APPARATUS AND PROCESS FOR BUILDING TYRES FOR VEHICLE WHEELS

The present invention is related to an apparatus and to a process for building tyres for vehicle wheels. The apparatus comprises: a forming drum (3), a plurality of delivery stations (4) for delivering semifinished products (17) and a handling device (7) configured for carrying the forming drum (3) to the delivery stations (4) for delivering semifinished products (17) and for making it rotate around a symmetry axis (x-x) thereof. The forming drum (3) has a radially outer surface (3a) and comprises a first body (20) and a second body (21) that are movable with respect to each other, wherein a relative movement between the first body (20) and the second body (21) causes the passage between a radially contracted configuration and a radially expanded configuration of the radially outer surface (3a). The handling device (7) is provided with a grip unit (8) comprising a first (41) and a second shaft (42) that are removably engageable with the drum (3).