VMI automates bead-apex assembling for car tires

The VMI Group announces a revolutionary breakthrough for the tire industry - a fully automated bead/apex assembly unit with a productivity exceeding 10,000 beads per day in continuous production. The unit assembles the apex and pre-built tire bead in one automated and fully integrated operation. This highly accurate process including apex splicing guarantees consistent, uniform quality in bead/apex assembly.

Semi-automatic & automatic systems

The design of this automatic VMI bead-apex line meets all requirements regarding ergonomics, flexibility, and quality, while the overall efficiency of the system is very high. The modular design of the system covers a wide range of market requirements. There is also a semi-automatic version available with manual loading and unloading and apex feeding from reel. This semi-automatic unit can be upgraded easily into an automatic system by adding an on-line extruder and festooner and further with automatic loading of the beads and unloading of the bead-apexes. 

Cost-effective investment

"Automated bead/apex assembly will transform one of the tire industry’s last remaining labor-intensive operations, so eliminating the associated variations in quality and productivity," says VMI Product Manager, Mike Norman. "This is a market-driven development. As leading global supplier of tire component preparation and tire building systems, we make it our business to listen to customer requirements. VMI’s automated bead/apex assembly unit will be a cost-effective investment that shows an early return."

Integrated system

The bead/apex assembly unit is a completely integrated, stand-alone system, including shrinkage conveyor with camera control system, cooling drums and festooner, and bead/apex assembly head. This tire component process is totally automated from apex extruder feeding to final stacking ready for the tire building process. There is also the versatility for quick, easy change in tire bead size in the 14" to 24" range.
The bead/apex assembly unit has been fully tested with consistent quality results. Furthermore, this excellent performance is supported by the first units already up and running in plants of major tire manufacturers.