Ultimation expands tire and wheel conveyor focus for auto plants

Ultimation Industries is highlighting automated tire and wheel handling for automotive assembly lines, where precise sequencing and just-in-time delivery help plants avoid costly stoppages. The Roseville, Michigan company says its conveyor systems reduce forklift moves, protect assemblies and keep vehicles moving in build order.

Why it matters: - Automotive plants can stall within minutes if a tire or wheel assembly is missing or out of sequence near the end of the line. - Automated delivery helps plants keep the right parts moving in the right order, which protects uptime as build schedules tighten. - The shift away from manual handling also reduces forklift traffic and the safety risks that come with it.

What happened: - Ultimation Industries expanded its focus on tire and wheel handling for the automotive industry. - The Roseville, Michigan company is promoting trailer-mounted conveyor systems that move mounted and balanced tire and wheel assemblies from supplier sites to plants on a just-in-time basis. - The message is aimed at automakers and suppliers across North America.

The details: - The conveyor system uses a single spiral path from a top entry point to a bottom discharge point. - Assemblies can exit only in the order they enter, which prevents mix-ups in sequencing. - Many automakers outsource tire and wheel assembly and depend on precise on-time delivery to feed the line. - The handling system reduces forklift moves once needed to load and unload assemblies. - Tires and wheels ride on protected surfaces, which helps prevent dents and scratches from manual stacking. - Workers are kept away from heavy lifting and can focus on other tasks. - Ultimation also ties the technology to its broader automotive and material handling lineup, including belt conveyor lines and other components sold through its online store. - The company says automakers and suppliers can learn more about tire and wheel handling on the Ultimation Industries website. - Alec Fitzgerald, Digital Marketing & Estimating Supervisor at Ultimation Industries, said reliability is critical when a plant depends on a supplier to feed its line.

Between the lines: - Tire and wheel handling has become a logistics problem as much as a manufacturing one. - Plants that run more vehicle combinations need tighter sequencing and fewer handoffs to avoid errors. - Automated conveyor delivery shifts the process from labor-heavy transport to controlled flow, which can improve consistency and reduce damage.

What's next: - Ultimation is positioning tire and wheel handling as part of its larger automotive automation offering. - The company is directing automakers and suppliers to its website for more information on the system. - Continued demand is likely to track with plant complexity, outsourced assembly and the need for more reliable line-side delivery.

The bottom line: - In modern auto assembly, the right tire and wheel assembly has to arrive in the right order every time. Ultimation is betting conveyor automation is the simplest way to keep that promise.