Hankook Tire has commenced the expansion of its European production plant in Rácalmás, Hungary. With an investment of around EUR 540 million, the expansion project is scheduled for completion in 2027 and expected to create 450 new jobs.

A new truck and bus tyre production line with a capacity of up to 800,000 units annually will be created as a consequence of the expansion. The new plant will manufacture tyres from the new e-SMART series, which is especially made for electric commercial vehicles, as well as Hankook's premium long-haul and mixed application products, SmartLine AL/DL 50 and SmartFlex AL/DL 51. Furthermore, the production line will allow Hankook to provide additional goods for every use, from construction sites and winter usage to long-distance and regional transportation, in order to satisfy the demands of clients in Europe.

A key component of Hankook's European growth, the Hungary plant has been operational since 2007. With its cutting-edge manufacturing technologies, the European factory can presently produce 17 million passenger car and light commercial vehicle tyres. The new plant will also use the newest technology in tyre manufacturing, including 3D additive manufacturing for tread moulds and sustainable, renewable and recyclable materials. The industrial site's overall sustainability is shown by the Hungarian plant's achievement of the coveted ISCC PLUS accreditation (International Sustainability & Carbon accreditation).

Jongho Park, President and COO, Hankook Tire Europe, said, “We are very happy with the progress so far. After getting necessary approvals, we were able to commence the building works as planned and preparatory soil construction is underway. Once the new production line is complete, we will be manufacturing truck and bus tyres for the European market in Europe, which will shorten our transport routes. With the investment, we are strengthening the European business location and creating more jobs.”

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Birla Carbon will present its carbon black solutions at the Global Polymer Summit 2026, scheduled for 28–30 September at the Kentucky International Convention Center in Louisville. The company will exhibit at Booth 417, targeting tyre and mechanical rubber goods (MRG) manufacturers seeking higher performance and reduced environmental impact.

The company’s portfolio spans tyre and MRG applications, addressing durability, strength, abrasion resistance and product life across tyres, belts, hoses, sealing systems and anti-vibration products. Birla Carbon will also feature Continua Sustainable Carbonaceous Material (SCM), a circular carbon range with consistent quality and global availability and Continua Sustainable Carbon Black (SCB), produced from recycled or bio-based feedstocks.

Supported by extensive manufacturing, technical expertise and customer-focused teams across the Americas, Birla Carbon provides reliable volumes, responsive service and tailored solutions. Attendees can meet company experts at Booth 417 to explore its product portfolio, technical capabilities and sustainable offerings.

John Davidson, President – Americas & EMEA, Birla Carbon, said, “The tyre and mechanical rubber goods industries are at an important phase, where performance, supply resilience and sustainability must advance together. The next phase of growth will depend on stronger collaboration across the value chain and the ability to translate innovation into scalable, commercially viable solutions. At Birla Carbon, we are combining our manufacturing network, portfolio strength, technical expertise and regional capabilities to help customers navigate this transition and build more resilient and sustainable businesses.”

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Firestone, a Bridgestone Americas subsidiary, has unveiled the Destination LE4 highway touring tyre as the successor to its best-selling Destination LE3. The new model features a deeper tread depth, an advanced compound and a non-directional tread pattern, delivering longer wear life along with improved wet and light snow performance for year-round driving confidence.

Backed by a 70,000-mile limited warranty, the Destination LE4 is projected in external testing to wear 16 percent longer than its predecessor, 9 percent longer than the General Grabber H/T and 43 percent longer than the BFGoodrich Advantage Control HT. Thinner 3D sipes enhance traction and handling, while internal testing showed wet stopping distances reduced by 8 feet versus the Toyo Open Country H/T II and 4 feet versus the BFGoodrich Advantage Ctrl HT, with dry stopping improved by 8 feet and 2 feet, respectively, plus a 2-foot dry gain over the LE3.

Sustainability gains come through wear-resistance technology, optimised material usage that lowers raw material consumption and enhanced traction technology. Two technical firsts originated at the Bridgestone Americas Technology Center in Akron, Ohio: a high-strength, lightweight carcass architecture using light body plies and steel cords for durability and low rolling resistance despite deeper tread, and advanced compound mixing that improves ingredient consistency for tread wear, handling and wet grip.

Available in 65 sizes for 15- to 22-inch rims, the Destination LE4 covers small CUVs, SUVs, pickups and larger trucks, including the Mazda CX-5, Ford F-150, RAM 1500, Chevrolet Trailblazer and Nissan Armada.

Jeremy Norwood, Chief Engineer, New Product Engineering, Bridgestone Americas, said, “Drivers loved the Firestone Destination LE3 for its comfortable, quiet ride and all-season reliability. With the new Destination LE4, we enhanced those strengths by extending wear life and improving wet-weather handling, delivering dependable performance, confident control and everyday value.”

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The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd. has announced that Y.T. Rubber Co., Ltd. (YTRC), its Thai subsidiary focused on natural rubber processing, earned the Outstanding Provincial-Level CSR Organization Award. The honour formed part of the ‘CSR Award 2026’ initiative run by Thailand’s Ministry of Social Development and Human Security, and the presentation took place on 22 August 2026.

Built around the idea of ‘CSR Partnerships for Sustainable Thailand’, the award programme highlights organisations demonstrating exemplary corporate social responsibility at provincial or metropolitan level throughout the country’s 76 provinces and Bangkok. A total of 92 recipients – among them YTRC, other firms and bodies chosen nationwide and provincial CSR centres – convened at IMPACT Challenger Hall in Nonthaburi Province to collect commemorative plaques.

Governor Jumpot Wannachatsiri (left) presents flowers to YTRC Managing Director Noboru Takita (centre) and Department Manager Supachai Choosuwan at the Surat Thani Provincial Council.

YTRC, established in Surat Thani Province in 2008, has long pursued environmental preservation and dependable ties with nearby communities. Working with the Rubber Authority of Thailand (RAOT), it surveys natural rubber plantations and supplies management assistance to farmers, supporting sustainable procurement of the material. The company further backs agroforestry practices that give rubber farmers steadier incomes while partnering with the Surat Thani Provincial Office of Social Development and Human Security on efforts to nurture constructive community relations.

The recognition reflects YTRC’s continuous community-oriented CSR work and its notable local impact. A special event on 31 August saw the Surat Thani Provincial Council once more acknowledge those contributions, with the governor presenting a celebratory bouquet. Separately, the CSR Center of Surat Thani Province ranked among only nine centres nationwide to win the Outstanding Provincial CSR Promotion Center Award.

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Hankook Tire has unveiled a new generation of winter tyres for trucks, introducing the Smart Control AW53 for steering axles and the Smart Control DW53 for drive axles. Designed for harsh winter conditions, these models will eventually replace the previous Smart Control AW02 and DW07 winter tyres. They combine high traction on snow and ice with strong cornering and braking performance, along with high mileage. The pair debuts at IAA Transportation 2026 in Hannover, where the company exhibits from 15 to 20 September at stand E09 in hall 11.

Development prioritised strong winter performance across the tyres' full lifespan. Hankook achieves improved winter traction through advanced technology and a blend of tread features. Zigzag grooves and 3D sipes add grip on snow and ice, while tie bars stiffen tread blocks, supporting precise handling and stable driving.

Internal testing at the UTAC Test Centre in Ivalo, Finland, showed the AW53 and DW53 outperforming the earlier AW02 and DW07 models. Braking on snow improved by 2.8 percent, acceleration by 4 percent and handling by 3.7 percent. Central to the design is Hidden Groove technology, in which extra tread grooves emerge as wear progresses, maintaining snow traction and wet grip even when well worn. At 40 percent wear, additional 3D sipes appear, increasing tread block stiffness and improving grip while lowering rolling resistance. At 70 percent wear, further concealed grooves enhance wet grip. Alongside self-regenerating sipes, this sustains winter performance across the service life and extends it by as much as 15 percent.

Stone ejectors in the main grooves and Y-shaped lateral grooves reduce stone retention and shield the tread and carcass from damage. A newly developed compound further contributes to balanced grip. At launch, the AW53 comes in size 385/65 R22.5 164K (158L), rated for 5,000 kg per tyre. The DW53 is offered in size 315/80 R22.5 (156/150L), with a maximum load of 4,000 kg per tyre for single fitments or 3,350 kg for twin fitments. More sizes are planned. All new Smart Control winter tyres carry the 3PMSF label and both can be regrooved and retreaded to extend their working life further.

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