The global tyre industry has evolved on all fronts.  Tyre manufacturers faced a constant trade-off between meeting productivity goals and increased requirements from the customers and new regulations. Hauvala and his colleagues realised that tyre manufacturers could no longer do everything by themselves in the changing market environment: to design tyres, tyre factories and manufacturing processes in a way that would support the new demands for efficiency. Instead, they should be able to concentrate on their core business. “We had a great vision with true market potential, plus an attractive option to reform the tyre industry,” said Hauvala.

‘We’, that is a key founding team of twelve tyre technology professionals. Hauvala uses the plural form throughout the interview, pinpointing the obvious fact that you cannot change the industry alone. “It is all about ‘collaboration’,” Hauvala stresses.

In 2011, the tyre industry, well known for its strict conventions, was however not ready and waiting for a changemaker. It took long before tyre manufacturers accepted the new service concept and realized its potential business value. “It was the depth of our expertise that convinced the first customers. The fact that we knew the tyre industry from inside out and could provide the whole package under one roof,” Hauvala says

Today, Black Donuts is an established and recognised technology house providing innovative solutions for tyre manufacturers. The concept of turnkey solutions has remained as the company’s key strategic principle. Elaborating the solultion provided by Black Donuts, Hauvala, said, “We are a full-service technology house providing the entyre solutions for designing, building, and running a smart and sustainable tyre plant with maximized productivity and best-in-class products.”

The company’s customer portfolio includes 20 out of the top 25 tyre manufacturers, which a glaring sign of competence and an option to reform the industry. “You need references to be convincing. And you need a network of partners sharing your vision of a brighter future for making it happen,” Hauvala says.

Changes And Challenges In Tyre Production

In last ten years, according to Hauvala, tyre manufacturing has witnessed the diverse challenges, including complex product mixes, shorter product runs, and the pressure for faster deliveries – a myriad of different demands affecting day-to-day factory operation. “ Things are changing at an accelerating pace, and there are no signs of slowing down. From the tyre manufacturers’ perspective, the operational environment has become complicated,” thinks the Black Donuts CEO.

Focusing on core competencies is a clear industry trend. Other operations outside manufacturing high-end products are increasingly being outsourced – aligned with Black Donuts’ original business idea.

Nevertheless, all players regardless of their area of specialization benefit from partnering with a company that understands the entire sector. In the era of ever-tightening cost and efficiency targets, choosing a partner to lead and actualize major investment projects, such as setting up a new factory, has become a mainstream option. “Tyre manufacturers desire a proven and effortless end-to-end service, provided by professionals, whose core competence is to plan and manage investment projects,” he says.

Assuming total responsibility for the production design, ramp-up, and material handling, Black Donuts controls that every detail in the production aligns with the customer’s goals. A shortened payback time creates concrete extra value for the customer. Hauvala says, “Our finetuned processes and advanced technology tools enable a smooth ramp-up. The reduced time-to-market generates faster and greater ROI.”

The rise of automation is another key trend in the tyre manufacturing. Black Donuts helps tyre manufacturers improve productivity and take the required technology leaps towards smart factory efficiency. The company has developed its own MES concept that gives multiple benefits for tyre manufacturers, such as improved insight and the potential for full traceability of tyres in production. The new plant concept also enables a remarkable decrease in stock levels and factory manning. “ In our latest factory design plans, the required manning is only half of the level in the first plans ten years ago,” tells Hauvala.

Also, the end-customer demands are higher now than a decade ago, forcing tyre manufacturers to rethink their business models to live up to the growing expectations.  In the concept of Black Donuts, the manufacturing process is optimized, flexible and efficient despite the increased number of simultaneous products and sizes in production. “With us, the manufacturing process gets new flexibility that enables shorter delivery times,” Hauvala promises.

The Rise Of New Brands

During the past decade, the tyre industry has witnessed a geographic change. The number of brands in the market is growing, just like in any other industry offering low-involvement consumer products. Established international brands get new challengers from local manufacturers offering good quality for moderate prices. “ The interest in tyre production raises its head particularly in the countries of fast economic growth with own raw material sources,” says Hauvala.

Black Donuts has developed a tailored turnkey service for the industry newcomers. It covers the entire solution from A to Z for designing, building and running a tyre plant. “We step in on day one and work hands-on with the customer throughout the process from feasibility study to the market entry. Or beyond, keeping the production and products always in the frontline of tyre technology,” explains Hauvala.

Today, Black Donuts is a genuinely international company with customers on almost every continent except Australia, where there is no domestic tyre manufacturing. “ We don’t have any borders in our minds, but the whole world is our market area. We are fully open to all directions,” says Hauvala.

Quality Leap In Tyre Development

According to Hauvala, a quality leap is the single biggest change in tyre development, driven by a continuing high-performance trend and technological advances. “ The quality of tyres is remarkably higher today,” adds Hauvala.

Black Donuts’ customers get access to the latest technology, the smartest innovations, and the most advanced materials. All the best-in-class product qualities, such as superior performance, lowest rolling resistance and a quiet ride, are at hand. Within the past ten years, the debate about tyre qualities has increasingly shifted to the total environmental impact of the tyre. Parallel to tightening regulations on emissions and rolling resistance, tyre manufacturers are being pushed to enhance the use of biomaterials in tyre compounds and to minimize waste.

“The tyre industry has made remarkable progress in reducing waste, yet compared to many other industries, the use of biomaterials is still in its infancy,” Hauvala admits. He anticipates new regulations to emerge concerning the recyclability of tyres.

In-Built Sustainability

Improvements in tyre manufacturing and development have accelerated over the last decade, spurred by the sharpened focus on environmental issues. The demands for sustainability now concern the entire industry from products to production.

At Black Donuts, sustainability is a strategic driver. The company not only contributes to sustainability in its own operations but also supports its customers and partners in the move. “The ideas of circular economy are inherent in our business philosophy. All our solutions focus on manufacturing excellence and resource efficiency, optimizing biomaterial use, minimizing emissions and maximizing recyclability,” says Hauvala.

Enjoying a comprehensive view of the tyre industry, Black Donuts has a great opportunity to improve overall branch sustainability. The company runs several major investment projects that aim at making the tyre industry greener – one tyre at a time, like Hauvala says.  “All our most important development projects support a more sustainable tyre industry.”

Recently, the company developed a new stud concept that remarkably reduces the negative side effects of safe winter driving. The new, patented technology tackles the environmental challenges of studs, such as road wear, pollution, and noise. Revealing a bit of the company’s future aspirations, Hauvala reports that Black Donuts is also developing a high-end winter tyre for electric cars, doing research in biomaterials, and investigating the usability of recovered carbon black received from an integrated pyrolysis solution. “We are getting closer to zero-emission factories, although it will require dedication, engagement, and collaboration,” Hauvala concludes.

Future-Proofing The Industry

Today, Black Donuts employs over 60 professionals with skills that cover all areas of tyre manufacture and tyre technology. During the 10-year journey, the company has grown, reinforced its skills and recruited new talents from areas outside its original core competences. Hauvala praises the employees for making it possible to celebrate such a significant milestone. “Our team is exceptional. We have great people from diverse backgrounds, working together for a common goal and inspiring each other to make a difference,” says Hauvala proudly.

Although the company has rapidly grown, it has managed to preserve the flexible and agile corporate culture from the early days. In a recent employee survey, team spirit was named as the strongest motivator. “Team spirit is our internal source of power and a strong pillar supporting the whole business.”

According to Hauvala, every team member at Black Donuts shares the same value-adding commitment and passion to help customers and to make the tyre industry an exemplary branch that considers the generations to come. He encourages all players in the industry to prepare for the future, starting today. “ We know the best practices, future challenges, and opportunities in the tyre industry. For us, it is quite simple to evaluate if a tyre business is future-proof or not. Is yours?” (TT)

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MAXAM Tire has further expanded its off‑the‑road tyre portfolio by adding a new 45/65R45 size to the MS406 E4/L4 series. This larger variant is specifically engineered for heavy loader applications, offering operators an additional high‑performance solution that prioritises strength, longevity and cost efficiency over the long term.

The tyre’s deep E4/L4 tread pattern is designed to deliver strong traction while resisting wear and cuts, even in severe working conditions. This aggressive yet durable design helps loader fleets boost productivity, as the tyre maintains grip and reduces downtime. Over its service life, users can expect a lower cost per operating hour.

To withstand harsh job sites, the MS406 incorporates a thick undertread that provides enhanced puncture protection. Its robust casing not only endures heavy use but also supports excellent retreadability, further extending the tyre’s usable life and improving overall return on investment. A wide, flat footprint contributes to superior stability, ensuring dependable performance and operator confidence when the vehicle is under substantial loads.

With this new size addition, MAXAM Tire continues to strengthen its off‑the‑road product line, giving customers another valuable option that balances durability, traction and long‑term operating efficiency in demanding loader environments.

Jimmy McDonnell, Vice President – Sales and Marketing, MAXAM Tire North America, said, “With the addition of the 45/54R45 size, we’re continuing to respond directly to market needs while expanding access to a proven loader tyre. Our focus is always on delivering market-leading value and tyres that perform in real-world conditions while helping customers control operating costs.”

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Hankook Tire, the exclusive tyre supplier for the FIA World Rally Championship, will face the demanding Croatia Rally from 9 to 12 April 2026. This event marks round four of the season and takes place in and around the port city of Rijeka. Among the most gruelling rallies on the calendar, it will feature both the Ventus Z215, engineered for precise dry handling and cornering stability, and the Ventus Z210, designed to deliver superior traction and rapid water evacuation in wet and unpredictable conditions.

The 2026 route spans roughly 300.28 kilometres across 20 special stages, with the service park relocated to the historic Grobnik Circuit. The course covers four counties, including shakedown stages on the island of Krk and technical tests through the Lika-Senj highlands. Drivers must contend with extreme grip variations along the Adriatic coast, from abrasive volcanic tarmac in the mountains to smoother, dustier sections near the sea, the latter becoming dangerously slick with even light rain.

Throughout the event, Hankook will operate its Brand World marketing booth inside the service park, reinforcing its unified global premium image. The booth will offer interactive experiences such as a motorsports history zone, racing simulator, tyre fitting activities, merchandise sales and a photo zone, giving fans an immersive brand encounter. Meanwhile, intense competition is expected: while Toyota GAZOO Racing has a strong history in Croatia, both Hyundai Shell Mobis World Rally Team and M-Sport Ford World Rally Team aim to exploit the new coastal terrain to challenge for the podium.

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Sri Trang Agro-Industry Public Company Limited has earned a total of 23 CSR-DIW awards, demonstrating its longstanding commitment to operating with ongoing responsibility towards society, local communities and the environment. In 2025, the Department of Industrial Works honoured the company under the CSR DIW to MIND for Sustainability programme, which recognises industrial factories that enhance their social and community responsibility for sustainable coexistence.

Among these accolades, five facilities received the CSR DIW Award for maintaining these high standards continuously for a decade, while another 18 facilities received the CSR DIW Continuous Award for consistently implementing responsible practices, collectively celebrating industrial organisations that serve as models for industry growing in harmony with communities under the principle of good industry coexisting sustainably.

These achievements reflect how the Sri Trang Group balances economic, social and environmental priorities, allowing the industrial sector to work alongside communities effectively and advancing Thailand’s rubber industry towards a sustainable green future. The group has steadily carried out community focused and socially responsible initiatives across six key areas, including youth development, arts and local traditions, livelihood and career support, environmental management, workplace health and hygiene as well as disaster relief and assistance for vulnerable groups.

This recognition further underscores Sri Trang Agro Industry’s role as a leading organisation that drives sustainable industrial practices while consistently creating lasting value for society, communities and the environment.

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Bridgestone has announced its participation in the 41st Space Symposium, the largest space conference in United States, taking place in Colorado Springs from 13 to 16 April 2026. The company’s exhibit will be hosted within the Japanese Space Industry pavilion organised by Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), marking its third consecutive year at the event since 2024. A key focus of Bridgestone’s presence is its ongoing development of lunar rover tyres, a project that embodies the company’s belief that ‘tyres carry life’.

Since 2019, Bridgestone has advanced research on lunar rover tyres and pursued co-creation with international partners to commercialise space mobility technology. In 2024, the company collaborated with Astrobotic Technology, followed by a basic agreement with ispace in 2025. These efforts aim to generate new value in the rapidly evolving space mobility sector.

At the symposium, Bridgestone will demonstrate tyres for small and medium lunar rovers, first unveiled in 2025, by mounting them on a mobility vehicle. Attendees can see and touch the tyres, experiencing their high traversability on simulated lunar challenges like fine sand and rocky ground. Through this showcase, Bridgestone seeks to expand its space business network and foster co-creation opportunities, ultimately supporting safe lunar mobility and humanity’s exploration goals.

The lunar rover tyre project applies Bridgestone’s AirFree technology, an exploratory business under its 2024–2026 Mid Term Business Plan. By refining this technology in the extreme lunar environment, the company aims to eventually bring those innovations back to Earth, enhancing conventional tyres and contributing to broader social value.

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