Continental has celebrated the 20th anniversary of production at its tire plant in Camaçari in the metropolitan region of Salvador, Brazil. Since the plant opened in April 2006, the tire manufacturer has supplied South America with both original equipment and replacement tires for passenger and commercial vehicles. Over the past 20 years, the plant has produced around 136 million tires, with Continental investing approximately R$1.2bn (US$274m) over the last decade. Today, around 2,000 employees work at the site.

“Our 20-year journey in Camaçari is a story of continuous growth, operational excellence and the deep commitment of our people to this region.

Continue reading Conti celebrates two decades of tire production in Camaçari, Brazil at Tire Technology International.

Yokohama Tire has announced that it will permanently close its Salem, Virginia, manufacturing plant on March 18, 2026. The facility, which has operated since the 1960s and became part of Yokohama following its acquisition of Mohawk Rubber Company in 1989, will cease production earlier than initially planned.

The decision follows a reduction in output earlier this year and negotiations with the United Steel, Paper and Forestry, Rubber, Manufacturing, Energy, Allied Industrial and Service Workers International Union (USW) Local 1023. Both sides agreed to expedite the closure, citing the expiration of certain product lifecycles and reduced demand for other items produced at the Salem plant.

Continue reading Yokohama Tire to close manufacturing facility in Salem, Virginia at Tire Technology International.

Nokian Tyres’ production facility in Romania has earned LEED v4 Gold certification from the US Green Building Council, making it the first tire factory in the world to achieve this level of recognition for sustainable building.

LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is a globally recognized standard for environmentally responsible construction. Certified buildings typically use less energy and water, produce lower CO₂ emissions, divert more waste from landfills and provide healthier indoor environments.

The Romanian factory was recognized for multiple sustainability features, including energy efficiency measures, on-site solar panels and an advanced water management system.

Continue reading Nokian Tyres’ Romanian tire factory first in the world to earn LEED v4 Gold at Tire Technology International.

Solvay has opened its bio-circular silica facility at its Livorno, Italy plant, advancing Europe’s industrial shift toward sustainability. The investment supports the European Green Deal and the upcoming Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR), while strengthening Italy’s position as a center for green innovation.

The unit aims to produce highly dispersible silica (HDS) using bio-based sodium silicate derived from rice husk ash, an agricultural byproduct. This breakthrough process reduces CO2 emissions by 35% per ton of silica compared to traditional methods and creates a local circular value chain that benefits the agricultural sector, industry and communities.

“By acting now, Solvay is helping tire manufacturers prepare for future EU requirements and meet their own sustainability goals,” said Philippe Kehren, CEO of Solvay.

Continue reading Solvay launches bio-circular silica facility in Livorno to drive sustainable tire production and circular innovation at Tire Technology International.

Cabot has completed its acquisition of Mexico Carbon Manufacturing (MXCB) from Bridgestone, following the announcement of a definitive agreement in August and the receipt of required regulatory approvals.

Cabot has long supplied Bridgestone with reinforcing carbon products, and this acquisition further strengthens the partnership between the two companies. The acquisition also expands Cabot’s global manufacturing footprint and reinforces its position as a provider of reinforcing carbons. Acquiring MXCB, which is strategically located near Cabot’s existing facility in Altamira, Mexico, not only enhances Cabot’s production capacity and operational flexibility but also offers the capability to manufacture a broader range of reinforcing carbon products.

Continue reading Cabot acquires Mexico Carbon Manufacturing from Bridgestone at Tire Technology International.

Hankook has announced its third ISCC PLUS achievement. The company previously received certification for its Geumsan plant in 2021 and its Rácalmás plant in Hungary in 2023.

At the Daejeon plant, Hankook replaced fossil-based synthetic rubber with bio-circular polymers, reducing the environmental footprint throughout the entire lifecycle, from raw material sourcing to product manufacturing, compared with conventional fossil-based materials. This achievement means the plant has met the stringent certification criteria of ISCC PLUS.

With the certification of the Daejeon plant, Hankook now has a sustainable product manufacturing system spanning original equipment and replacement tires as well as motorsports.

Continue reading Hankook’s Daejeon plant receives ISCC PLUS certification at Tire Technology International.

Kumho Tire has announced that it has selected Opole, Poland, as the site for its first European plant. The decision is part of the company’s strategy to expand its global production footprint and accelerate growth in the European market.

The Opole facility is scheduled to begin operations in August 2028, pending investment and regulatory approval. The first phase will support an annual production capacity of six million tires, with phased expansions planned according to market demand. The total investment is valued at US$587m.

Kumho assessed several European countries as potential locations for its new plant, considering factors such as site suitability, market growth potential, investment stability, profitability and available incentives.

Continue reading Kumho Tire selects Poland for new €587m European plant at Tire Technology International.

Hwa Fong Rubber has announced its intent to purchase the former Sumitomo Rubber USA manufacturing facility and property in Tonawanda in New York State, and unveiled plans to transform it into an active industrial park for various future uses across manufacturing, assembly, logistics and technology.

Initially named the HF Tonawanda Industrial Park, the site will become home to a dynamic mix of local, national and international company operations, while ensuring a robust reuse of the longstanding regional industrial site.

Prospective operators within the park will include automotive-related manufacturing in rubber products, wheel parts, transmissions, chassis and other components.

Continue reading Hwa Fong Rubber announces intent to purchase former Sumitomo Rubber USA manufacturing plant at Tire Technology International.

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Solvay has converted its highly dispersible silica (HDS) production in Asia into circular raw materials. From 2026, the company’s plants in Qingdao in China and Gunsan in South Korea will adopt ISCC+ certified waste sand. This shift, Solvay says, could enable over half of Solvay’s regional HDS capacity to become circular.

By replacing virgin raw materials with industrial waste, Solvay develops technologies to reduce resource consumption. It offers tire manufacturers circular Zeosil silica, which does not require reformulation.

“Solvay’s circular silica helps improve fuel efficiency and EV range, offers long-lasting wear benefits and improves safety while advancing sustainability,” said An Nuyttens, president of Solvay’s Silica business unit.

Continue reading Solvay to produce circular silica in Asia using waste sand by 2026 at Tire Technology International.