Pyrum Innovations AG (Pyrum) has published its consolidated financial report for the period from 1 January to 30 June 2024.

Both the company's financial situation and its half-year results were primarily defined by investments made at the Dillingen/Saar headquarters, orders for plant components that required a lengthy lead time for the new Perl-Besch site, personnel expansion and organisational structure development. Furthermore, the rCB pelletising plant's throughput volumes remained below goal.

Revenue in the first six months totalled EUR 708 thousand and was therefore EUR 41.3 1TP3 thousand higher than in the first half of 2023 (EUR 501 thousand). Own work capitalised amounted to EUR 3,614 thousand (H1 2023: EUR 7,613 thousand) as the expansion and optimisation of the plant in Dillingen progressed as planned. The decrease corresponds to the lower cost of materials required to produce own work capitalised as the degree of completion of the plant expansion in Dillingen increases. As expected, total operating performance fell by around EUR 44,000 thousand to EUR 4,536 thousand (H1 2023: EUR 8,155 thousand) compared to the same period of the previous year due to lower own work capitalised. At EUR 800 thousand, other operating income more than doubled compared to the same period of the previous year (H1 2023: EUR 356 thousand). This was due to investment grants totalling EUR 531 thousand (EUR 151 thousand) for the creation of jobs in Dillingen resulting from the plant expansion. The consolidated net loss for the period amounted to EUR ‑4,787 thousand (H1 2023: EUR ‑4,408 thousand). Available liquidity increased to EUR 9,502 thousand as at 30 June 2024 (31 December 2023: EUR 4,483 thousand) due to the payment of two further loan tranches from BASF for the construction of the plant in Perl-Besch.

As a result of lower costs, the company expects earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) of EUR ‑10.0 million to EUR ‑12.0 million for 2024 to be slightly above the previously expected range of EUR ‑11.0 million to EUR ‑13.0 million.

As a result of the lower-than-planned throughput of the pelletising plant to date, the company assumes that sales will probably not meet the original forecast until the fourth quarter. As a result, sales of between EUR 1.9 million and EUR 2.4 million are now expected for the year as a whole (originally EUR 3.0 million to EUR 4.0 million). In addition, total operating performance is also expected to be lower than planned at around EUR 10 million (originally EUR 25 million to EUR 30 million). Contrary to planning, no plant purchase agreement has yet been concluded, as the approval process required for a final investment decision has not yet been completed despite the progress made on the projects. The company is dependent on the processing times of the approval authorities.

Pascal Klein, CEO, Pyrum Innovations AG, said, “We can look back on an exciting and successful first half of the year at Pyrum. Our industrial series plant is finally up and running and the start-up phase of the new TAD 2 and TAD 3 production lines has been successful. This has laid the foundations for our future development. We are currently doing everything we can to ensure that TAD 2 and 3 can soon go into continuous operation, which will also be reflected in the figures in the future. We are also focussing on financing further expansion.”

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Continental has secured a global original equipment supply agreement for the new all-electric Renault Twingo. The latest generation of the compact vehicle is now being produced exclusively with the 18-inch Continental EcoContact 7 tyre as standard across all worldwide markets.

The selection of this specific tyre is underpinned by its superior performance on the EU tyre label, particularly regarding energy efficiency and rolling noise. These attributes are critical for electric vehicle applications, as low rolling resistance directly contributes to maximising the driving range per charge, while reduced noise emission ensures a more serene cabin environment.

The tyre’s exceptional energy efficiency stems from a novel rubber compound and the advanced Smart Energy Casing technology, which incorporates new materials to minimise internal friction. Efficiency is further amplified by an aerodynamically optimised sidewall, featuring a golf-ball-inspired ‘Aerodimple’ structure that reduces air turbulence and the energy required to maintain motion.

Furthermore, Continental has engineered the Silent Pattern tread design to specifically mitigate rolling noise. By meticulously calibrating the tread block spacing and angles to counteract low-speed urban frequencies, the tyre delivers a quieter experience for both passengers and surrounding communities. This tyre variant, size 205/45 R18 90H XL FR, has been homologated for the Twingo in numerous countries.

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Bridgestone UK has been named Tyre Manufacturer of the Year at the 2026 TyreSafe Awards, recognising its sustained efforts to improve road safety and influence driver behaviour across the country. The honour specifically highlights the effectiveness of the company’s 'Be a Road Safety Hero' initiative.

Since its inception, that campaign has reached over 24 million individuals, combining public education, retailer participation and direct engagement to translate awareness into practical action. More than 25 nationwide events have been held at venues ranging from supermarkets to tyre retail sites, resulting in over 10,500 complimentary safety inspections. Those checks uncovered more than 1,200 separate issues, including roughly 200 tyres deemed illegal for road use.

Beyond these hands-on clinics, the programme has distributed extensive educational resources and maintained visibility through digital media and targeted public relations. Partnerships with groups like Sporting Bears have helped convey safety messages to enthusiast communities, while Bridgestone staff have collectively logged over 10,000 volunteer hours in support of the campaign’s objectives.

Helen Roe, Senior Manager – Brand, Events, Product & Digital Marketing, said, "While we're naturally delighted to receive this recognition, what matters most to us is the impact the campaign is having beyond the award itself. Our 'Be a Bridgestone Road Safety Hero' campaign was designed to encourage drivers to take simple steps that can make a big difference, and we're proud that the campaign is helping to identify potentially dangerous tyres and prompting drivers to take action. Tyre safety isn’t something any one organisation can tackle alone. That’s why we’ve worked closely with our retailers and partners to take this message directly to motorists in ways that are practical, visible and engaging. To have carried out over 10,500 tyre checks over the last couple of years, demonstrates the scale of the challenge but also the power of education and collaboration. We see this award not as the finish line, but as motivation to continue championing safer roads for everyone.

“We’d also like to recognise and congratulate TyreSafe, on their 20th year anniversary, for bringing together so many to collaborate on raising tyre safety awareness in the UK and for their continued work with government, police and emergency services to raise the profile of tyre safety nationwide. Ultimately, tyres carry lives. With an estimated 6.1 million illegal tyres still on UK roads, raising awareness remains critical. Regular tyre checks are a simple step that can make a real difference – for drivers and for everyone around them.”

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Toyo Tires secured a dominant performance at the 58th SCORE Baja 500, with drivers Trey Gibbs and Gustavo Vildósola Sr. claiming victories in the Trophy Truck Spec and Legends classes, respectively. The championship-winning Open Country M/T-R tyres were instrumental in the success, particularly in the highly competitive Spec class, which boasted the largest field among the top five categories. Brent Fox added to the brand's success by finishing second in the Spec class, delivering a third podium finish for Team Toyo over the race weekend.

The second round of the 2026 SCORE World Desert Championship unfolded on a demanding 468.70-mile circuit through the northern Baja California peninsula. Driving the #215 Mason Motorsports / Toyo Tires / Ford Raptor, Gibbs achieved his maiden SCORE race victory with a winning time of 9 hours, 46 minutes and 7.59 seconds. This triumph extended Team Toyo’s remarkable winning streak in the Spec class to four consecutive years, a reign that began at the 2023 Baja 500. Fox secured the runner-up position in his #282 1Nine Industries / Ford Raptor, clocking in at 9 hours and 55 minutes to complete a one-two finish for the team.

In the Legends category, Vildósola Sr. returned to the top step of the podium behind the wheel of his #1L Mason Motorsports / Toyo Tires / Vildosola Racing / Ford Raptor. His winning effort, completed in 9 hours, 47 minutes and 56.17 seconds, marked his first victory of the season and extended his personal winning streak at the Baja 500 to five consecutive races, a run that started in 2022.

Looking ahead, Team Toyo aims to build on this momentum as the series progresses towards the Baja 400 in September. The brand’s legacy in the SCORE World Desert Championship remains extensive, with multiple victories across all major events. Notable wins include the San Felipe 250 on four occasions, the Baja 500 six times, the Baja 400 five times and the prestigious Baja 1000 six times, with a roster of accomplished drivers contributing to this storied record.

Gibbs said, “Winning the Baja 500 is something I’ve always dreamed of, and it still hasn’t fully hit me what my team and I accomplished over the weekend. Honestly, I don’t have the words to describe what this win feels like.”

Fox said, “Taking home second place in the Trophy Truck Spec class and completing the Baja 500 is something we’re really proud of. Thanks to Toyo Tires, we ran the entire race with no flats and zero issues.”

Stan Chen, Deputy Director – Consumer Marketing, Toyo Tire U.S.A. Corp, said, “Congratulations to Trey Gibbs on earning his first SCORE race victory this weekend, and to Gustavo Vildósola Sr. on adding another win to his accomplished career. Our drivers have continued to set the standard in the Spec and Legends classes at the Baja 500, and we’re proud of this past weekend’s continued success.”

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Tyres Europe has joined a broad coalition of industrial sectors calling on the European Union to adopt a more dynamic and forceful trade policy amid deliberations by the European Council on economic security, competitiveness and EU-China relations. The tyre industry contends that current frameworks are increasingly mismatched with the realities of a fast-moving global economy, where distortions rapidly transcend borders and sectors.

The sector underpins approximately 500,000 jobs across the Union and supplies essential products for passenger mobility, freight, agriculture and defence. Its viability depends on fair competition within deeply interconnected value chains, yet structural overcapacity, state-induced market distortions and unfair trading practices are simultaneously affecting multiple industries. These pressures cascade across supply networks, weaken investment incentives and progressively hollow out Europe's industrial base. Tyres Europe argues that only a coherent policy combining robust trade defence instruments with broader industrial resilience measures can effectively counter this erosion.

A critical challenge lies in the temporal disconnect between agile global supply chains and the slower pace of EU investigations and duty implementation. Tyre manufacturing routes can be reconfigured within months, allowing exporters to front-load shipments during probes and redirect production to alternative locations once tariffs are imposed. This leaves European manufacturers under sustained competitive pressure even after investigations conclude. Tyres Europe has therefore endorsed the Joint Industry Statement, which urges a more ambitious application of trade policy that reflects the fundamentally altered contours of global commerce.

The organisation supports enhanced resources for investigations, a more proactive deployment of existing instruments aligned with industrial objectives and exploration of additional WTO-compatible tools to tackle systemic state-induced distortions. It also advocates for strategic use of the Foreign Subsidies Regulation to address recurrent distortive patterns beyond isolated case assessments. Given that tyre manufacturing involves long-term, capital-intensive decisions with near-irreversible capacity loss, preserving a competitive domestic base is framed as both an industrial goal and a matter of strategic autonomy. As European leaders shape their response to a volatile trading environment, Tyres Europe urges them to ensure that trade defence evolves to safeguard fairness and the industrial capabilities underpinning prosperity and innovation.

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!