SDS: Shearography remains the gold standard

With more than 400 tyre testing systems delivered in the last decade or so, SDS Systemtechnik has become closely associated with non-destructive tyre testing. While new testing technologies are being developed and try to establish themselves on the market, according to the company, shearography has proven to be something of a gold standard in the retreading and the new tyre industries.

According to the company, a lot of carcasses have delaminations and separations inside the tyre casings, which cannot be detected by visual inspection alone. Even X-Ray methods are not always sensitive enough when it comes to detecting these anomalies. That’s why SDS ITT-systems have been pitched at becoming an integrated part in the retread production where casings were typically tested already at the beginning of the process. 

One of the key factors in successful shearographic tyre testing, says SDS, is the reliability and repeatability of the test results. This is reportedly the major reason why SDS’ machines test the tyre in a horizontal position bead to bead. Using a fully automated SDS triple head technique can apparently test up to 30 truck and bus radial tyres an hour. 

SDS systems are developed and produced in Germany. Installation, training and maintenance are carried out by personnel from SDS and its support network.

The SDS range includes products designed for non-destructive tyre inspection by ITT Shearography machines, Automatic Pressure Testing and Endurance Test Moni-toring Systems to Laser Marking and Conveyor Techniques.