The Tire Technology International Awards for Innovation and Excellence for this year have been presented at the Tire Technology Expo in Deutsche Messe. 

The awards, which were coordinated by Tire Technology International magazine, were split into seven dedicated categories and officiated by a panel of international journalists and industry experts, a press release said.  

Bekaert’s BeCoFree – a next-generation tyre cord coating that will enable tyre manufacturers to produce high performance tyres without the need to use any cobalt (or elements of similar concerns) bagged the Tire Manufacturing Innovation of the Year Award. 

With sustainability an ever-increasing focus for tyre makers and suppliers, the Environmental Achievement of the Year Award was a fiercely contested category. Recent years have seen the trophy awarded to those leading the way in environmentally conscious development, and the 2022 jury opted to recognise a collaboration between Bridgestone, Arlanxeo and Solvay, the release pointed out.  

TechSyn is a co-developed tyre technology platform which combines chemically optimised synthetic rubber with tailormade silica, interacting at a molecular level, to deliver improved performance with fewer trade-offs. 

SRI won the Tire Technology of the Year Award for its HSBR – Hydrogenated Styrene-Butadiene Rubber. Judges were impressed by the advanced research on display, using synchrotron as well as supercomputing facilities, the release said. In particular, molecular dynamics simulation revealed that chemical reactions coupled with mechanical deformation exacerbates wear performance throughout mechanochemical reactions. 

The Tire Industry Supplier of the Year Award was presented to Mesnac, one of the tyre industry’s most recognisable and widely regarded suppliers. Judges pointed out a number of reasons in their comments, including the company’s willingness to invest in facilities and innovation, adapting its product offering to meet the needs of the modern tyre industry. 

The Tire Manufacturer of the Year Award sees the world’s biggest tyre makers going head-to-head for the top spot. This category was, as always, a hotly contested one, with all shortlisted finalists having their admirers on the jury panel. When the scores were tallied, it was Continental who claimed first place, marking the third time the tyre maker has won this award. 

Bernd Korte, Vice President, Platform Development & Industrialization, Continental, said, “We are very honoured to receive this year’s Tire Manufacturer of the Year Award. It motivates our entire company to continue on the path we have chosen, to continuously invest in the development of our tyres and to make a significant contribution to a safe, cost-effective and environmentally friendly mobility.” 

The Young Scientist Award for 2022 was given to Marco Furlan, a PhD student at Loughborough University. The award’s jury – which is separate to the five central categories – selected Furlan and his work, “Real-time friction estimation using neural networks”. 

Head juror Jan Prins said, “Marco's presentation was rated the best overall due to the interesting content, presenting a very practical approach to a complex problem, with a smooth delivery of a high-quality, well-structured PowerPoint presentation, including extensive use of helpful animations.” 

As well as recognising the impressive achievements of manufacturers and suppliers, the awards are an opportunity to highlight the achievements of remarkable individuals within the industry. One such individual is Bo Persson, winner of the 2022 Lifetime Achievement Award. In perhaps the most telling endorsement of Persson’s contribution to the tyre industry over his decades-long career, he was independently suggested by several of his peers, each keen for him to receive the recognition his contemporaries feel he deserves. 

Persson is one of the world’s leading researchers in the field of friction, tribology, adhesion and contact mechanics of rubbers and rubber-like soft matter, and one of the most widely cited experts in the tyre industry. After receiving his PhD in 1980, Persson went to work at FZ Jülich. In 1983-84, he spent 1.5 years as a postdoc at the IBM research lab in Yorktown Heights in upstate New York. In 1987, he spent another year as visiting scientist at the IBM research lab in Zurich. He has his own consulting company, MultiscaleConsulting, and works mainly with tyre companies and medical companies. In tribology, Persson regards his most important paper as his 2000 work on contact mechanics for viscoelastic solids with random roughness. 

Persson said, “I wrote this paper a few weeks after I started consulting with Pirelli about rubber friction. This work turned out to be very fundamental and I have spent 20 years working out different applications of this theory. That insight has kept me occupied for 20 years!” 

The 2022 awards have seen some remarkable examples of innovation and collaboration, made all the more impressive given the challenges of the last few years. 

Matt Ross, Editor-in-chief of Tire Technology International and chairman of the awards, said, “Like other industries across the world, the tyre business has faced some extra challenges over the last two years. So, it’s all the more important to recognize these examples of world-leading innovation and industry-defining contributions to tire development. Obviously, the winners of these awards have all won over the judges, but it’s also important to point out just how impressed the panel was with the caliber of entry from all the shortlisted entrants – there were no easy decisions this year, and the winners deserve many congratulations.” (TT)

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

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.”

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Michelin has unveiled the X Multi Energy D2 tyre, developed to address the specific challenges of regional haul operations. Fleets in this segment face demanding roads, frequent stop-and-start cycles and escalating fuel expenses that affect both performance and profitability. By blending durability, fuel savings and Michelin’s established performance standards, the new tyre aims to boost fleet productivity while reducing overall operating costs.

The tyre features a revised tread pattern and a new tread compound to better resist tread damage caused by high-torque vehicles and stop-and-go regional driving. It is constructed on Michelin’s Duracore casing, which integrates Infinicoil and Powercoil technologies and benefits from a reinforced bead design known as Duracoil Technology. This casing is engineered to last up to one million miles and support as many as four retreads.

In the effort to curb fuel expenses, the X Multi Energy D2 improves rolling resistance by 9 percent over its predecessor, the Michelin X Multi Energy D tyre, and by 18 percent compared with leading competitors. It also enhances late-life traction, offering 10 percent better wet handling and 16 percent better snow starting traction when worn, giving drivers and operations managers greater confidence on varying roads.

For original equipment manufacturers, the tyre meets Greenhouse Gas standards and supports applicable vehicle carbon-reduction requirements. Designed for regional applications where traction, durability and fuel efficiency matter, it is available in 295/75R22.5 LRG and 11R22.5 LRG and LRH sizes, replacing the X Multi Energy D tyre in those sizes.

Yahn Heurlin, VP of B2B Marketing, Michelin North America, Inc., said, “Michelin is driven by a deep commitment to understanding the needs and challenges customers face every day. This customer-first mindset inspires the development of purpose-built solutions designed to address real-world pain points and help fleets operate more efficiently.”

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

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.”

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

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.

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!