Cutting, positioning and finishing of textiles and leather

Our positioning lasers support precise positioning, visual inspection and quality assurance at every stage of tire production. They minimize errors, increase repeatability and allow material to be used more efficiently – even with changing geometries or complex tread patterns.

  • Fewer errors
    Visual inspection directly within the production process
  • Shorter production times
    Faster manual workflows
  • Less scrap
    Higher process reliability thanks to optical guidance
  • Simpler integration
    Interfaces for automation systems
  • Better quality
    Repeatable, automated inspection systems for a wide range of products

Do you face these challenges too?

Challenges

  • Strict quality and safety requirements
  • Complex production processes with minimal error tolerance
  • The need to reduce scrap and rework
  • Growing pressure to automate processes
  • Flexible integration of new technologies and materials

Solutions

  • Laser inspection for precise quality control in real time
  • Optical guidance for manual or semi-automated workflows
  • Consistent assurance of production quality
  • Efficient processes with no need for templates
  • Easy adaptability to changing production requirements

Applications

Do you want to shorten lead times, cut costs and improve the quality of your results? We offer the precision, quality and efficiency that will get you there.

Tire retreading

Positioning lasers are used in tire retreading to ensure precise measurement and alignment of the tread. This guarantees that the new tread is applied optimally and that quality is maintained.

Tire tread measurement

Laser profile measurement allows tire profiles to be recorded precisely. This makes it possible to reliably check wear, dimensional accuracy and quality during the production process.

Code reading and character recognition

Laser-based image processing reads and verifies tire markings such as the DOT code. This ensures reliable traceability and quality control in tire production.

Tire geometry inspection

During tire production, lasers are used to check for height deviations, bulges and other irregularities. Z-LASER solutions serve as a precise light source in combination with cameras and an image processing system – machine vision. Thanks to the exact straightness of the laser lines and the uniformly bright projection, deviations can be detected reliably. This enables efficient inspection, strengthens quality assurance and increases productivity throughout the tire production process.

Curing press

In this application, the precise positioning of green tires in curing presses plays a key role. To ensure this, Z-LASER lasers project a clearly visible crosshair. When the press is in use, it is also essential that the lasers are highly robust and mechanically durable. In addition, the laser light should be clearly visible and eye-safe.

Splice inspection and measurement

Inspecting tire splices (material joints) is crucial for the early detection of defects such as open splices, overlaps or other irregularities. This ensures maximum safety and a long service life for the tires.

The laser plays a central role in this process, working together with a camera and an image processing system (machine vision). Its perfectly straight lines, which are clearly legible on dark rubber regardless of contrast, reveal even the smallest anomalies that would be invisible to the naked eye. This significantly increases inspection accuracy and guarantees consistently high quality of the final products.

Tire building machines

Several laser lines are used for the precise alignment of rubber layers on the building drum. Green laser light (with a wavelength of 520 nm or 532 nm) is particularly advantageous here, as it offers optimal visibility on black rubber.

Precise alignment of the lines is ensured by special mounting brackets from Z-LASER. The laser modules also stand out for their stable line position even when refocusing, the availability of different types of optics with an adjustable fan angle and their eye safety, which guarantees a high standard of occupational safety.

Measurement of strip width, edges and geometry

The width and edges of rubber strips are monitored precisely using laser light, which ensures that subsequent production steps run efficiently and that line changeover (setup) times are minimized thanks to early error correction.

What matters here is not only a homogeneous projection but also the straightness of the line and its temperature stability. Robust laser modules are specially designed for these demanding requirements, guaranteeing high accuracy and process reliability.