The technical innovations and expert insights keep on coming at Tire Technology Expo, where visitors are thronging the halls on Day 2 of Europe’s most influential trade event for tire manufacturing technology and materials. Read on to get just a taste of what’s been grabbing their attention today. 

Ecopower spotlights innovative silane and functional resin solutions
Ecopower is showcasing its latest advances in sulfur-containing silane coupling agents, silane polymers and functional resins, designed to enhance tire performance and sustainability. The company’s new generation of silane coupling agents provides superior filler-polymer interaction, improving abrasion resistance, wet grip and durability while reducing rolling resistance and heat build-up. 

Continue reading EXPO NEWS: New tech and expert insights keep coming on Day 2 of Tire Technology Expo at Tire Technology International.

Sustainability and heavy manufacturing have long had a strained relationship, shaped by scale, cost pressures and the technical demands of industrial production. While scientists and engineers work to decarbonize complex processes, greenwashing has seeped into industry rhetoric, undermining trust in legitimate sustainable alternatives. However, in tire manufacturing, recovered carbon black (rCB) sits apart from this rhetoric.

“rCB is not carbon black; it is a new type of material,” stated Prof. Jorge Lacayo-Pineda, head expert in materials evaluation at Continental Tires, during his presentation at the Tire Technology Expo Conference today.

In ‘Identification of rCB in cured rubber compounds,’ Prof.

Continue reading EXPO NEWS: “rCB is not carbon black; it is a new type of material” at Tire Technology International.

Tire Technology Expo 2026 opened this morning with a packed plenary session that set the tone for three days of technical insight and industry discussion. Senior representatives from leading global tire manufacturers and industry research groups took to the stage to address transformation, sustainability and the accelerating pace of innovation across the sector.

The energy on the exhibition floor was also high from the outset. Visitors streamed into the halls, where exhibitors were deep in technical discussions, product briefings and live system demonstrations. Meeting areas were full, equipment was running and both halls were buzzing from the get-go.

Continue reading EXPO NEWS: Full halls, technical debates and sustainability initiatives kick off Day 1 of Tire Technology Expo 2026 at Tire Technology International.

With just over six weeks to go until Tire Technology Expo 2026 gets underway in Hannover, Germany (March 3, 4 & 5), the shortlisted nominations for this year’s Tire Technology International Awards for Innovation and Excellence have been revealed.

The awards are decided by the votes of a panel of experts from the tire industry and academia. The winners will be announced during the expo (Day 1, March 3).

Here’s the shortlist in full:

ENVIRONMENTAL ACHIEVEMENT OF THE YEAR – TIRE DESIGN

• Bridgestone – TBR tire produced with 70% recycled and renewable content
• CEAT – SustainMax-VF tire
• Continental – Conti Urban HA 5 NXT
• Michelin – Car tire with 75% renewable and recycled materials
• Pirelli – P Zero (with 70% bio-based and recycled materials)

ENVIRONMENTAL ACHIEVEMENT OF THE YEAR – MANUFACTURING

• Color Service – Automatic depalletizing and AI handling robot for chemicals weighing systems
• Comerio Ercole – Celemetry
• Continental – Reduction of freshwater use
• Michelin Specialty Materials Recovery (MSMR) plant in Chile
• VMI – Batch-Off Closed Air Circulation

ENVIRONMENTAL ACHIEVEMENT OF THE YEAR – INDUSTRY CONTRIBUTION

• Bekaert – Steel tire reinforcement certification of recycled content
• Bridgestone World Solar Challenge tire
• Continental – Expansion GIZ Project
• Endurica – Advancing tire retreading through oxidation science and predictive modeling
• Michelin – BioButterfly project
• Solvay – Circular highly dispersible silica global industrialization

CHEMICALS AND COMPOUNDING INNOVATION OF THE YEAR

• Flexsys – Alternative to 6PPD
• OCSiAl – Tuball
• Silox – ActiECO+ Green
• Skyhem Chemicals – Ecosky-3103

 MATERIALS INNOVATION OF THE YEAR

• Cabot Corporation – rC Regen CGX1000
• Continental – Synthetic rubber from used cooking oil
• Teijin Aramid – Twaron Next

R&D BREAKTHROUGH OF THE YEAR

• Bridgestone – TRWP vehicle collection method
• Continental – OLRAP
• Falken – Motorsport application of Sensing Core
• Goodyear and TNO — Integration of tire intelligence with AEB systems
• Michelin – Tire Digital Twin

 TIRE MANUFACTURING INNOVATION OF THE YEAR

• Color Service – Automatic depalletizing and AI handling robot for chemicals weighing systems
• Comerio Ercole – Zeus
• VMI – Automated materials handling

 TIRE INDUSTRY SUPPLIER OF THE YEAR

• Black Donuts
• Color Service
• Comerio Ercole
• Uzer Makina
• VMI

 TIRE CONCEPT OF THE YEAR

• Goodyear – Eagle Xplore
• Hankook – Sustainable concept tire
• Kumho – Volume
• Michelin – Lunar Airless Wheel (MiLAW)
• Nexen – Nexist

 TIRE OF THE YEAR

• Apollo Tyres – Aspire 5
• Bridgestone – Potenza Sport Evo
• Continental – VanContact A/S Eco
• Michelin – Primacy 5 Energy
• Pirelli – Cinturato Winter 3

TIRE MANUFACTURER OF THE YEAR

• Bridgestone
• Continental
• Goodyear
• Hankook
• Michelin
• Nova Motorsport

There’s still time to book your free pass to attend Tire Technology Expo in Hannover on March 3, 4 and 5!

Continue reading TTI Awards 2026: Shortlist revealed at Tire Technology International.

With Tire Technology Expo less than two months away, Tire Technology International’s editor-in-chief, Matt Ross, selects his highlights from the packed program of more than 165 speakers.

Tires for autonomous vehicles – current scenario and future technical opportunities for next-generation AVs (Andreas Topp, VP for platform development and Industrialization – Continental Reifen)

MR: Given how close we might be to widespread autonomous vehicle implementation, there’s never been a better time for a look at the state of play for tires on AVs, as well as some exploration of what future opportunities might exist for the tire’s role in systems and operations – after all, as the old adage goes, no matter who’s driving, the tires remain the only touch point between the vehicle and the road.

Continue reading Editor’s choice: The Tire Technology Expo Conference 2026 presentations you can’t afford to miss at Tire Technology International.

The plenary opening session at Tire Technology Expo 2026 will set the tone for the week ahead. Rather than focusing on a single technology or challenge, this year’s session will bring together three complementary perspectives that reflect the realities tire manufacturers are grappling with today: how vehicles are evolving, how materials and supply chains must transform, and how the industry responds to growing scrutiny of tire emissions and environmental impact.

From autonomous mobility to sustainable monomers and science-based research into tire and road wear particles, the session will offer a snapshot of where tire technology is heading, and what it will take to get there.

Continue reading Three perspectives on the future of tire technology at Tire Technology International.

The 2026 Tire Technology International Awards for Innovation and Excellence are now open for nominations. The world’s biggest celebration of endeavor in tire development and manufacturing covers all aspects of the modern tire business, with awards covering 11 categories. Technologies and achievements revealed since the start of March 2025 are eligible for consideration for the 2026 awards.

Nominations will be accepted until January 9, 2026. The online nomination form will be available shortly, but if you’d like to submit your nomination in the meantime, you can do so by sending your entry to matt.ross@ukimediaevents.com. Please include a brief outline of the nomination, which category you would like to be considered for, and any links to further information or reading for the jury if your nomination makes the shortlist.

Continue reading Nominations open for the 2026 Tire Technology International Awards for Innovation and Excellence at Tire Technology International.

The Tire Technology International Awards for Innovation and Excellence are recognized as the industry’s top accolades, and aim to celebrate the best new technologies and innovations from all over the world. The awards are judged by a fully independent, international panel of journalists and industry experts, and presented at Tire Technology Expo.

Categories include: Environmental Achievement of the Year – Tire Design; Environmental Achievement of the Year – Manufacturing; Environmental Achievement of the Year – Industry Contribution; Chemicals and Compounding Innovation of the Year; Materials Innovation of the Year; R&D Breakthrough of the Year; Tire Manufacturing Innovation of the Year; Tire Industry Supplier of the Year; Tire Concept of the Year; Tire of the Year; Tire Manufacturer of the Year.

Continue reading Tire Technology International Awards for Innovation and Excellence at Tire Technology International.

Tire Technology Expo 2025, held on March 4-6 in Hannover, Germany, once again cemented its reputation as the leading global event for tire design, development and manufacturing. The three-day event brought together top industry players, suppliers and researchers to discuss the latest technological advancements and regulatory challenges shaping the future of the tire industry. From groundbreaking product launches on the show floor to thought-provoking conference discussions on the most important and complex issues affecting the tire industry, the expo reflected the sector’s push toward sustainability, efficiency and digitalization.

Exhibition highlights

The exhibition floor highlighted innovation and high-performance from all 240+ exhibitors, with Bekaert, Rockwell Automation, VMI Group, HF Group, ARP Technologies, Kordsa and Black Donuts standing out due to their contributions to advancing tire technology:

Bekaert launched its latest tire reinforcement innovation at the expo.

Continue reading Tire Technology Expo 2025: A showcase of innovation, sustainability, digitalization and regulatory challenges at Tire Technology International.

With automation becoming more widespread across the industry, companies such as Rockwell Automation are well positioned to assist customers with the transition. Acquisitions made by the company over the past few years seek to exploit the benefits of automation and digitalization for its customers, and as the company’s principal consultant, Peter Mair, explained to Tire Technology International in this exclusive video filmed at Tire Technology Expo in Hannover, it’s about more than adding parts – it’s about creating synergies between the parts.

“We really look at customers’ challenges and then how we can orchestrate between process methods, tools and product solutions, because only when that all fits together can they get the best value,” he said.

Continue reading VIDEO | Peter Mair from Rockwell Automation reveals how to empower customers in an increasingly automated industry at Tire Technology International.