At Tire Technology Expo, which took place in Hanover in March 2026, Erhardt+Leimer presented a range of solutions for tire and rubber production – including EL.Tag. The company also unveiled a solution with practical relevance to the calender line: EL-Thickness – a new thickness measurement solution with a compact combination sensor.

In tire manufacturing, material thickness is far more than a basic quality parameter. At the calender, even small deviations can influence material consumption, downstream quality and process stability. That is why reliable inline thickness measurement remains a key issue for manufacturers. Erhardt+Leimer’s latest variant of EL-Thickness addresses exactly this point by measuring material thickness directly on the calender, where the calendering process itself can be monitored in real time.

Continue reading Erhardt+Leimer showcases precision thickness measurement directly on the calender at Tire Technology International.

Chemicals company Orion has announced it is producing circular carbon black at its ISCC Plus-certified plant in the Chinese eastern coastal city of Qingdao.

The facility is making three grades of circular carbon black, Ecorax Circular 200, 210 and 215, from tire pyrolysis oil (TPO). Ecorax 200 is a hard black suitable for tires, while the 210 and 215 grades can be used for tires and mechanical rubber goods (MRG).

“This new capability in China marks a key step in offering circular carbon black grades globally,” said Orion CEO Corning Painter. “The product line extension gives us greater flexibility to meet growing demand for circular products, while maintaining the performance, consistency and quality our customers expect.”

Last year, Orion scaled up its circular capabilities in Europe, launching large volume production of Ecorax Circular 200 and 210 – both made from TPO – through a commercial reactor in Jasło, Poland.

Continue reading Orion launches circular carbon black production in China at Tire Technology International.

Continental has inaugurated the €300m (Bt13bn/US$350m) expansion of its tire plant in Rayong, Thailand, with the upgrades intended to boost the facility’s production capacity by an additional three million passenger car and light truck tires per year.

The event also marked the start of local production of radial motorcycle tires at Rayong.

“Our Rayong tire plant is a vital pillar of our global production network,” said Continental CEO Christian Kötz. “With this expansion, we are further strengthening our footprint in Asia-Pacific to deliver locally produced premium car and motorcycle tires to our customers. This investment underlines the strategic importance of Thailand and the APAC region for Continental.”

“Asia-Pacific is a dynamic, fast-growing region and a key driver of our long-term growth plan,” added Dalibor Kalina, head of Continental’s tire business in the APAC region.

Continue reading Continental inaugurates expanded Rayong tire plant in Thailand at Tire Technology International.

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.