On September 3, 2023, the first meeting for the development of the group standard on tire laser marking by the China Rubber Industry Association was held at STEP. The meeting summarized the application experience of tire laser-marking robot workstations and discussed the formulation of the standard. Specification for Laser Etching on Tire Surfaces This marks the launch of a collaboration between STEP and its partner Gude Intelligent. The laser engraving robot workstation for rubber tires is gradually becoming more mature. It has gained industry recognition and has entered the stage of large-scale promotion and application.

The meeting was chaired by Zhu Hong, Deputy Secretary-General of the China Rubber Industry Association and Director of the Technical and Economic Committee, as well as Shi Yifeng, Secretary-General of the Tire Branch of the China Rubber Industry Association. Industry experts from the China National Accreditation Service for Conformity Assessment, the Tianjin Research Institute of Environmental Science, and Shanghai University, along with technical specialists from renowned domestic and international tire brands—including Michelin, Continental, Sumitomo Rubber, Zhongce Rubber, Linglong Tire, Sailun, Giti, Double Coin, Pulin Chengshan, and Huasheng—participated in the meeting.

Zhu Hong, Deputy Secretary-General of the China Rubber Industry Association and Director of the Technical and Economic Committee, chaired the meeting.

Director Zhu Hong pointed out that using robots to laser-engrave rubber tires is a brand-new process—a major technological innovation. The development of a group standard for laser etching specifications on tire surfaces aims to summarize the experience gained from earlier practices, promote advanced technologies, and provide industry benchmarks to ensure tire quality.

Hai Libo, General Manager of Gude Intelligent, introduced that for a long time, the rubber tire industry has relied on traditional mold-engraving processes, which suffer from low efficiency, poor results, and high costs. In recent years, with the advancement of robotics and laser technologies, domestic smart manufacturing enterprises engaged in automation, digitalization, and intelligent practices have begun exploring application scenarios for laser engraving. The laser engraving robot workstation for rubber tires, jointly developed by STEP and Gude, has undergone more than four years of iterative R&D. It has been demonstrably applied at leading companies in the rubber tire industry, including Zhongce, Sailun, Linglong, Shuangqian, and Jiatong. This innovation has not only helped rubber tire companies enhance product appearance, quickly respond to customized demands, and improve manufacturing efficiency, but also played a significant role in anti-counterfeiting and anti-diversion management. More importantly, it has effectively reduced inventory levels, boosted operational efficiency, and created value for the rubber tire industry.

Zhou Guangxing, General Manager of STEP Robotics, stated that STEP is eager to contribute to the intelligent manufacturing transformation of the rubber and tire industry. Having been active in the rubber and tire sector for many years, STEP high-voltage frequency converters have gained considerable recognition within the tire industry. Laser marking represents another significant achievement by STEP in the tire industry. Looking ahead, STEP will integrate products such as frequency converters, PACs, servos, and robots, working closely with its partners to provide the rubber and tire industry with more efficient, intelligent manufacturing solutions. This will accelerate the industry’s shift toward smart manufacturing and digital transformation, leveraging STEP strength to drive high-quality development in the rubber and tire sector.

At the meeting, Hu Jianguang, Chief Process Engineer at Zhongce Qingquan Industrial Co., Ltd., shared Zhongce Rubber’s application experience.

Smart Laser Engraving Solution for Rubber Tires

Laser Engraving Application Solution for Rubber Tires by STEP SR50/2180 six-axis robot, 3D laser vision system, laser engraving system, and Mecanum wheel alignment mechanism. A workstation composed of such elements. By integrating intelligent, low-energy-consumption, highly secure, highly flexible, and user-friendly industrial robots with cutting-edge, brand-new laser engraving technology, this solution addresses the key pain points in traditional tire manufacturing processes. It features... Fast production cycle, clear and beautiful engraving, smooth and even surface, no glue edges. and other features that, while meeting production process requirements, significantly enhance the efficiency of vulcanizing machines, reduce operational costs, and help tire manufacturers accelerate their transition toward intelligent manufacturing.

Functional features:

1. Brand-new medium- and small-load platform with a modular design, paired with a newly developed integrated drive-and-control cabinet—compact in size yet multi-functional.

2. Nanosecond high-speed robotic imaging technology;

3. 3D visual automatic tire recognition: Automatically identifies and locates the marking position regardless of its location.

4. Imported CO2 laser, maintenance-free and disassembly-free. Lifespan exceeds 100,000 hours;

5. McNamara wheel alignment mechanism, automatically positions the tire center;

6 Equipped with a negative-pressure dust removal system to support green tire manufacturing;

7. Seamless integration with the tire factory’s MES system, enabling data traceability and full lifecycle management of tires.

More details about STEP Robot products and solutions.

Welcome to the Shanghai National Exhibition and Convention Center.

STEP Industrial Fair Booth: 7.1H-E019

September 19–23, 2023

Email:
market@stepelectric.com

Address:
No. 1560, Siyi Road, Jiading District, Shanghai Municipality