The Tire Industry Supplier of the Year category recognizes excellence by industry suppliers. The victor was Herbert Maschinen-und Anlagenbau, which has launched a 52in double-cavity column press that can replace 40.5in curing presses on the same factory footprint.

Herbert’s owner and general manager Matthias Walter accepted the award: “We would like to thank Tire Technology International for awarding us the accolade of being the number-one tire industry supplier in the world. We are very proud and will do our best to remain at the forefront of new technology. I am positive that this award will be a driving force for everyone at our company, and that it will create more competition within the industry.”

Judge Marion Pottinger stated: “With the current emphasis on large rim-diameter passenger and light truck tires, tire manufacturers need a way to expand production of these tires without totally reconfiguring their manufacturing facilities. The Herbert press appears to be a way to do this by simply substituting one press for another and also getting the possibility of increased curing throughput in the same physical space.”

Other shortlisted technologies included ExxonMobil’s butyl technology, ZF’s LUB low-speed uniformity machine that also incorporates balancing functions, and Micro-Poise’s AkroSCAN laser sensor for end-of-line geometry of the whole tire.

Top picture: Matthias Walter collects the award.