ESSEN, Germany (May 25, 2016) —The organizers of the biennial Reifen trade fair in Essen have recognized tire makers Bridgestone Corp. and Group Michelin and workshop equipment maker Corghi S.p.A. with its innovation awards.
Bridgestone and Michelin were recognized in the "Technology and Products" category for their DriveGuard run-flat and X Line Energy Triple A truck tires, respectively, while Corghi was honored in the Motor Vehicle Service category for its Uniformity tire fitting machine.
Additionally 4Jet Techologies G.m.b.H. was recognized in the Service Concepts and Process Optimization category for its Scannect laser-based engraving system for applying QR codes on tire sidewalls.
The Bridgestone DriveGuard tires are engineered to be driven without air pressure for 50 miles at 50 mph. The specialist jury also gave the tire a special mention for its environmentally friendly credentials, as it is fully recyclable.
The Michelin X Line Energy Triple A is a line of tires for trucks with Class A fuel-efficiency rating, as measured by the European Union Regulation No. 1222/2009 on the labelling of tires with respect to fuel efficiency.
Corghi claims its Uniformity is the first tire-fitting machine that allows match mounting to take place on the fitting machine itself. This aspect helps reduce labor time requirements by at least 25 percent, Corghi said, and eliminates half of the operations previously needed.
4JET Technologies' Scannect (short of “scan” and “connect”) process creates a QR code that can be read by a current-generation smartphone camera, thus enabling those in the tire industry distribution chain to be able to monitor tires continuously throughout their life cycle for the first time.
The Innovation Awards are meant to promote and enhance the awareness of tires and tire-related products and procedures as a sustainable high-tech product in the mind of the public.
The awards were presented by representatives of Messe Essen (the Essen Fairgrounds, where the Reifen show is held) and the BRV, the German Federal Association of Tire Dealers and Vulcanizing Trades.