Tire Technology International - March 2024 Issue
Supplier interview: Habasit
2024-04-06 15:19:12
Safety, simplicity and sustainability will be the driving forces behind tire innovations in the near future
In 1946, driven by a desire to make belt assembly simpler and safer, Fernand and Alice Habegger founded family-owned Habasit in Basel, Switzerland. The company started out as a technical support and consulting firm before becoming a manufacturer of customized conveyor and power transmission belt solutions.
Today, with more than 3,400 employees, Habasit has a footprint in over 30 countries and a network of distribution partners extending this reach to 90 countries worldwide.
As a result of this, according to Jens Niepmann, manager of the tire and automotive industry segment, “Habasit is able to serve multiple industries, covering almost all belting needs. Operating in diverse industrial segments means that we understand customers’ daily needs, pain points and challenges. Being the first-address belting partner and technical advisor for our customers is, therefore, our primary motivation and aspiration.”
To fulfill the needs of the tire industry, Habasit’s silicone-coated belts have been developed to provide superior performance in the harsh industrial environment of rubber production.
“The belts offer high mechanical robustness, abrasion resistance and tracking accuracy,” comments Niepmann, “which comes from the stiffness of the belt carcass.” Indeed, the composition of a polypropylene-saturated nonwoven center layer, combined with specific polyester and cotton blend fabrics as well as a silicone coating, leads to a stable belt performance with a rubber contact temperature of up to 180°C. “Outstanding release properties, chemical resistance and the option of sealed belt edges make these belts the new benchmark in uncured, hot rubber applications,” Niepmann adds.
“Developing these belts in cooperation with leading tire manufacturers was an exciting journey. Rubber mixing at the earliest stage is one of the most critical applications for tire manufacturers” Jens Niepmann, manager, tire and automotive, Habasit
Having these belts in operation provides an extended overall lifetime, which can lead to significant savings in maintenance and spare parts costs for Habasit’s customers. As Niepmann reveals, “Doubling the lifetime, which is what we see in all installations, means a significantly reduced total cost of ownership.” It also increases process safety and helps customers reach their sustainability goals.
“Developing these belts in cooperation with leading tire manufacturers was an exciting journey,” Niepmann states. “Rubber mixing at the earliest stage is one of the most critical applications for tire manufacturers. A failure here will automatically end in a significant loss of material, and it will cause bottlenecks in all the processes that follow in the factory. With our unique silicone coating recipe, developed hand in hand with the manufacturers, we ensure that neither silicone nor any other particles from the belt surface migrate into the rubber mix.”
This, he says, makes careful collaboration and development essential and central to Habasit’s work with its customers.
ENVIRONMENTALLY MINDED
Commenting on current industry trends, Niepmann says, “One visible trend that impacts all brands across regional borders and tire types is the overall desire to make tires and the whole industry setup more sustainable.” He stresses the importance of cooperation between tire manufacturers, which he says the industry is starting to recognize, and deep collaboration with other related industries, such as recyclers and suppliers of raw materials from renewable resources.
“To this end, we supply our customers with solutions guaranteeing increased performance, improved belt lifetime and reduced energy consumption,” he continues. Equipping the lines with sustainable products is central to this. One such product is Habasit’s plastic modular belt made of Bio POM, which hit the market in November 2023. These Bio POM belts offer up to 35% lower carbon footprint while retaining 100% of conventional POM belt mechanical and technical features and benefits.
“HabasitLINK Bio POM is sourced from an ISCC+ certified supplier, guaranteeing that the raw material complies with the EU’s sustainability directives,” Niepmann adds. “The raw material used for Bio POM is made from over 90% renewable content and, importantly, it does not affect or compete with food or feed supplies.”
Looking ahead, Niepmann suggests that sustainable mobility will be one of the industry’s main challenges over the next 10 years, and says that it “does not stop at tire manufacturers’ doors, nor only at our own”. In fact, he reveals that new ideas for innovative tire designs are already on the table. “All the major players have understood and accepted the challenge of ‘reinventing the wheel’. Great efforts are indeed required, but there are also numerous opportunities for those who understand how exciting it can be to take on these new challenges, while defining the requirements under sustainability criteria that will create a healthy and livable future for us and the next generations.”
To meet these challenges, Niepmann believes that the industry must develop tires that offer high wear resistance – less dust, less microplastic pollution – and high grip. “Today, higher grip means less lifetime. Remember racing tires made for a few kilometers only?” Niepmann comments, going on to emphasize the importance of reduced rolling resistance (energy/fuel consumption) and the recyclability of the used components. The need for sustainable innovation has begun and is here to stay.
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