On May 29, VMI of the Netherlands, the world’s leading molding machine manufacturer, held a seminar on the theme of “Innovation is Born” in Yantai, Shandong.
Nearly a hundred tire professionals from China and the Asia-Pacific region gathered together to discuss the evolution of tire manufacturing technology and the path to industrial upgrading.
Xu Wenying, President of the China Rubber Industry Association, attended the conference and delivered a welcome speech to celebrate the 30th anniversary of VMI’s entry into China and to explore with the industry the path to “intelligent manufacturing breakthrough” for the tire industry.
Xu Wenying pointed out in her speech that over the past thirty years, VMI has been deeply integrated into the modernization process of China’s tire industry, and its leading molding equipment has made important contributions to improving China’s tire manufacturing accuracy and production efficiency.
Currently, the global tire industry is accelerating its transformation towards green and intelligent technologies, and downstream performance requirements for tire rolling resistance, silence, and grip are becoming increasingly stringent.
She emphasized that the leap-forward improvement in tire performance is inseparable from the technological iteration of manufacturing equipment. As the “pioneer” of industrial upgrading, equipment companies should continue to empower the manufacturing end with hard-core innovation.
China Rubber Association will also continue to promote in-depth collaboration between upstream and downstream to jointly build a globally competitive industrial ecosystem.
This Yantai discussion directly addresses the pain points of manufacturing.
Qi Xiaohui, Vice President of VMI (Yantai) Machinery Co., Ltd., presided over the seminar. VMI technical experts released a number of innovative technologies for molding equipment and supporting services on site. These technologies directly hit the pain points of production efficiency and yield, and were highly recognized by representatives from Triangle Tire, Huasheng Rubber, Eagle Tire, Haohua Tire, etc.
In the full-link discussion, Adam McCarthy, secretary-general of the European Tire Association, gave an in-depth interpretation of the profound impact of the new European regulations on tire design and industry, providing forward-looking guidance for tire companies to comply with overseas regulations. Tang Lamei, chief architect of the Geely Automobile Research Institute, elaborated on the stringent requirements for low rolling resistance and high load-bearing of tires for electric vehicles from a supporting perspective, pointing out the direction for manufacturing research and development.
After the meeting, the participants walked into the VMI Yantai factory and experienced the world’s leading tire equipment production workshop up close.
Data shows that VMI Group has three factories in the world, including the Netherlands, Poland, and China. Its Chinese subsidiary Feimai (Yantai) is mainly engaged in the tire building machine business and is the core fulcrum of its deep expansion in the Asia-Pacific.
In the 2025 global tire and rubber machinery manufacturer sales rankings, VMI ranks second, demonstrating its benchmark strength in the equipment field.
This seminar is not only a review of VMI’s thirty years in China, but also a new starting point for China’s tire industry to move towards high-end.
With the empowerment of advanced equipment and the coordination of the entire chain, China’s tire manufacturing industry is accelerating its “intelligent manufacturing breakthrough”, moving towards green and intelligent directions, and is expected to occupy a more important position in the global tire market.
