New breakthroughs have been achieved in digital design technology for tyre moulds, with design cycles reduced by 30%

Recently, the domestic tyre mould industry has achieved a significant breakthrough in digital design technology. An AI-based tyre mould structural design system, jointly developed by several leading mould manufacturers, has officially been put into operation, marking a new milestone in the level of digital design for tyre moulds in China. According to preliminary statistics, the application of the new system has reduced the average mould design cycle by more than 30% and significantly improved design quality.
Traditional tyre mould design relies primarily on engineers’ experience, requiring repeated trial-and-error modifications, resulting in lengthy design cycles and low efficiency. The new system integrates a vast library of mould design case studies and intelligent algorithms. It can automatically generate optimal mould structural solutions based on tyre tread parameters and vulcanisation process requirements, including the selection of shell specifications, tread segmentation in the cavity section, the layout of the venting system, and the design of opening and closing mechanisms. Engineers need only confirm the proposed solutions and perform local optimisations, thereby significantly reducing repetitive tasks.
A key highlight of the system is its seamless integration of design and manufacturing. Upon completion of the design, the system automatically generates CNC machining programmes, which are transmitted directly to equipment such as five-axis machining centres and EDM machines, thereby avoiding the loss of information and errors that occur during the conversion of design data to manufacturing data in traditional workflows. Additionally, the system features a virtual mould testing function, which simulates the vulcanisation process in a digital environment to identify potential issues in advance, thereby reducing the number of physical mould trials.
Industry experts indicate that breakthroughs in digital design technology will profoundly reshape the competitive landscape of the tyre mould industry. Enhanced design capabilities mean that mould manufacturers can respond more swiftly to customer demands, undertake more customised orders, and gain the upper hand in intense market competition. Furthermore, digital design lays the groundwork for the intelligent and personalised development of moulds, with the prospect of achieving a flexible production model characterised by ‘one-click design and rapid manufacturing’ in the future.
Currently, more than ten leading enterprises in the sector, including Nachuan Mould, have adopted this technology and achieved positive results. As the technology continues to mature and gain wider adoption, it is anticipated that within the next three years, over 50% of tyre mould manufacturers of a certain scale will have upgraded to digital design, leading to a significant improvement in the industry’s overall efficiency and competitiveness.