HF Mixing Group Opens New Building in Freudenberg, Germany

Hankook Partners With Tableau To Push Digital  Transformation

HF Mixing Group officially moved into its new headquarter office in Freudenberg, Germany recently. The company claims that the modern administration building is a huge milestone in terms of comfort and architecture. The black building, with its high proportion of glass, intends to offer employees and applicants an environment of “new work". The new environment supports both internal and external cooperation and new ways of communication with customers, suppliers and partners, according to HF Mixing Group.

Furthermore, the new building symbolises modern and cross-disciplinary work. HF Mixing Group states that this is reflected in the entire complex with its large open office spaces and central communication islands. One can also feel it in the new company restaurant where the bread, too, is freshly baked, in addition to three main courses a day.

Peter Scholz, Vice President – Global Sales and Marketing, HF Mixing Group, pointed out the future of the company in his welcome speech. "Of course, the new building is a sign that we have great expectations for this location," he said. In the opening, he referred to the phrase from Heraclitus, "panta rhei" (everything flows) and "panta rhei" determines life.

“We are at a turning point in many areas. It also applies to work and the new way of thinking about work, which can be felt immediately in the new building. The project was successfully realised with ‘w:architekten’,” Scholz said.

Additionally, as per HF Mixing Group, the overall measure consists of the new building with about 4,000 square metres, the refurbishment of the existing building on an area of 2,000 square metres.

Ian Wilson, Co-CEO, HF Mixing Group, emphasised in his speech the noticeable "change" associated with the project. His Managing Director colleague, Co-CEO, Dr Holger Rudzio, emphasised the same. Dr Rudizo said, "Even if contemporary business is more difficult, we are 100 percent convinced that we will successfully master the crises of the global economy with new processes, new ideas and precisely new ergonomic working methods. We are giving work processes greater flexibility and agility. Work will change through agile project management and flat hierarchies. Employees from different departments will now be able to work together in flexible work groups.” 

BKT Taps Ranveer Singh For Campaign As It Enters India’s On-Highway Tyre Market

BKT Taps Ranveer Singh For Campaign As It Enters India’s On-Highway Tyre Market

BKT Tyres has launched a nationwide campaign featuring Ranveer Singh to mark its entry into India’s on-highway consumer tyre segment, a market dominated by established domestic and global players.

The television-led multimedia campaign, titled “Elevate Your Drive,” introduces the company’s consumer positioning as it expands beyond its traditional strength in off-highway tyres used in agriculture, construction and industrial applications.

The campaign is built around the idea that ambition often stalls due to uncertainty and that confidence can help individuals push forward. BKT seeks to align its brand with that narrative, positioning its tyres as enabling progress and reliability for everyday drivers.

In the campaign film, Singh appears as himself, delivering a voiceover that links stories of people striving to move from ordinary circumstances to higher aspirations. The narrative focuses on ambition and forward momentum, themes the company hopes will resonate with India’s growing base of vehicle owners.

The campaign also introduces a new sonic identity for BKT, aimed at strengthening brand recall across television, digital and other multimedia platforms.

The move comes as BKT broadens its presence in the domestic market and targets growth in India’s on-highway tyre segment, which includes products for two-wheelers and commercial vehicles. The marketing push signals the company’s intent to build consumer recognition as it diversifies beyond its core off-highway tyre business.

Commenting on the launch, Mahesh Koppad, Chief Marketing Officer - India, BKT, said, “With ‘Elevate Your Drive’, we are positioning BKT Tyres for Indian consumers and our channel partners with a clear and meaningful purpose. Mobility, for us, is about empowering progress in a market where consumers seek reliability, performance, and meaning from the brands they choose. Our consumers expressed how journeys are about moving ahead in life, yet uncertainties often hold us back. At BKT Tyres, our ambition is to enable every Indian vehicle owner’s desire to move forward with confidence. Our commitment is to build an enduring brand and deliver best‑in‑class products that uphold the performance, trust, and innovation that is synonymous with BKT globally. ‘Elevate Your Drive’ isn’t just a campaign line, it is the guiding principle shaping our consumer‑focused initiatives. The campaign will be deployed through a high‑reach media mix to maximize awareness and drive strong early adoption.”

Avik Chattopadhyay, Co-founder, Expereal added, “The best way for an Off‑highway specialist brand to enter the consumer segment is to adopt a deeply customer‑centric approach to purpose, promise, and positioning. BKT Tyres aims to enhance every vehicle owner’s progress and driving delight by building an ecosystem that empowers individuals to move forward with confidence.”

Commenting on the same Creative Chairman Infectious Ramanuj Shastry said, “The journey from good to better is one that never ends. While for some, victory is the ultimate destination, for the truly great, it is but a pitstop. BKT Tyres makes sure that when the human spirit is raring to keep going further, the roads don’t hold it back.”

The campaign was conceptualised and executed by Infectious Advertising, which crafted a compelling human story around BKT Tyres’ engineering strength. The film was produced in collaboration with Mangata Films and Prachar Communications, bringing the campaign’s vision to life, while Expereal co-created the brand strategy for India.

Watch the entire video @ https://youtu.be/GwdnMogVAbc?si=ca0MIRoh3WOjqSE1

Hankook All Set To Tame The Gravel Terrain At WRC Safari Rally Kenya 2026

Hankook All Set To Tame The Gravel Terrain At WRC Safari Rally Kenya 2026

Hankook Tire, the official tyre supplier to the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC), has confirmed that the 2026 WRC Safari Rally Kenya is scheduled for 12 to 15 March 2026 near Naivasha. This event is recognised as one of the most punishing off-road challenges in the series, set against the backdrop of the demanding African savanna. For this rally, Hankook introduced the new Dynapro R213 soft gravel tyre, featuring an optimised compound for better low-temperature flexibility and superior grip on wet surfaces, while its adaptable structure ensures consistent durability under severe conditions.

Departing from its customary Nairobi start, this year’s competition will concentrate entirely on the harsh gravel terrain surrounding Lake Naivasha in the Great Rift Valley. Drivers will need to quickly adjust to newly designed, high-intensity stages and refine their race tactics from the very beginning. Spanning four days, the rally consists of 20 Special Stages covering roughly 350.52 kilometres. Competitors will encounter a treacherous mix of deep sand, sharp rocks, expansive savanna sections and the infamous fine ‘fesh-fesh’ dust, all compounded by swiftly shifting weather. In this unpredictable environment, tyre resilience, grip and handling stability are paramount to performance.

The Safari Rally consistently draws significant global motorsport attention. Since its return to the WRC calendar in 2021, the Toyota GAZOO Racing World Rally Team has achieved five consecutive victories at this event. Nevertheless, strong challenges are anticipated from both the Hyundai Shell Mobis World Rally Team and the M-Sport Ford World Rally Team, promising a fierce contest for the win.

Since taking over as the exclusive tyre supplier for all WRC classes in 2025, Hankook has leveraged data from its involvement in over 70 global motorsport championships. The company applies these race-proven insights to advance its ultra-high-performance tyre technology, continually reinforcing its leadership in the field.

Enviro Initiates Bankruptcy Proceedings For subsidiary Tyre Recycling in Sweden AB

Enviro Initiates Bankruptcy Proceedings For subsidiary Tyre Recycling in Sweden AB

The Board of Scandinavian Enviro Systems AB (Enviro) has resolved to file for bankruptcy for its fully owned subsidiary, Tyre Recycling in Sweden AB. A formal petition has been submitted to the District Court of Gothenburg to initiate the process. This action forms part of the broader company reorganisation currently underway for the parent company and is specifically intended to improve Enviro’s liquidity and support its long-term profitability.

The subsidiary in question operated a recycling facility in Åsensbruk, which was instrumental in validating both the company’s technological processes and the products derived from them. Having successfully fulfilled this developmental role, the facility’s ongoing operations are no longer strategically essential. Given that the site has not been financially viable, the Board determined that filing for bankruptcy for the subsidiary was the necessary course of action.

This decision is projected to negatively impact Enviro’s financial results through an impairment charge of approximately SEK 84 million (approximately USD 9.14 million). Despite this measure, Enviro’s core operations in Gothenburg will continue without disruption, running in parallel with other initiatives being implemented under the reorganisation framework. It is important to note that the company reorganisation applies exclusively to the parent company, Scandinavian Enviro Systems AB, and not to its subsidiaries.

Yokohama Rubber To Partner With KONDO RACING For 2026 Nürburgring Events

The Yokohama Rubber Company has confirmed a renewed partnership with KONDO RACING for the 2026 motorsport season, marked by a shared pursuit of victory in the highly competitive SP9 class at the Nürburgring 24-Hour Race. The team will campaign a Ferrari 296 GT3 EVO, equipped with Yokohama’s ADVAN racing tyres, across both the Nürburgring 24-Hour Race (ADAC RAVENOL 24h Nürburgring) and the Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie (NLS).

This collaboration brings together a proven combination. KONDO RACING, under the leadership of Masahiko Kondo, has consistently demonstrated its capability on the global stage, competing in elite series such as SUPER GT and SUPER FORMULA in Japan, as well as enduring the rigors of Le Mans. Their history with Yokohama at the Nürburgring includes a notable ninth-place overall finish in 2019. More recently, the team showed formidable pace in 2025, securing second place in the qualifying race and remaining a contender among the frontrunners throughout the final event. This performance provides a strong foundation for their 2026 campaign, where the objective is a class victory.


KONDO RACING Director Masahiko Kondo

Yokohama Rubber’s commitment to the Nürburgring extends beyond its partnership with KONDO RACING. The company will continue to provide its high-performance tyre technology to multiple leading teams competing in the NLS and the 24-hour race. The overarching goal is to secure another overall championship, leveraging the reliability and handling precision of its tyres to conquer one of the world’s most demanding circuits. This renewed agreement reinforces a longstanding relationship built on shared success in both domestic Japanese competitions and gruelling international endurance events.