The rise of high-performance electric SUVs creates new tyre challenges: higher torque, battery weight, and the need for durability, grip, efficiency, and sustainability. Michelin responded with Project KADEL, aiming to design tyres optimized for EVs without compromising safety.
Central to the project is the MX7 extruder, capable of combining seven rubber compounds in a single step. The study focused on improving efficiency, repeatability, and adaptability, with particular attention to the link between screw rotation speed, tread geometry, and product quality.
Innovation also included an automated vision system to verify colored lines on treads for traceability and compliance, replacing manual checks. Maintenance and cleaning processes were optimized through modular design, safer solvents, and reduced downtime. Conducted over 18 months, the project combined training, experiments, and data-driven modeling to identify optimal operating parameters. Expected results: improved manufacturing precision, realtime quality control, more sustainable operations, and tyres tailored for the demands of electric sport SUVs.