TP Tools OY, a family business with more than three decades of tire mold manufacturing experience, has purchased a FormUp 350 metal powder bed melting machine from French metal AM hardware manufacturer AddUp. This strategic move positions TP Tools at the forefront of innovation and efficiency in the production of tire sipes, a critical component in tire mold manufacturing.
“We are pleased to announce the acquisition of the FormUp 350 Powder Bed Fusion machine from AddUp. This strategic investment allows us to optimize our manufacturing process, shorten lead times and, above all, accelerate new developments in tire mold innovations,” explained Marko Pirhonen, owner of TP Tools OY.
TP Tools’ decision to bring tire sipe production in-house represents a significant step aimed at reducing costs associated with outsourcing. By streamlining the manufacturing process, the company not only saves costs but also shortens lead times, thereby increasing overall operational efficiency. With the adoption of the FormUp 350, the company gains greater control over the production process, consistent with its commitment to providing high quality tire molds to its customers.
TP Tools OY manufacturing facilityAddUp’s FormUp 350 Powder Bed Fusion machine opens up new possibilities for TP Tools in tire sipe design. With on-site metal 3D printing capabilities, TP Tools is able to accelerate developments and innovations in the tire sipe landscape. This step not only maximizes production efficiency, but also opens the door to highly customized and complex geometries and enables the development of innovative tire mold designs.
The FormUp 350 also offers unique key features to support tire sipe applications for mold making. The 350mm square build plate enables the production of entire segments of tire molds, demonstrating its capability for efficient and comprehensive manufacturing. Additionally, the integration of a roller and fine powder helps achieve unparalleled surface roughness in the printed state, minimizing the need for post-processing.
Finally, the reliability of FormUp and AddUp technology is successful in industrial operations, demonstrating consistent repeatability across the entire build board, from one production cycle to the next, and even across different machines operating with the same parameters.
TP Tools has established itself as a trusted partner in tire mold manufacturing and the business continues to grow. The company’s expertise in tire mold manufacturing, coupled with the latest technological addition of the FormUp 350, reinforces TP Tools’ commitment to delivering quality, safety and performance in every tire mold produced. The Finnish company has been operating at the heart of the tire molding industry for over three decades and has been heavily involved in developing better and safer products in the birthplace of winter tires since the 1970s.
