05/24/2016 | Around 4JET, Laser Tire Marking, 4JET Technologies 4JET's QR code marking is awarded with the REIFEN Innovation Award 2016

4JET Technologies GmbH is winner of the Innovation Award at REIFEN 2016 in the “Service Concept & Process Optimization” category.

The company has developed a solution to individually mark every tire with a unique and permanent QR (quick response) code that can be identified with most smart phone camera apps.

4JET´s novel laser marking process engraves an individual QR code in tire sidewalls. The high contrast engraving can be read using public domain apps available for Apple iOS or Android devices.

The SCANNECT^TM solution – short for “scan and connect” – enables a long standing wish of the tire industry: being able to trace tires through their life cycle and to get in closer touch with its end customers.

4JET managing director and co-inventor Dr. Armin Kraus explains one possible application: “Everyone is talking about the internet of things. We enable the internet of tires. In the future tires will be purchased online: QR codes are scanned, suitable replacement tires are offered online and can be ordered immediately to the nearest dealership.”

Other than machine readable paper barcodes that have a limited lifetime, molded QR codes that are not unique, RFID tags that require specific reading hardware or engraved plain text serial codes, that requires to type in numbers offline, the SCANNECT^TM solution enables a one of a kind product identification that can directly link to a web based CRM database.

Such a direct link provides advantages for all stages of the tire value chain:

• Manufacturers can get to know their end customers and address them with specific marketing campaigns, such as warranty extensions, winter tire promotions and social media campaigns.
• OE car tire manufacturers can employ QR codes as a means of assuring traceability and reducing the impact of product recalls.
• Commercial fleet managers can use laser markings to organize inventory, track usage and prevent theft.
• End customers can retrieve valuable technical and commercial information about their tire specs, suitable replacements or quickly enter online market places for replacements or to sell used tires.

The crisp laser markings are either applied in the tire factory, further downstream in the car/wheel assembly or at the point of sale. Laser engraved QR codes are recessed into the surface of the tire and hence protected from wear.

Marking is performed by the latest version of 4JET´s proven line of T-Mark systems that are widely used in new tire and retread tire manufacturing worldwide. Compared to conventional laser marking, which only leaves a low contrast mark on the black tire surface, the SCANNECT^TM process creates a deep black marking on the bottom of the engraving, providing enough contrast to be read with cameras in mobile devices. The proprietary process, comprising special optics, laser parameters and control software integrated in 4JET´s standard marking systems is now commercially available.