Conference Program


Day 3: Thursday, March 6

New York 1 Sustainability and the circular economy in the tire industry - Day 3
09:00 - 10:40

Moderator

Dr Juan J. García
Project manager
Applus IDIADA
Spain

09:00

Raising sustainability content through steel cord innovations

Wei Ye
Vice president responsible for circular and sustainable solutions
Jiangsu Xingda Steel Tyre Cord Co.
China
For many years, steel cord has been one of the hurdles ahead of tire makers who want to increase sustainable content in their tires. In this paper, Xingda sets out its plans to raise circular content in its steel cord, so that tire makers can increase their own sustainable content. Xingda aims to source 15% of all raw materials from recycled steels this year (2025) and to raise that to 40% by 2030. In addition to targets of carbon neutrality by 2050, the plan calls for less waste and more recycling of waste products, reduced packaging and low-carbon operations. Xingda has affirmed its sustainability credentials with affirmations from Ecovadis (Gold), CDP (A-), SBTi and other independent authorities.

What the audience will learn

  • Sustainability model and selected substantial topics
  • Sustainability initiatives and glories
  • Roadmap to circular economy & carbon neutrality and how to achieve

09:25

Chloramine devulcanization: new standards in carbon black and rubber recovery

Dr Patrick Kroeger
Chief technology officer
Arduro
Canada
Arduro introduces a chloramine-based devulcanization process for end-of-life tires to recover up to 95% of materials including carbon black, polymer, processing oil and silica. Operating at low temperatures (below 100°C) and low pressures, and using non-toxic chemicals, selective devulcanization breaks sulfur cross-links while maintaining the carbon-carbon polymer backbone. Leveraging this technology, Arduro has commercialized Eldarix r1000 rCB, which can replace virgin carbon black in rubber products without loss of performance. This innovation provides a viable, environmentally benign solution for ELTs, crucial for sustainability in the rubber industry by managing ELTs, developing a sustainable lifecycle for tires and promoting a circular economy.

What the audience will learn

  • Arduro's novel approach to ELT management through devulcanization and separation, allowing for reintegration of recovered materials
  • The importance and value of selective devulcanization, and its role in accessing individual components of such a complex material
  • The differentiation from other recycling methods (pyrolysis, thermo/mechanical devulcanization) and the advantages and disadvantages associated with our unique approach
  • Arduro's current product offerings, including Eldarix r1000 recovered carbon black and customized Circularity as a Service (CAAS) model.
  • Arduro's ongoing development including high MW polymer recovery, processing oil separation and future growth to recover 95% ELT materials

09:50

Innovative method to incorporate a devulcanization aid into rubber

Katerina Filzer
PhD candidate
University of Twente
Netherlands
Over the past decade, rubber recycling has become a topic of great interest. In the European Union alone over 300 million end-of-life tires are discarded yearly, but this material can be recycled and reused. Various devulcanization technologies were developed to produce a high-quality recycled rubber from end-of-life tires; however, one of the main challenges remains to distribute the devulcanization agent equally within the rubber matrix. Within this study, an innovative technology was developed based on the incorporation of the devulcanization agent at an earlier stage during the production of the rubber product and activation in the thermomechanochemical devulcanization process.

What the audience will learn

  • The challenges of conventional devulcanization technologies
  • An innovative technology to homogenously incorporate a devulcanization agent
  • How this novel process is different from already established processes
  • How this new technology makes the devulcanization process more efficient
  • The potential of this high-quality devulcanizate for application in new rubber products

10:15

Bio-based rayon for sustainable tire reinforcement

Dr Christoph Partes
Sustainability and compliance manager
Cordenka
Germany
Cordenka rayon is a versatile, bio-based material with mechanical and thermal properties optimized for UHP applications in the tire industry and also for different products in the field of mechanical rubber goods (MRG). Rayon's base is non-fossil cellulose that is sustainably managed and renewable. The product carbon footprint of rayon originates from energy required during production. Since sustainability became top priority at Cordenka, a dedicated sustainability management team has been installed. Cordenka has a clear sustainability roadmap and is committed to reducing its Scope 1 & 2 emissions by 34% from 2018 to 2030, a pathway in line with the targets of Tier 1 tire producers. This pathway is approved by the Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi). Reaching the target in 2030 will allow Cordenka to provide a low-PCF, bio-based, high-tensile rayon to the tire and MRG industries.

What the audience will learn

  • How Rayon as biobased tire reinforcements material affects use-phase emissions
  • Which material intensities are required to achieve higher performance with less carcass material
  • CORDENKA roadmap on reduction of carbon dioxide emissions during production
  • Sustainability comparison of Rayon with other materials

10:40 - 11:00

Break

New York 1 Emission and wear analysis and testing
11:00 - 15:00

Moderator

Dr Juan J. García
Project manager
Applus IDIADA
Spain

11:00

Understanding and mitigating the effects of tire particle emissions

Dr Juan J. García
Project manager
Applus IDIADA
Spain
The wear and tear of car tires is a major source of microplastic pollution. Through road friction and exposure to environmental conditions, the tire material degrades into small particles that are carried into the environment by air or rain. One of the goals of the EU-funded https://www.leont-project.eu/ (LEON-T) project, presented here, is to better understand tire-generated microplastics. Tire wear is considered one of the largest sources of microplastic emissions and LEON-T has been working on estimating the generation, transportation and transformation of these tire wear particles through the environment.

What the audience will learn

  • Measurements of the generation of tire particles
  • Transportation of tire particles from the source into the environment
  • Transformation of tire particles in the environment
  • Health effects associated with tire particles
  • Strategies for tire particles mitigation and control

11:25

Advanced tire-road friction model integrating local contact mechanics analysis

Raffaele Stefanelli
PhD student
University of Naples Federico II
Italy
This research presents an advanced friction model for tire-road contact using a Greenwood-Williamson approach to evaluate local contact mechanics. The model integrates tire compound viscoelastic characterization with detailed road roughness analysis across both macro and micro scales. It computes the ratio of real-to-nominal contact area under different conditions, providing insights into how surface texture, tire viscoelasticity and operating conditions affect the maximum achievable friction. The model was validated using both indoor and outdoor data across different scenarios, demonstrating its potential for optimizing tire selection and vehicle setup to maximize grip in motorsport environments.

What the audience will learn

  • Road roughness analysis on both the macro and micro scale
  • Tire viscoelasticity characterization with a non-destructive approach
  • Tire/road local contact mechanics analysis
  • Tire friction evaluation on both indoor and outdoor environment
  • Tire friction modeling for performance optimization

11:50

Innovative rapid dynamic abrasion test method for tire tread compounds

Dr Marzieh Salehi
R&D manager
VMI Group
Netherlands
Predicting tire wear performance on the road within a laboratory environment is paramount in developing tread compounds, as wear testing is one of the most unsustainable, expensive and time-consuming processes in the tire industry. The well-established Grosch abrasion test on the LAT100 was designed to estimate mathematically common daily driving scenarios based on speed and energy dissipation, in accordance with the ISO 23233 standard. This presentation introduces a novel dynamic abrasion test that significantly reduces test time (by at least 12 times) while demonstrating excellent agreement with the Grosch test matrix without requiring intra- and extrapolation mathematical models.

What the audience will learn

  • Novel prediction of abrasion using a unique, innovative dynamic test method
  • First-ever indication of abrasion prediction achievable within minutes
  • Results demonstrate excellent agreement with the Grosch test matrix, as per ISO 23233
  • Verification of results was successfully conducted for three sets of model compounds with well-characterized wear properties
  • The prediction is based on rapid direct measurements not a intra- and extrapolation mathematical calculations, thereby enhancing accuracy

12:15

Predicting tire performance on asphalt from indoor measurements

Dr Marco Furlan
Senior modeling and simulation engineer
Calspan
USA
Indoor tire testing provides a controlled environment to obtain highly repeatable and consistent data across a wide range of test conditions. However, concerns arise regarding the difference between the road surface of indoor facilities – typically sandpaper – and real-world asphalt. The presentation proposes a novel indoor testing methodology to predict the change in tire performance when transitioning from sandpaper to asphalt surfaces, eliminating the need to retest tires on asphalt. This approach exploits the repeatability and accuracy of indoor testing to develop a predictive estimate of tire performance change (such as Magic Formula scaling factors) for asphalt based purely on indoor measurements.

What the audience will learn

  • The benefits of indoor tire testing
  • The differences between the sandpaper surface of indoor facilities and real-world asphalt
  • The importance of adjusting tire models derived from indoor testing to accurately reflect real-world asphalt conditions
  • A new indoor testing methodology designed to predict changes in tire performance when transitioning from sandpaper to asphalt
  • How the proposed estimates Magic Formula scaling factors based solely on indoor measurements

12:40 - 13:45

Lunch

13:45

A method to visualize chemical emissions when rubber heats up

Dr Radek Stocek
General manager
PRL Polymer Research Lab
Czech Republic
When driving a vehicle, not only does tire abrasion occur, generating very large amounts of small rubber particles, but there is also an enormous production of gases, known as chemical emissions, that are released into the environment. These gases are generated mainly when the tire heats up during rolling, but they are maximally emitted into the air during the total collapse of the tire, known as blow-up. This study will introduce an experimental laboratory method of the heat build-up process (HBU) from room temperature to blow-up, with visualization of the generation and emission of gases into the air.

What the audience will learn

  • Not only tire abrasion burdens the environment but also chemical emissions are responsible for its pollution
  • Self-heating of the tire by rolling leads to chemical emission
  • Chemical emission can be simulated in the laboratory using a measuring method and can be visualized
  • Gases are produced in tires during rolling, but they are emitted to the air first when the tire fails
  • The chemical emission of gases for different types of rubbers used for varied tire applications will be presented

14:10

Flat-Trac testing with a realistic surface

Jonathan Darab
Operations director
Global Center for Automotive Performance Simulation (GCAPS)
USA
As virtual engineering accelerates in the automotive industry, engineers generally have to decide between testing indoors on sandpaper, or outdoors on real asphalt. Both methods have distinct advantages and disadvantages. To utilize the advantages of indoor testing, GCAPS has been developing and refining an asphalt-like surface which can be mounted to the LTRe Flat-Trac: Asphaltant. The presentation will show data from various tire test methods and constructions plus recent improvements that make this technology a long-term solution that maximizes the repeatability that indoor testing doubtless brings, but on a truly representative surface – thereby enabling realistic tire and vehicle simulations.

What the audience will learn

  • Why sandpaper-based tire models can be unrealistic
  • How GCAPS has developed an indoor surface which is more realistic than sandpaper
  • How Asphaltant is manufactured
  • How tire models compare between sandpaper and Asphaltant
  • The upside to using more realistic tire models within vehicle simulations

14:35

The novel approach to deconvolute wear rate into different components

Evangelos Koliolios
PhD student
Queen Mary University of London
UK
This paper explores the idea of deconvoluting the measured wear rate of a tire tread compound into different components such as abrasive wear and smear wear with the ultimate goal of elucidating tire tread wear phenomena. A custom-built surface abrasion machine was used to investigate the wear behavior of tire tread compounds made from either synthetic polyisoprene rubber or styrene-butadiene rubber, reinforced with either carbon black or silica. The findings of this research will be discussed in the contexts of compound design and optimization, wear testing improvements and wear modeling.

What the audience will learn

  • How wear rate can be deconvoluted into individual components
  • How compound formulation influences each individual wear component
  • How the individual components can be modeled as an attempt to predict compound abrasion performance
  • How the drying powder application rate can be adjusted to reflect compound composition and test severity
  • How to optimize tire compound composition and testing to achieve more sustainable tire tread design

New York 2 Developments and innovations in materials, chemicals and related processes - Day 3
09:00 - 15:00

Moderator

Dr Abilash Nair
Materials development manager
Dunlop Aircraft Tyres Ltd
UK

09:00

Solution to slash carbon footprint and costs, preserving tread performance

Lionel Riou
Global business development manager
Cray Valley, a member of TotalEnergies
France
Cray Valley has a long history with tire manufacturers, focusing on excellence in tire compounds, especially in the tread area, for over 30 years. In response to customer demands for new developments and sustainability, Cray Valley has developed a new grade that meets several key factors: customer constraints, final product performance, environmental impact and cost. The new grade, which is in the final stage of homologation, offers 20% less CO2 emissions, 50% less water consumption and nearly 10% less fossil resource depletion. It ensures customer satisfaction and matches the performance of existing grades while reducing costs.

What the audience will learn

  • Cray Valley went through the value chain of its grades, from cradle to gate, resulting in a deeper awareness of the factors impacting environment
  • A bespoke solution has been designed, equal to existing grade performances. Wet grip, handling and rolling resistance are preserved
  • New grade's environmental footprint improvements include 20% less CO2 emissions, 50% less water consumption and nearly 10% less fossil resource depletion
  • New grade's cost-effectiveness compared to standard grades. Total variable cost has been reduced to a very attractive level

09:25

Managing polymer filler interactions for better tire processing and properties

Dr Felix Niefind
Rubber application laboratory manager
Schill+Seilacher Struktol
Germany
Using new additive chemistry it is possible to control polymer filler interactions leading to more efficient mixing and superior down-line processing characteristics. The ability to influence both internal and external interactions allows for better management of the behavior of compound interfaces and as a result both tack and tear properties are more easily controlled. Vulcanization efficiency leading to better compound stiffness and management of hysteresis are also evident. Several examples based on advanced silica and carbon black-filled systems suited to different tire components are featured. The contribution toward both processing and tire energy efficiencies are highlighted.

What the audience will learn

  • Processing efficiency for highly filled systems
  • Process additive chemistry influence on filler interactions
  • Optimization of compound tack property during processing and tear properties of vulcanizates
  • Vulcanization efficiency influenced by additive usage
  • Energy-efficient compounding and contribution toward energy efficiency within the tire

09:50

Evaluation of the curing package for eco-friendly tire tread compounds

Frances van Elburg
PhD student and junior lecturer
University of Twente
Netherlands
The goal of the study is to understand the different behavior of conventional accelerators in silica-filled S-SBR/BR to find a bio-based alternative. It was recently discovered that zinc oxide and stearic acid are not needed to activate the curing reaction in high vinyl S-SBR. Therefore, accelerators with different chemical functional groups were evaluated in simplified tread compounds with and without activators. The interactions between activators, accelerators and sulfur were further studied, as well as the mechanism of the vulcanization reaction. The outcome of the study forms a starting point for the development of a more sustainable accelerator.

What the audience will learn

  • Curing behavior of compounds with various primary accelerators in combination with activators (ZnO/stearic acid)
  • Curing characteristics of selected primary accelerators in compounds without activators (ZnO/stearic acid)
  • Activators (ZnO/stearic acid) function as retarders instead of activators in a high vinyl S-SBR compound
  • Why the curing behavior of the compounds differs, focusing on the curing mechanism and chemistry
  • Ideas on how to improve the curing behavior of the compounds with more sustainable substances

10:15

Influence of polymer microstructure-phase morphology-property relationship on tire performance (part 2) and extension of the magic triangle

Anup Mondal
First line manager
Apollo Tyres Global R&D BV
Netherlands
In tire technology, tire development focuses on three critical properties: rolling resistance, tread wear and wet grip, which form the 'magic triangle'. It is so called because if one tire property is improved, the other properties are deteriorated. The main challenge for tire development is to improve two or three properties without deteriorating the other parameters negatively. In tread compounds, SSBR, silica and resin are usually used to maintain tire performance. It is very challenging to achieve or balance tread rubber performance as desired. This seminar also justifies different types of tire features as per weather or geography. At last year's Tire Expo Apollo Tyres demonstrated the effect of polymer microstructure-property relation on tire performance (part 1). This year it will demonstrate the effect of liquid material/oil/resin influence on the polymer microstructure-phase morphology-property relationship on tire performance (part 2). This approach gives a choice for expanding the magic triangle. The resultant direction can be used to achieve the preferred tire performance.

What the audience will learn

  • Tyre performance parameter
  • Tyres features as per weather/geography
  • The design of tread compound
  • Impact of polymer microstructure-phase morphology - property relationship on tyre performance

10:40 - 11:00

Break

11:00

Understanding the transitions in the abrasion behavior of tires

Eathan Plaschka
PhD student
Queen Mary University of London
UK
Styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) tire tread compounds varied by carbon black loading and cross-link density have been tested to evaluate their performance. This study presents an evaluation of the friction and wear properties using a uni-directional dynamic loading sequence, whereby a single tread block undergoes deformation in periodic intervals. Testing was conducted under different loading and temperature conditions. Transitions between abrasive and smear wear mechanisms are observed through the evolution of the friction and surface morphology. Optical microscopy techniques are used in the post-test phase to showcase how the fracture and friction of the compound evolve over time.

What the audience will learn

  • The relationship between friction and the wear mechanisms for SBR tire tread compounds
  • Mechanisms behind the origin of abrasive and smear wear
  • Wear surface morphology changes depending on the input conditions (including loading and temperature)
  • Elevated operating temperatures result in a shift in the relationship between the wear rate and friction mechanism
  • Optical microscopy techniques can showcase how the fracture process evolves over time

11:25

Advanced technology in ENEOS-SBR: driving tire performance and ecological impact

Dr Harutaka Nakamori
Assistant manager
ENEOS Materials Corporation
Japan
To reduce CO2 emissions, the automotive and tire industries seek to improve rolling resistance, wear resistance, durability and grip in compounds, raw materials and synthetic rubber, along with using sustainable and recycled materials. Research on styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR), the main tread compound material, has focused on modification technology, increasing molecular weight to improve tensile strength and wear resistance. This study utilizes ENEOS's accumulated expertise in polymer technology to introduce various chemical modifications to the backbone of SBR, investigating how these changes impact the physical properties and composition of the compound, and explaining their contribution to reducing CO2 emissions.

What the audience will learn

  • Effect of SBR structure on physical properties and tire performance
  • Analysis of compound structure and hypotheses linked to physical properties
  • Proposal of our unique polymer design can realize circular economy
  • Continue to provide solutions with our technologies to enhance tire performance and create new value in the future
  • Challenge of achieving both stable supply of materials and realization of a carbon-neutral society

11:50

Multi-functionalized, highly coupled SSBRs allowing for improved sustainability in tires

David Hardy
Technical service and development manager
Arlanxeo Netherlands BV
Netherlands
Current requirements for tire treads are increasingly focused on improved wear resistance to reduce TRWP and increased use of sustainable materials. Polymers such as NdBR and functionalized S-SBRs play a crucial role. Arlanxeo’s new functionalization technology allows for multi-functionalization to gain strong interaction with fillers and exceptionally high coupling for good processability despite the high molecular weight required. These occur simultaneously. It will be shown how bio-circular and circular feedstocks can be employed to produce monomers which in turn can be converted into new elastomers with a significantly lower product environmental footprint for improved sustainability.

What the audience will learn

  • Functionalized SSBR
  • High molecular weight FX SSBR
  • Processability
  • Sustainable tire rubbers

12:15

An easily applicable additive for green tires

Munenao Hirokami
Senior researcher
Shin-Etsu Chemical
Japan
Much attention has been paid to sustainability, such as limiting CO2 emissions as well as microparticle pollution throughout the whole process of the tire industry, including at the consumer level. The authors have suggested several new silanes bearing either a mercapto or sulfide group to improve some of those aspects. Nevertheless, using these silanes requires a lot of empirical knowledge and brings certain challenges. The presentation reports a prominent additive that enables the company to accomplish high rubber durability and excellent hardness without losing reasonable processability, leading to less process dependence and more intuitive use than the conventional system.

What the audience will learn

  • Additive
  • Improved durability
  • Improved hardness
  • Good processability
  • For green tires

12:40 - 13:45

Lunch

13:45

From liquid polymers to sustainable and high-performance tires

Dr Marcel Gruendken
Senior manager
Kuraray Europe GmbH
Germany
Liquid polymers are a unique material segment that bridges the gap between plasticizers and traditional polymers, often referred to as 'reactive plasticizers'. These materials enhance tire fuel efficiency, mileage and safety. This presentation introduces the technology and highlights the differences between liquid polymers, elastomers and plasticizers. It provides an overview of the selection by showcasing formulation examples and case studies. A special focus will be placed on functionalized liquid polymers and their contributions to improving the carbon footprint.

What the audience will learn

  • Liquid polymers as one material among plasticizers and elastomers
  • Technology, history and today's applications
  • Selection and case studies with different formulations
  • Functionalized liquid polymers and their contribution to more sustainable tires
  • Green transformation of specialty chemicals

14:10

Application of new additive silica dispersant

Kiran Pemmaiah
Technical and business development manager
Jiangsu Ruiba New Material Technology Co. Ltd
China
Zhimin Yao
Marketing director
Rebo New Material Group
China
Green tires are gradually being accepted by the public for their comfort, safety, environmental protection and energy saving, and demand and production are increasing day by day. A large number of research results show that using silica as a reinforcing filler in tire tread rubber can significantly reduce the rolling resistance of the tire. However, as the amount of silica in the formula increases, the rubber compound mixing process becomes difficult, as well as the silica black dispersion difference. Ruiba New Material Technology is committed to developing new silica dispersants to help tire companies solve the problems faced by high-fill silica formulas in rubber compound mixing. This presentation introduces the mechanism of action of the new silica dispersant, its impact on the process and physical properties of the rubber compound, and relevant experimental research data.

What the audience will learn

  • The mechanism of action of silica dispersant
  • Benefits of using silica dispersants
  • Application of silica dispersant
  • Reduction in energy consumption

14:35

Market needs driving the use of high-surface-area silicas

Dr Lucas Dos Santos
Senior research associate
Qemetica
USA
There is a global increase in the number of electric vehicles on the road, which require tires with new specifications. Sustainability efforts also demand tires with improved wear resistance and low rolling resistance. High-surface-area silicas can provide technical solutions to the new requirements. The presentation will discuss how to select the optimum silica for a certain application and the benefits and drawbacks of high-surface-area silicas in rubber compounds. Furthermore, the presentation will discuss how to process compounds to obtain the best performance out of these silicas.

What the audience will learn

  • High-surface-area silica performance benefits
  • Challenges when using high-surface-area silicas
  • Silica compounding
  • Tire market drivers
  • New tire technical needs

Five Continents Innovations and best practices for advanced manufacturing and inspection - Day 3
09:00 - 12:40

Moderator

Bill Henderson
Head, USA tire industry
Siemens Industry
USA

09:00

Operational excellence and sustainability: asset management in Industry 4.0

Kathryn Houk
Industry leader, tire and rubber
Rockwell Automation
USA
Effective asset management is crucial for driving manufacturing operational excellence, mitigating risks and advancing sustainability initiatives. Join Kathryn Houk, Rockwell Automation’s tire industry leader, to explore how a strategic, data-driven approach to asset management can unlock significant benefits for tire manufacturers in the Industry 4.0 era. Through real-world case studies and tire industry best practices, this session will equip attendees with the insights and strategies needed to transform their asset management approach and unlock the full potential of their manufacturing operations.

What the audience will learn

  • Improving manufacturing efficiency: predictive maintenance, real-time monitoring and integrated asset lifecycles can optimize equipment uptime and drive productivity gains
  • Mitigating operational risks: proactive asset management can help identify and address potential failure points, ensuring business continuity
  • Advancing sustainability goals: asset management aligned with circular economy principles can minimize waste, enhance energy efficiency and support ESG goals
  • Applying digital tools: Industry 4.0 technologies like AI can unlock value in an asset management practice
  • Use cases and benchmarking: explore real-world use cases and industry benchmarks for manufacturing asset management

09:25

Data integration and artificial intelligence in material testing

Charles Jouanique
Chief revenue officer
LabV Intelligent Solutions GmbH
Germany
Labs in the rubber and tire industry often struggle with fragmented data from various sources, hindering product development and causing loss of valuable knowledge. Quality control issues, such as identifying failing batches too late, result in costly wastage. This presentation will explore how innovative digital platforms centralize data management, resulting in enhanced data analysis, process efficiency and time savings, ultimately making companies more competitive. Additionally, the presenter will discuss the role of artificial intelligence in quality control and product development of rubber formulations and tire designs, showcasing its ability to uncover hidden correlations and offer rapid visualizations, improving overall efficiency.

What the audience will learn

  • How manufacturers and developers can turn their data into better products by improving R&D and QC efforts
  • How innovative digital platforms address data fragmentation challenges
  • The impact of centralizing data on reducing costs and increasing efficiency
  • How AI supports R&D and quality control departments to exploit their data
  • That AI is not a vision, but can support product development and quality control today

09:50

Real-time curing monitoring to improve efficiency and quality in manufacturing

Marco Ruffini
PhD student
University of Naples Federico II
Italy
The right curing process is critical in tire manufacturing, ensuring the desired properties by controlling temperature and time. Due to rubber’s low thermal diffusivity, each tire layer experiences different temperature histories, leading to non-uniform curing levels among tire zones. This research integrates a physical thermal model with a curing kinetic equation, offering capabilities for both R&D and production. In R&D, the model optimizes plates and bladder temperatures, curing times and compound selection. In production, it raises the number of tires manufactured by reducing curing time and monitors curing levels in real time to prevent overcuring or undercuring, ensuring consistent tire quality.

What the audience will learn

  • Predictive adaptive tire curing model
  • Physical tire curing thermal model
  • Virtual sensor for tire curing control
  • Tire curing process optimization
  • No capex production increase

10:15

Optimizing the tire mold design and manufacturing process

Mayur Dass
Portfolio development executive
Siemens Industry Software
Germany
There are many advantages to breaking down process silos in tire mold manufacturing, with the adoption of a continuous digital twin at the forefront. Emphasizing efficiency in design, the reuse of definitive components, particularly 'pitches', significantly reduces work redundancy. The holistic methodology transforms the design-to-production cycle, accelerates time-to-market and enforces rigorous quality standards. This strategic shift toward digital modeling and collaborative data practices showcases the potential for major efficiency improvements and process optimization within the industry.

What the audience will learn

  • Grasp the benefits of dismantling process silos
  • Appreciate the continuous digital twin's impact
  • Identify efficiency gains in recurring profile definitions
  • Understand streamlined process integration benefits
  • Explore the role of data in process optimization

10:40 - 11:00

Break

11:00

Innovative Loctite-Laser-Fit direct foam process

Dr Armin Kraus
Co-CEO
4JET Technologies GmbH
Germany
Dr Rainer Schoenfeld
Global market strategy head
Henkel
Germany
Foamed-in-place technical PU foam solutions are the state of the art in many industries. However, despite widespread use in the automotive industry, this solution has not previously been suited for acoustical foam. In the process, an air-impermeable skin is created on the foam surface, which impedes noise absorption and rules out the process for acoustic applications. This lecture will present a new process for the in-situ generation of a specialized α-Methyl-PU foam directly in the tire, and the subsequent acoustic activation of the foam surface using a laser. The advantages of this turnkey solution compared to the existing process will be shown.

What the audience will learn

  • Challenges and disadvantages of the conventional foam-in-tire process
  • Advantages of the Laser-Fit direct foam process and benchmarks from similar applications in the automotive industry
  • How laser activation enhances the acoustical performance of the foam
  • Benefits of the tailor-made Loctite-Laser-Fit α-Methyl-PU foam compared to ordinary PU foams
  • Key figures and industrial robustness of the Laser-Fit turnkey equipment line and details of the typical deployment process

11:25

AI in mapping and unlocking spring vents and laser cleaning

Lorenzo Casesa
Sales manager
Greentech Laser Manufacturing SpA
Italy
The presentation concerns resonance in automatically opening spring vents, a patented technology supported by AI software, with 3D scan, 2D video system, robot, laser source and integrated with the customer's database. Imagine loading a full mold into a MEM machine and receiving it cleaned, with SV open and mapped with a final report telling you which SV is open or closed and where it is located, marked in red. Imagine doing it without manpower, everything in automatic mode. This is the future; this is MEM technology and KLRS technology.

What the audience will learn

  • Laser cleaning and resonance as part of the transition to the green era to reduce the environmental impact of mold cleaning
  • Reducing pollution and energy in mold cleaning
  • Data recording the whole story of your molds
  • Reducing energy cost and consumption
  • Reducing manpower cost and alienating jobs

11:50

AI-driven innovation: precision in quality inspection of tires and rims

Juan Carlos Garcia
Vision expert and business developer manager, Germany and Austria
Eines Vision Systems
Spain
This session explores the latest tire and rim quality inspection technologies, focusing on automation and AI-driven solutions. Attendees will learn about the importance of automated systems in improving precision and reducing human error in manufacturing. The presentation will cover two advanced systems: the Automatic DOT Reader, which enhances tire traceability and compliance, and the ERSI (Eines Rim Surface Inspector), designed for high-precision rim defect detection. Participants will also discover the role of multi-error proofing solutions and robot guidance in optimizing production efficiency and sustainability, highlighting the latest advancements in AI applications within the tire industry.

What the audience will learn

  • The importance of automated quality control in tire and rim manufacturing
  • The application of machine vision systems and AI in error detection
  • An overview of the Automatic Inline DOT Reader for tire traceability and compliance
  • The rim surface inspection system for defect identification
  • Benefits of multi-error proofing solutions for enhanced manufacturing efficiency and sustainability

12:15

Machine vision in the tire industry

Patrick Hartmann
Global industry manager
Sick AG
Germany
Tire manufacturers must identify errors in the production process as early as possible to reduce scrap and therefore cost. This need has increased the number of machine vision applications throughout the whole production process, from the mixing area to final finishing. Because the main applications are connected to black rubber, 3D technology is seen as a reliable technology to solve these applications. On top of that, advances in image processing performance including artificial intelligence and deep learning are constantly improving the inspection capability in terms of flexibility and reliability.

What the audience will learn

  • How 3D vision works (triangulation principle)
  • How to achieve the highest quality images
  • How to get a high-res 2D color image together with the 3D image
  • How to make 3D vision technology easily accessible
  • How AI can help to automate and optimize quality control tasks

12:40 - 13:45

Lunch

Casablanca Modeling, simulation, testing and analysis - Day 3
09:00 - 15:00

Moderator

Dr Matthias Wangenheim
Assistant director
Leibniz University Hannover
Germany

09:00

Estimating friction from surface roughness: is a PSD enough?

Tom Sanders
Doctoral researcher
Loughborough University
UK
The most common road surface characterization metric used in friction models is power spectral density (PSD). However, PSDs tell us little about how roughness is distributed locally on the surface and may misinterpret the frequency signature of edge fall-offs as high-frequency roughness. A new method for surface-scan processing is presented, which uses the frequency content, as well as the height and gradient distributions of the roughness. This method results in the generation of realistic virtual surfaces which, combined with a novel approach for friction estimation, highlight the importance of accurate road representation.

What the audience will learn

  • The current state of the art in friction modeling and surface characterization
  • How the PSD is not always sufficient for characterizing road surface roughness
  • Additional characterization metrics that contain more information and how these can be obtained
  • How to generate synthtic surfaces from these metrics that could be used for a variety of road interaction problems
  • A new method for predicting friction based on these more representative characterizations of surfaces

09:25

Coupled multiphysics strategy to monitor the health of rubbery structures

Dr Mahmoud Assaad
Senior technical advisor/global tire performance prediction, computational mechanics
Endurica / The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company (Retired)
USA
When exposed to air, the long polymer chains of a rubbery object react with the oxygen molecules to form oxygenated functional groups which weaken the material and make it more susceptible to cracking. Higher temperature accelerates the diffusion of oxygen and the mechanisms of the ensuing chemical reactions. The property degradation of the oxidative rubber is manifested by embrittlement of its stiffness, reduction of its maximum chain extensibility and accelerated crack initiation and propagation. In this paper, a process is developed to measure the oxygen permeability, solubility and oxygen consumption rate to map the state of oxygen concentration.

What the audience will learn

  • A process to measure the oxygen permeability, solubility and oxygen consumption rate to map the state of oxygen
  • These properties are updated for elevated temperature generated by the structural dynamic deformation
  • The fracture energies (T0, Tc) are measured at the relevant aerobic and thermal conditions and updated into Endurica DD/DT
  • Demonstration of this crucial multiphysics mechanism in material design and engineering applications: two tire types (PCR, TBR) were analyzed
  • The predicted performance and longevity are compared for the aerobic and anaerobic conditions

09:50

Optimizing vehicle dynamics and tire design/testing for electric vehicle development: key insights

Dr Mohammad Behroozi
Vehicle dynamicist
General Motors
USA
Optimizing vehicle dynamics is essential to shaping the performance and handling of electric vehicles (EVs) in the rapidly evolving EV era. EV design requires a specialized approach due to unique factors like mass distribution, inertia characteristics and electric power delivery. This presentation focuses on how these distinct aspects drive the need for tailored tire design, optimization and testing methods. By addressing the specific challenges of EV tire dynamics, the presenter will explore effective strategies to enhance performance, efficiency, safety and comfort, leveraging advanced modeling and testing techniques that align tire characteristics with the unique dynamic profiles of EVs.

What the audience will learn

  • How EV-specific mass distribution and inertia impact handling and stability
  • The influence of electric power delivery on tire dynamics and traction
  • Specialized tire design and testing methods tailored for EV performance and safety
  • Strategies to enhance EV efficiency, comfort and dynamic response
  • Advanced modeling techniques to align tire characteristics with EV handling needs

10:15

Effect of tire properties on wheel hop and shimmy

Yixin Yang
PhD student
Loughborough University
UK
The presentation draws a link between tire attributes and vehicle dynamics/stability. It considers front wheel shimmy and rear wheel hop as two examples, to explore how inflation pressure, pneumatic trail and other tire parameters influence the occurrence of undesirable wheel oscillations, leading to inferior dynamic performance. To address the problem, a transient Magic Formula tire model with pressure sensitivity is combined with a shimmy model and a rear wheel hop model. Bifurcation analysis is performed using these models and the results provide a theoretical reference for the relationship between tire parameters and oscillatory/unstable wheel shimmy and hop responses.

What the audience will learn

  • The connection between tire properties and vehicle dynamics/stability
  • The effects of non-linearities in tire behaviors on shimmy and wheel hop based on bifurcation diagrams
  • Theoretical guidance on vibration attenuation from a perspective of tire characteristics
  • Tire model fidelity needed to predict critical vehicle behaviors
  • What tire model behaviors are required to more accurately capture the effect of tires on vehicle handling stability

10:40 - 11:00

Break

11:00

A comprehensive study on vehicle fuel efficiency and influencing parameters

Avinash Tomer
Senior engineer
HASETRI
India
The ongoing global warming crisis emphasizes the critical role of CO2 emissions and the impact of vehicle fuel economy. Current rolling resistance (RR) and fuel efficiency (FE) test methods mainly use controlled laboratory conditions, which may not accurately reflect real-world scenarios, especially regarding ambient and surface temperature dependence. This study aims to establish correlations between these operational parameters using SAE/ISO methods and proprietary outdoor measurement techniques. Key performance indicators include RR and FE trends with temperature variations in both lab and outdoor settings, with tests on vehicles and skid trailers for comprehensive analysis with reference to Indian conditions.

What the audience will learn

  • The correlation between rolling resistance (RR) and temperature variations under controlled laboratory conditions
  • How RR trends vary with temperature in outdoor settings using vehicle-based testing methods
  • To compare and correlate real-world conditions, particularly the effects of ambient and surface temperatures with lab tests
  • The relationship between fuel efficiency (FE) and temperature variations in outdoor conditions and how to correlate it with RR data
  • Insights into establishing testing methods and correlations specific to Indian operational conditions

11:25

Rethinking longitudinal grip simulation from advanced real condition measurements

Carlos Nerini
Managing director and co-founder
WOM Testing Technologies
Italy
It is well known that tire longitudinal grip characterization relies on a non-physical tire radius. However, limited research has explored the impacts of this convention on tire modeling and real-time simulation. This presentation discusses the findings of applied research that critically examines this issue. Groundbreaking results will be presented, showcasing the use of cutting-edge technology to measure the dynamic loaded radius of a tire under real-world conditions. These outcomes enable the development of high-realism tire models, which are crucial for virtual testing and enhancing vehicle safety

What the audience will learn

  • Longitudinal grip characterization and slip ratio convention
  • Brand-new technology for advanced tire measurements in real-world conditions
  • Dynamic loaded radius under real-world conditions
  • Simulation limitations arising from slip ratio convention
  • Benefits of an innovative approach to longitudinal grip characterization

11:50

New ISO/AWI 11010-3: generation process of tire model parameter sets

Dr Christian Bachmann
Senior manager tire technology
fka GmbH
Germany
The definition and selection of suitable tire simulation models and their parameter sets is an important step to achieve reliable simulation results. As there is no global standardization, various data sources and characterization procedures including an unknown range of differences in tire operation points can lead to significant differences in tire model parameters. This project will increase the comparability and transparency of model parameter sets which are created for a certain application based on a requirement list. The supplementary report allows evaluation of suitability for a certain application and comparability to other similar parameter sets.

What the audience will learn

  • The general process chain of tire model parameterization
  • Status quo in tire model parameterization
  • Influencing factors on the parameterization results
  • Importance of and requirements for consistent input definitions
  • Status of the ISO/AWI 11010-3 activities and targets

12:15

Cornering stiffness in quasi-steady and dynamic inner drum testing

Dr Matthias Wangenheim
Assistant director
Leibniz University Hannover
Germany
Measurements of tire lateral force versus slip angle are often performed in a quasi-steady manner, i.e. the slip angle is held constant or varied comparably slowly. The presentation covers the utilization of a new inner drum test rig to contrast these types of measurements with dynamic tests, in which the slip angle is altered with varying frequencies and varying amplitudes around several operating points. Two types of surfaces (rough and smooth) are utilized. This enables the identification of specific time lags between slip angle, side forces and contact temperatures for each operating condition.

What the audience will learn

  • New highly dynamic inner drum test rig
  • High-frequency and large amplitude slip angle variations
  • Different time lags for forces and temperatures at dynamic driving maneuvers
  • Effect of rough and smooth road surfaces on dynamic slip angle changes
  • Comparison of winter and summer tire response on dynamic slip angle variations

12:40 - 13:45

Lunch

13:45

Experimental investigation: compound viscoelasticity and road roughness effects on tire

Raffaele Maglione
PhD candidate
University of Naples Federico II
Italy
The global characteristics of tires are significantly influenced by viscoelasticity and road roughness; however, isolating the influence of these parameters from other factors is challenging. This study proposes a synthesis of an experimental campaign, conducted both indoors and outdoors, including different compounds on distinct road surfaces, to investigate possible direct links between surface roughness, viscoelasticity and tire global characteristics such as adherence level and stiffness. By uniforming carcass design and controlling operating, thermodynamic and wear conditions, the study aims to isolate and examine these critical influences in a completely novel multidimensional way.

What the audience will learn

  • Compound viscoelasticity and road roughness influence key tire characteristics like grip and stiffness
  • Methods for isolating specific effects in tire performance by controlling carcass design, operational and thermodynamic conditions
  • How different tire compounds affect performance under identical structural and environmental conditions
  • The role of surface roughness in tire-road interaction and its measurable impact on overall tire behavior
  • The correlation between viscoelasticity, road texture and tire performance metrics through experimental testing

14:10

Comparing results from different flat-belt testing machines

Anders Maki
Staff engineer
MTS Systems Corporation
USA
A comparison of tire measurement results used to evaluate tires for vehicle performance will be shown between two different model flat-belt systems to determine the correlation between such systems. This will help data users to understand whether the model of the flat-belt system is important to the data.

What the audience will learn

  • The results of correlating on-center handling parameters between two flat-belt systems
  • Tire stiffness correlation between two flat-belt systems
  • Relaxation length correlation between two flat-belt systems
  • Cornering power correlation between two flat-belt systems
  • Peak friction and cornering stiffness using a slip angle sweep correlation between two flat-belt systems.

14:35

New methodology to determine fatigue crack growth critical energies

Dr Mathieu Badard
DMA expert
Metravib Material Testing
France
The appearance and propagation of cracks are major problems for the tire’s lifespan. Fatigue crack growth testing methods make possible the accurate measurement of cracks in a rubber compound specimen under controlled dynamic excitation. Nevertheless, performing the test with adequate energy to obtain a relevant characterization of a specific material may be tough and time-consuming. Test optimization is possible when determining the lowest tearing energy (T0) generating a crack growth and the highest (critical) tearing energy (Tc) beyond which the specimen is rapidly totally cut. This presentation highlights a new methodology to determine both T0 and Tc.

What the audience will learn

  • Process to follow crack growth
  • Crack growth theory
  • The critical energies T0 and Tc
  • How the combination of an optical system and a DMA allows crack growth to be followed