Shaping the future of rubber product manufacturing with smart automation
by Soren Blomaard and Ly Ho, Taniq.
Automation developments and how they can be applied for the automated design and manufacturing of reinforced rubber products are presented by the authors.
In industries where reliability under pressure is non-negotiable, such as dredging, mining, marine and heavy industrial sectors, reinforced rubber components serve as vital building blocks. From expansion joints and inflatable pipe plugs to high performance hoses, the growing demand for durability, precision and scalable production is reshaping how rubber products are engineered and manufactured.
The manufacturers of these products typically know their applications and markets well. They locally produce custom solutions with added value for their clients. However, their production processes rely on skilled manual labor. As global competition intensifies, these manufacturers face pressure to improve cost efficiency, yet many struggle to do so effectively. This raises a key question: Why is it so difficult to reduce the cost of these products through automation and scaled up production?