A new phase of strategic collaboration has begun between FARREL POMINI of the HF GROUP and WF RECYCLE-TECH, following the acquisition of a majority stake by the former. Headquartered in the UK, WF RECYCLE-TECH has developed a unique, patented pyrolysis process for transforming end-of-life tyres into valuable materials like recovered carbon black and oil. A central component of this system is FARREL POMINI's own Farrel Continuous Mixer (FCM), which efficiently processes tyres for both mechanical and chemical recycling.

This deepened partnership, building upon a minority investment made in 2021, is designed to rapidly expand the global commercialisation of this sustainable technology. The move solidifies FARREL POMINI’s commitment to pioneering circular economy solutions for the rubber and plastics sectors worldwide. By enabling greater global support and accelerating adoption, this milestone underscores the aligned vision of all involved organisations to drive innovation in sustainable industrial practices.

Paul Lloyd, President, Farrel Corporation, said, “We are delighted to deepen our partnership with WF RECYCLE-TECH and take this important step toward further commercialisation of their proven pyrolysis system. This acquisition aligns with our long-term strategy to support sustainable solutions that address global challenges.”

Jo Dennis, Managing Director, WF RECYCLE-TECH, said, “We are very pleased to become majority-owned by FARREL POMINI and HF GROUP. Being part of the HF GROUP organisation allows us to leverage a strong global support network, deep technical expertise and long-term investment commitment. This partnership significantly strengthens our ability to scale our pyrolysis system and deliver solutions to customers around the world.”

Ian Wilson, Co-CEO, HF GROUP, said, “This acquisition reflects HF GROUP’s strategic focus on enabling technologies that drive sustainable industrial growth. By combining WF RECYCLE-TECH’s patented pyrolysis process with FARREL POMINI’s technology expertise and HF GROUP’s global infrastructure, we are creating a powerful platform to address the worldwide challenge of end-of-life tyre recycling.”

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CAMSO Construction has announced the appointment of Stefan Bartella as Area Sales Manager for the DACH region. Bartella brings solid sales experience and a deep understanding of regional market dynamics to the role. Company officials stated that his expertise will support the organisation’s continued growth in the area. The appointment reflects CAMSO Construction’s commitment to strengthening its commercial team in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Bartella’s knowledge of local customer needs and market trends is expected to drive further business development and reinforce the company’s position across the DACH territories.

The company statement read: “We’re pleased to welcome Stefan Bartella to CAMSO Construction as Area Sales Manager for the DACH region. With solid experience in sales and a strong understanding of regional market dynamics, he brings valuable expertise that will support our continued growth. Welcome aboard, Stefan!”

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Nokian Tyres has appointed Glenn Arbaugh as the new Head of Research and Development for North America, marking a strategic move to strengthen product innovation for drivers in the United States and Canada. He will lead the region’s R&D efforts from the company’s manufacturing and research hub in Dayton, Tennessee.

Bringing nearly 35 years of global tyre industry experience in technical leadership, product engineering and design, Arbaugh will oversee next-generation tyre development while enhancing product quality and manufacturing standards at the Dayton Factory. His role supports close collaboration between the North American R&D team and Nokian’s global research operations in Finland.

Since opening in 2019, the Dayton Factory has dedicated all production to the North American market and earned recognition as the first tire plant worldwide to achieve LEED v4 Silver certification. Nokian Tyres, inventor of the winter tyre, continues to offer premium all-season, all-weather and light truck tyres across the region.

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Bridgestone has announced executive leadership changes for its West region (Americas, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa), effective 1 May 2026. Scott Damon continues as West CEO, Robert Johnson has been appointed Group President of North America and Wade Sempkowski succeeds Johnson as West Chief Financial Officer.

The company is decoupling the roles of West CEO and Group President of North America to provide clearer scope and focus for its business goals. In his new position, Johnson will assume leadership of North America Core Tire and hold end-to-end ownership and accountability for the full North America profit and loss.

Johnson joined Bridgestone in 2016 as Executive Director of Finance for Bridgestone Retail Operations and later became Vice President of Finance for the Americas Tire Group and Vice President of Stores for Bridgestone Retail Operations. He was named West CFO in May 2024. Before Bridgestone, he held senior finance and operations roles at Advance Auto Parts, Best Buy and Lifepoint Health, earning a finance degree from Belmont University and an MBA from the University of St. Thomas.

Wade Sempkowski

Sempkowski started at Bridgestone Americas in 2019 as Director of FP&A, later becoming Vice President of Finance in 2022 while also serving on the TireHub Board of Directors. His prior experience includes sales analytics and finance roles at Mars Petcare and Southern Land Company, and he holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Tennessee and an MBA from Vanderbilt University.

Scott Damon, Bridgestone West CEO, said, “Robert and Wade are experienced leaders with a strong understanding of our business, our customers and the priorities ahead. Robert brings a powerful combination of financial, operational and customer-facing leadership to the North America region, and Wade brings deep finance expertise to the West CFO role.”

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Japanese tyre and rubber major Yokohama Rubber Co, has announced plans to construct two new manufacturing facilities for mining and construction machinery tyres in India and Mexico.

These plants will facilitate the transfer of off-the-road (OTR) tyre production acquired from The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company in February 2025. The company also intends to install equipment at these sites to increase production capacity for ultra-large OTR tyres.

Yokohama Rubber will build a greenfield plant in Odisha, India, representing a capital investment of USD130 million. The facility is designed for an annual production capacity of 9,150 tonnes. Construction is set to commence in Q3 of CY2026, with production expected to start by Q3 of CY2028. This site will assume production currently outsourced to Goodyear facilities in Europe and the United States.

A new brownfield plant will be established in Mexico as a Phase 2 expansion of an existing passenger car tyre plant site. This facility will require a capital expenditure of USD 115 million and will have an annual capacity of 10,650 tonnes. Construction is scheduled for Q3 of CY2026, and production is planned to begin in Q2 of CY2028.

The company is also transferring OTR tyre production from Goodyear plants to a site in Romania acquired in May 2025, as well as to existing factories in Japan, the Czech Republic, and India.

These investments are central to the ‘Yokohama Transformation 2026’ (YX2026) management plan, which aims for significant growth through strategic acquisitions and production network enhancements. By expanding its capacity across all off-highway tyre (OHT) categories, Yokohama Rubber seeks to improve its global market position and corporate value.

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