The missing link - automatic loading of tire curing presses

Cimcorp’s product development has been revolutionizing the tire manufacturing industry in recent years. Solutions to automate material flows – from the tire-building machines to the curing presses, from the presses to the warehouse and from storage to the shipping dock – have significantly improved supply chain efficiency for many leading tire companies. The missing link has been the loading of the curing presses but now Cimcorp has developed not one but two solutions for this logistical challenge.

The curing presses in a tire manufacturing plant can prove to be a bottleneck, so maximizing their utilization is a vital element in optimizing the factory’s output. Loading of the curing presses has traditionally been a difficult manual task, requiring the storage of green tires in carts – along with special transfer equipment – close to the press line, resulting in congestion and potential hazards. Cimcorp’s solutions to this problem utilize, on the one hand, linear transfer robots and, on the other, an EMS (Electric Monorail System).   

Robotic loading

The robotic solution uses one or more robots mounted on an overhead gantry. This system is ideal for applications where the curing presses are arranged in a straight line. For lines of up to 10 presses (about 50 meters), typically just one robot is required. For longer lines, two or more robots are mounted on the same horizontal beam, which is usually over 4 meters above the floor.

Cimcorp has developed a unique gantry construction which eliminates the oscillation typically experienced on such long spans. The robots load the green tires directly onto the curing press table, without the need for separate transfer equipment or employees. This results in labor savings and improved ergonomics for workers. There is also real-time inventory control of WIP (Work In Process) and – most importantly – the utilization of the curing presses is almost 100%. Another key benefit is that maintenance of the press line is simplified. The presses have to be serviced and their molds changed every few days, depending on the tire model. With robotic loading and computer-controlled safety systems, engineers can work on one press without the need to stop the neighboring presses.  

EMS solution

An EMS is the ideal solution for applications in which the curing presses are not arranged in a straight line, as this technology can easily accommodate bends and inclines. The Cimcorp EMS is fast in operation and features a rugged construction suitable for the demanding environment of the curing area. Ideal for ceiling attachment due to its light construction, the EMS can lower green tires using secure belts, allowing safety systems to be made lighter. The EMS transports the green tires directly to the transfer equipment, which loads them onto the press tables.

WCS ensures optimum utilization

Whichever type of technology is employed for loading the presses, the material flow is controlled by Cimcorp’s WCS (Warehouse Control Software). WCS integrates the curing presses with the green tire buffer that feeds them, and also linking the tire building to the WCS, the green tire buffer inventory stays at optimum level; the presses always have sufficient green tires for curing, without an unnecessarily large buffer stock of green tires.

Cimcorp’s WCS was specifically developed to operate in environments with typical product throughput times of just a few hours. It operates under the customer's host system – which can be a warehouse management system, order management system or enterprise resource planning system – and receives tire identity information from many sources including the host system, process machines or conveyors, bar codes, data matrix codes and RFIDs

Are you interested in automation solutions for curing press area? Please don't hesitate to contact our sales personnel.