Yokohama says it is developing next-generation innerliner

ERJ staff report (DS)

Tokyo -- Tyres using Yokohama's Airtex innerliner are already in the marketplace, and it is developing an advanced version of the technology, said the company. The Airtex liner is Yokohama's name for a new technology innerliner developed jointly by Yokohama and ExxonMobil. The innerliner is a plastic film which improves air retention substantially while reducing weight and thickness.

Yokohama said, "Products employing Airtex have already been marketed in Japan, North America and some countries in Europe - the technology is to be applied to other products hereafter."

The company added that it is, "already developing a "next-generation Airtex," seeking to cut air leakage to nearly zero in the future."

Previously, ExxonMobil -- which licences the technology from Yokohama, but supplies its own materials for the system -- said the technology changes the manufacturing process slightly, adding an extra manufacturing step. The system can be employed in two ways: either manufacturing the film directly within the tyre factory, or buying the material in from a third party company.

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Press release from Yokohama