Will “Retreader” be Automated?

Core Skills & Abilities

• Buff tires according to specifications for width and undertread depth.

• Clean and paint completed tires.

• Cut plies at splice points, and press ends together to form continuous bands.

• Measure tires to determine mold size requirements.

• Depress pedals to rotate drums, and wind specified numbers of plies around drums to form tire bodies.

• Place tires into molds for new tread.

• Rub cement sticks on drum edges to provide adhesive surfaces for plies.

• Inspect worn tires for faults, cracks, cuts, and nail holes, and to determine if tires are suitable for retreading.

• Align treads with guides, start drums to wind treads onto plies, and slice ends.

• Start rollers that bond tread and plies as drums revolve.

• Position ply stitcher rollers and drums according to width of stock, using hand tools and gauges.

• Depress pedals to collapse drums after processing is complete.

• Brush or spray solvents onto plies to ensure adhesion, and repeat process as specified, alternating direction of each ply to strengthen tires.

• Build semi-raw rubber treads onto buffed tire casings to prepare tires for vulcanization in recapping or retreading processes.

• Fill cuts and holes in tires, using hot rubber.

• Wind chafers and breakers onto plies.

• Fit inner tubes and final layers of rubber onto tires.

• Pull plies from supply racks, and align plies with edges of drums.

• Trim excess rubber and imperfections during retreading processes.

• Roll hand rollers over rebuilt casings, exerting pressure to ensure adhesion between camelbacks and casings.