Technological breakthroughs

With her initiative to adjust the compound formulation of the TBR T86 Innerliner, Ms. Võ Ngọc Đài Trang, Deputy Head of Engineering at the Radial Tyre Factory, The Southern Rubber Industry Joint Stock Company (CASUMINA), has helped optimise raw material costs and enhance production efficiency, delivering savings of over VND 496 million. She is among those awarded the Creative Labour Certificate 2025 by the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour.

In industrial production, alongside maintaining product quality and stable technological processes, cost optimisation is crucial for improving a company’s competitiveness. Recognising this, Ms. Võ Ngọc Đài Trang researched and proposed an initiative to adjust the T86 Innerliner rubber compound, which has yielded significant economic benefits for the unit.

Prior to the initiative, the T86 rubber compound used specialised KPT-F1360 tackifying resin, which was relatively costly. However, the actual necessity and role of this additive under real production conditions had not been fully evaluated. Modifying a compound formula requires careful research and testing to ensure that technological, physical, and product quality properties are not compromised.

Ms. Trang focused on reassessing the tackifying resin’s role in the T86 compound and researched an adjustment to reduce raw material costs while maintaining product quality. This approach required in-depth expertise in rubber materials, compounding processes, and the technical specifications for TBR tyres.

Optimised Formulation, Ensured Product Quality

The core of the initiative was to eliminate 2 phr of KPT-F1360 tackifying resin and add 1 phr of Nytex 810 oil to the T86 rubber compound. The adjustment was trialled and comprehensively evaluated before being deployed in production.

Results showed that the new compound still met all technological, physical, and quality standards. Removing a high-cost additive that was not strictly necessary did not affect process stability and enabled significant savings on raw materials.

The distinctive aspect of the initiative was not just a simple change in ingredients, but a rigorous assessment of each additive’s function within the production formula. Through careful testing and validation, the solution eliminated unnecessary components and selected a more appropriate material combination, achieving a balance between technical requirements and economic efficiency.

Implemented since April 2024, the initiative has delivered a saving of VND 496,206,112. This demonstrates the significant potential for cost savings arising from technical improvements made directly on the production line, as well as the importance of research and technological innovation in improving operational effectiveness.

In recognition of the initiative’s practical applicability and clear economic value, Ms. Võ Ngọc Đài Trang was awarded the Creative Labour Certificate 2025 by the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour. This accolade is a fitting acknowledgement of her proactive research, innovation, and contribution to CASUMINA’s production operations.

From specific adjustments in compound formulation to tangible savings, Ms. Võ Ngọc Đài Trang’s initiative is a testament to the effectiveness of the creative labour movement at CASUMINA and the Vietnam National Chemical Group as a whole. Improvements stemming from production realities not only reduce costs, but also enhance product quality, efficiency, and competitiveness in the market.