substitute materials and is expected to be applied to rubber samples during the next phase of the project.

The consortium has also designed a laboratory test bench that combines multiaxial loading, controlled generation of tyre wear particles, targeted particle collection and integrated optical sensors within a single testing platform.

In addition, the project combines accelerated weathering with chemical analysis of volatile organic compounds released from tyre abrasion to assess the environmental impact of tyre wear particles.

The researchers said the work will provide the foundation for faster and more practical laboratory evaluation of new rubber compounds. The resulting methods are intended to help tyre manufacturers reduce emissions, accelerate product development and support compliance with the requirements of the Euro 7 standard.

At Fraunhofer IWM, researchers focused on refining tribological wear models and friction surface concepts to simulate particle formation under controlled laboratory conditions. The institute designed a parameterisable wear test that studies friction between plate materials and model surfaces with different structures, enabling researchers to investigate the mechanisms responsible for particle generation.

Initial findings indicate that tyre wear results from multiple interacting mechanisms rather than a simple relationship between particle emissions and factors such as speed, contact force or temperature. The researchers collected and analysed particles across a wide range of sizes during the study.

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ZF has secured a significant milestone in the Indian automotive sector, receiving three major orders for its advanced test systems. The contracts, which encompass battery, tyre and e-axle testing, position the global driveline and chassis technology leader at the forefront of the nation’s drive to enhance road safety and establish more robust vehicle certification processes. This development aligns with India’s accelerating regulatory efforts to ensure that vehicle testing becomes more independent, rigorous and comprehensive, marking a critical step forward for the industry.

A key aspect of ZF's strategy involves a strong commitment to local manufacturing, with the company emphasising high levels of domestic content for its test systems in support of the ‘Make in India’ initiative. The firm’s extensive background in the field is underscored by its experience in testing over 100 million transmissions, a testament to the proven global reliability of its technology. This foundation of expertise is now being applied to address the specific safety and performance demands emerging in the Indian market.

With the rapid adoption of electric vehicles, battery safety has become a paramount concern, and ZF’s solutions cover the complete spectrum from individual cells to complete packs. These systems evaluate performance, endurance and environmental factors, including rigorous mechanical abuse testing, while adhering to a wide array of international and Indian standards. Furthermore, the company’s tyre testing capabilities are poised to play a crucial role as India prepares to enforce new mandatory regulations, including the BNVSAP and the AIS 142 TPMS Mandate. The ZF Tyre Efficiency Tester (TET.lab), recognised for its precision, offers a modular platform capable of testing everything from motorcycles to heavy commercial vehicles.

The company’s e-mobility test benches feature a high-performance drive module with a flexible, modular architecture designed to accommodate both conventional and electric drivetrains. These systems can be configured for various operations, integrating frequency converters and precision measurement technology for comprehensive testing. ZF’s deep expertise, already deployed by manufacturers and testing authorities worldwide, positions it as a key technology partner for India. As regulatory requirements tighten and the demand for quality escalates, the company is set to support the nation's ambition of building a safe and sustainable automotive ecosystem.

Akash Passey, President, ZF Group India, said, “Testing agencies are the final arbiters of vehicle safety, the bodies whose certification regulators and the public trust. Being chosen across three independent and Government agencies, for three distinct testing disciplines, is a powerful validation of ZF's accuracy, reliability and deep understanding of India's regulatory and testing landscape. ZF Group is proud to provide the technical foundation that makes world-class automotive safety infrastructure possible in India, not just for our OEM customers but also for Government and independent testing agencies.”

Thomas Trebitsch, Vice President, ZF Test Systems and Testing, said, “Over the past years, we have been focusing on the tyre industry in India and introducing our complete product portfolio to India. As the market develops rapidly towards regulations and safety, there is a strong need for robust and world-class testing technology. ZF brings its global competence and a deep understanding of the Indian auto industry to address its specific needs.”

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