Continental has been re-elected as co-chair of the Tire Industry Project (TIP) until 2029. Continental will continue to contribute resources and expertise, especially in the areas of tire and road wear particles, end-of-life tires, sustainability assessment methods and supply chain transparency.

TIP is the global tire industry’s central forum for sustainability issues. As one of the founding members of TIP, Continental has been working with other leading global tire manufacturers since 2005 to address overarching environmental and sustainability issues affecting the tire industry.

“We are honored to have been re-elected as co-chair. TIP fosters collaboration within the tire industry, and beyond, with academia and other partners.

Continue reading Conti re-elected co-chair of the Tire Industry Project at Tire Technology International.

Pirelli has celebrated the production of 50 million tires at its Silao plant in Guanajuato, Mexico. Situated within the Silao “Puerto Interior” industrial hub, the plant serves both local and North American markets, specializing in high-value segment tires for various vehicles.

The celebration included attendees such as Diego Sinhue Rodríguez Vallejo, Governor of Guanajuato, and Enrico Verdino, CEO of Pirelli Mexico, along with company executives and staff.

The event also marked the opening of Pirelli Mexico’s first training center, dedicated to developing specialized local talent. The center will offer courses covering safety, quality, productivity, technology and environmental care in collaboration with local educational institutions.

Continue reading Pirelli celebrates production milestone at Mexico plant at Tire Technology International.

Effective November 1, Gerd Bartels is the new head of Continental’s specialty tires business area and is now responsible for business with tire solutions and services for a variety of industrial applications, as well as for two-wheeler and racing tires.

Bartels joined Continental Tires in 1994, shortly after graduating with a degree in business administration. During his time with the company he has held management positions at plant level as well as in the original equipment and tire replacement businesses. He was most recently responsible for controlling the tire replacement business for passenger car and commercial vehicle tires in the EMEA region.

Continue reading Gerd Bartels becomes head of Continental’s specialty tires business at Tire Technology International.

Effective September 1, Edwin Goudswaard has taken charge of Continental Tires’ research and development activities. Goudswaard succeeds Dr Boris Mergell, who has moved to become head of the User Experience business area at Continental Automotive.

“Edwin Goudswaard has acquired an incredible depth and breadth of experience in a range of different positions worldwide. This will stand him in good stead as the new head of our R&D department. On behalf of the entire management team, I wish him all the best and every success in his new role,” said Christian Kötz, head of the tires group sector and member of the executive board of Continental.

Continue reading Edwin Goudswaard appointed new head of R&D at Continental at Tire Technology International.

Scandinavian Enviro Systems has recruited Björn Larsson as head of strategic purchasing and Josefin Wallman as program manager. Larsson will have responsibility for purchasing in connection with new recycling plants and Wallman will act as project manager for the establishment of future recycling plants, including the planned plant in Uddevalla. Larsson and Wallman are both members of the company’s management group and have been assigned roles that are central for the execution of the expansion plan previously announced by Enviro and Antin Infrastructure Partners.

As program manager, Wallman is tasked with project responsibility for the establishment of the Uddevalla plant as well as future plants in Europe.

Continue reading Enviro Systems makes key appointments in recycling expansion plans at Tire Technology International.

USA-based Mickey Thompson Tires & Wheels has revealed John Bodart as its new president. Bodart has more than 30 years of experience within the tire industry, having held leading positions within the technical, quality, sales and manufacturing departments and organizations of Cooper Tire. During his tenure at Cooper, Bodart was also integral in integrating the firm with The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company.

“Mickey Thompson’s commitment to designing and bringing innovative performance products to the marketplace has made it a leader in the performance aftermarket,” commented Bodart. “I look forward to working with the team to build upon the success of recent years and continue to elevate Mickey Thompson’s strength and performance as a business.”

Continue reading Mickey Thompson Tires & Wheels appoints new president at Tire Technology International.

TTI’s regular series delves into the lives of industry professionals to understand the demands of working in the tire sector

Catarina Silva, product management team leader for Extreme E CrossContact tires, Continental

What was your career path to the position you hold now?
It’s an unusual one and probably similar to a lot of women who come into the automotive industry. I didn’t start out dreaming of tires. I am a mining engineer by background. I’m from Portugal and in 2018, during the financial crisis, I met some engineers at an event who were from [Continental] Germany.

Continue reading A day in the life – Catarina Silva at Tire Technology International.

Maude Portigliatti, currently SVP of Advanced Research at Michelin, is to join the group’s executive committee as EVP of High Tech Materials in July. She will succeed Sonia Artinian-Fredou, who is leaving Michelin.

Michelin says that over the past six years, Artinian-Fredou has helped transform the High Tech Materials business department into one of the company’s future growth drivers.

Portigliatti is a graduate of INSA Lyon engineering school, where she majored in materials physics. She also holds a research master’s degree in materials science and a PhD in polymer physics from the Condensed Matter Physics Laboratory, led at the time by Pierre-Gilles de Gennes of the Collège de France.

Continue reading Maude Portigliatti to head up Michelin’s Advanced Materials department at Tire Technology International.

Toyo Tires USA has appointed John Thomas as its next president and chief executive officer (CEO). The company says that Thomas brings more than 30 years’ automotive experience to the role, including extensive knowledge of the North American OEM and aftermarket landscape. His last position was in a completely different industry sector, serving as president and CEO of Webasto Charging Systems, based in Monrovia, CA.

Thomas will report to Tatsuo Mitsuhata, chairman of the board of Toyo Tires USA. Based in Toyo’s global headquarters in Japan, Mitsuhata is also a director and corporate officer of Toyo Tires Corporation and vice president of the sales headquarters.

Continue reading Toyo Tires USA appoints new president at Tire Technology International.

Following a meeting of the board of directors, the European Tyre and Rubber Manufacturers’ Association (ETRMA) has agreed that from 2022 it will welcome Nexen Tire Europe and the Czech Republic and Slovakia Tire Producers’ Associations as members. Following these additions, ETRMA will represent 15 international tire manufacturers and 11 national sector associations.

The board also discussed its commitment to the EU policy objective of a European economic recovery geared to meet the ambitions of the Green Deal. The board also emphasized the importance of a regulatory framework to support the entire industry and its supply chain while continuing to cooperate with European institutions to deliver on EU priorities and create a more competitive industry within Europe.

Continue reading ETRMA appoints new members for 2022 at Tire Technology International.