Tyre Asia April/May 2018 69
showcase many technologies developed in recent times
and that resulted in creating winning products. We have
achieved major success in reducing the rolling resistance of
our passenger car tyres and commercial vehicle tyres which
resulted in enhanced fuel efficiency of the vehicles. We have
developed winter products with excellent snow and wet
grip both in truck and passenger car tyres for the European
market.
In spite of our relatively late entry in to truck and bus radial
market in India, development of three major technologies
- load technology, premium mileage technology and fuel
efficient tyre technology – has catapulted Apollo to the
position of leadership in the Indian market. Another notable
achievement in recent times is the development of low
inflation Very high Flexion (VF) technology which we
adopted in large agricultural products for Europe markets.
R&D supports manufacturing in developing and
implementing processes that reinforces company’s
sustainability efforts. Apollo has internally created a
manufacturing discipline called Apollo Manufacturing
System (AMS), which envisages green processes in the
entire manufacturing chain and conserves precious energy.
Green processes in manufacturing also helps to preserve
inherent properties of materials and compounds to result in
products with better quality and durability in performance.
The company also recognises the value of data in
future processes and makes best use of it for extracting
information that guides our manufacturing processes. This
is also helping the company in its preparation towards
future manufacturing methods involving automation and
artificial intelligence. All the major manufacturing facilities
are supported with high levels of automation which
considerably reduces human interventions in intensive
operations thereby increasing safety and consistency in
manufacturing. Advance engineering department of R&D is
constantly looking for automation areas in manufacturing
and quality inspection to enhance productivity.
Product range
How has the collapsible spare tyre for
high end cars ‘Spacemaster’ doing in
the market? What are the other product
offerings that you are planning?
Spacemaster is one hugely successful innovation by R&D
for the company. This is a spare tyre concept which saves
up to 60% of the volume in comparison with a regular spare
tyre but in full compliance with all the latest electronic
systems with no variation in driving performance. This
intelligent tyre concept is fitted as standard by many car
manufacturers, as well as high-end sports cars. We have this
technology adopted in 15 sizes going into almost 29 high-
end cars.
We are now continuing with our efforts towards complete
elimination of spare tyres in vehicles through the
development of products with extended mobility. Some of
the projects in final stages of developing run-flat tyres and
self sealing technology are aimed at achieving this objective.What initiatives that you have launched
to develop tyres that are exclusively
meant for driverless cars and autonomous
vehicles that offer the lowest rolling
resistance possible?World is passing through an age of disruptive changes that
are happening in every field of business. These changes
are particularly enabled by electronics and communication
technology. Major disruption is happening in automobile
sector, and tyres being the key component of automobiles,
our company has taken several initiatives, that will keep
us future ready. Electrification of automobiles is one such
change and Apollo has started its efforts towards developing
suitable products to support electric mobility which will call
for high fuel efficiency with better traction and durability in
tyres.
Looking further into the future, tyre needs to be a lot
more intelligent and yet performing. Such tyres will be
enabled by embedded sensors and aided by systems that
will help tyres to communicate with vehicles. Our Advance
Engineering Centre in Bangalore is leading many projects
which are small but definitive steps that will eventually lead
to developing of tyres for autonomous vehicles. Some of
the projects in advanced stages are on low noise, enhancing
RFID usage, development of advanced TPMS systems.You are one of the few companies that
have made breakthroughs in the use of
alternative of Hevea such as Russian
dandelion and guayule? When do you plan
to productionise them?Apollo is one of the companies which has shown
considerable interest in alternatives for Hevea and
participated in various projects looking into the possibilities
of Guayule and Russian Dandelion in tyre manufacturing.
One such project has helped to prove the viability of
Guayule as a crop by enhancing the yield and quality
considerably; however, the availability in sufficient quantity
has become a big constraint in industrialisation.
Apollo has harvested Russian Dandelion in limited quantity
in the Netherlands and Belgium and adopted its rubber
in some category of tyres for testing which showed
encouraging results. We are planning more tests with
products from fresh harvest this year. But looking into the
future, availability still looks a big constraint because of
economy situation and availability of Hevea natural rubber.W
e are now continuing with our efforts
towards complete elimination of spare
tyres in vehicles through the development
of products with extended mobility. Some
of the projects in final stages of developing
run-flat tyres and self sealing technology
are aimed at achieving this objectiveDeveloping new products