Tailor work and high-tech
Nokian heavy tyres are mainly manufactured at the Nokia plant in Finland. The high-quality production process relies on state-of-the-art technology. The professional, well-trained personnel participate in the continuous development of the production process, as they are the best experts of their tasks.The production of a special tyre is a multi-phase process featuring both high technology and automation and professional craftsmanship. The raw material arriving at the plant in Nokia must pass an inspection, and a sample is taken of each mixing batch for laboratory analysis. A tyre is comprised of 10–30 components that are put together to form a so-called green tyre. The final form of the tyre is the result of vulcanising, i.e. curing.
The tyre manufacturing process can be divided into six main phases:
Raw material reception and inspection
The main raw materials used in tyre manufacture are natural rubber, synthetic rubber, plies, carbon black and various chemicals.
Production of rubber compounds
In primary production, raw materials are made into rubber compounds, which are used to rubber-coat components needed in tyre manufacture.
Component manufacture
Tyres are made of many different components, such as the tread, body ply, inner lining, bead, core, sidewall, sidewall wedge insert, triangular filler and steel belt.
Assembly
Tyre-building machines put the components together to make the body and belt package, which are joined to each other.
Curing
The green tyres are cured, or vulcanised, in a curing press. Vulcanisation at the right temperature and pressure makes the green tyres solid and flexible.
Inspection
Every tyre undergoes both a visual and machine inspection.
Nokian Heavy Tyres uses only purified oils in its production.