The new headquarters of the Group, which has a history of 165 years of steady growth, serves the business units HF TireTech Group and HF ToolTech Group.

The designing of the new office is tuned to the needs of the Group’s forward march. Direct access from the office facilities to the assembly hall and machine testing area brings all fields of work close together and ensures optimised communication. The established and well proven production unit in Belišće, Croatia remains. Continuous investments in logistics, painting, warehousing and machining under highest economic aspects guarantee state of the art manufacturing.

Back on track

The COVID 19 pandemic and the global lockdown that came with it saw HF being tested hard for its resilience and the capability to help its partners put their production process back on track through its engineering and other services.

“For HF, partnership means to support its valued customers with benefits that will help to keep their production back on track,” says HF TireTech Group Managing Director Dr. Joern Seevers.

HF´s benefits & services for the tyre production are many:

• Technical support for restarting the HF Curing Presses

• Inspection and readjustment of mechanical settings

• Inspection of safety-related components

• Performance check and functional analysis of hydraulic/pneumatic systems

• Software check-up and functionality test

• Close coordination and supply of spare parts

• Individual training for technicians and service people for a smooth and efficient production ramp-up; trainings can take place on customers site or in Hamburg at the Group’s testing press. Virtual support is also available

Dr. Seevers said: “Together with our customers we analyse production processes, optimise, adjust to changed situations, look behind the production and develop new strategies to achieve more flexibility, increase quality, reduce costs and raw material - get into action with a higher level in automation and smart retrofitting and be ready for sustainable tyre production.”

Tandem Mixer technology:

HF takes it to the next level

HF Mixing Group is supplying Tandem Mixers for more than 15 years and has kicked off a revolution in mixing since then. The concept appears to be simple, but all those years of experience have shown that the highest degree of machine engineering has to be combined with extensive process know how to make a Tandem Mixer successful. And a mixing line is only successful if the calculated output and productivity is achieved – combined with a reliability which enables stable production for years.

As matter of fact to develop the process to mix on a Tandem Mixer takes some time and efforts – not to forget the technological know-how of the mixing process itself. HF offers the possibility to accompany this development by offering extensive trials and engineering studies – to shorten the time from ordering a machine up to the point of running in full production.

The goal of a Tandem Mixer is to reduce the specific cost of mixing a compound – on many occasions, HF has proven that overall cost reductions of 15% can be achieved compared to standard lines with a single mixer. This, in between other, is achieved by reducing the mixing steps for a PCR compound from 2,5 to 1,5 steps.

But productivity is not the only driving factor to invest in a Tandem Line – the quality of the compound overall and specifically constant and repeatable mixing of modern compounds is to be ensured. To optimise dispersion, distribution, temperature control and process stability makes a significant difference in today’s production of more complex compound recipes. The intermeshing mixers produced by HF and used in a Tandem Line guarantee to meet these requirements more than any other mixers on the market.

Experiences have shown that no compromise on quality can be made – and HF is supporting this approach with delivering a control system for Tandem Lines which enables their customers to not only run the machine efficiently but also uses online condition monitoring to always reflect on a reliable compound quality which is repeatable.

HF emphasises on result driven production concepts for its customers – further innovations in terms of integrating industry 4.0 solutions to the mixing process are on its way and the focus is clear: Intelligent machines will integrate new digital solutions into the mixing process and will ensure to meet the expectations of the future.

Brownfield projects

The COVID pandemic put a stronger focus on replacing existing machines instead of adding new capacities to a production plant. Also, productivity as well as sustainability aspects are driving many tyre companies to have a closer look to the installed base.

But inspecting a mixing line which has run for more than 15 years (or sometimes even 25 years) brings to light what challenges may come up if this line will be replaced by a new one. Output values need to be increased, a new mixer technology should improve the quality of compounds, modern automation solutions should support the daily production procedures and increase process stability – many more requirements should be met. One of the largest challenges is limited space when looking at an upgrade of machinery.

Not only the pure space but also intralogistics within a mixing line can create headache – from upstream equipment feeding a mixer all the way to downstream machinery processing the batch further – many modern solutions can be used today but looking at the available space installing them is the challenge.

With a clear focus on such brownfield projects, HF has managed several conversions from old to new with unmatched success. A key in such projects is the planning and pre-engineering process. Starting with an inspection of not only the mixer but all surrounding factors in the building – considering also the material flow – and then continuing with a 3D- scan of the existing equipment including pipe and cabling routing the basis for planning can be laid. Supported by this 3D-scan HF engineers plan and design with 3D models the complete mixing mill room.

By keeping the existing machinery as the base layer and inserting new equipment in an over-lay collisions of steel constructions, limitations in space and optimised pipe and cable routing can be identified. Furthermore, an improved process flow chart is the basis of planning material flow, work processes and even manpower to operate the new mixing line. Finally, new controls and automation solutions – on the basis of industry 4.0 – will improve operating and monitoring the equipment.

One of the largest benefits using HF’s Pre-Engineering is shortening the planning and execution time – and last but not least the reduction of financial funds is possible by starting up the new line much quicker compared to the conversion of lines in earlier years.

Safety first

Supporting all major tyre manufacturers with mixing technology HF constantly strives for improving operational procedures in the mixing mill room. When it came apparent that the variety of compounds increased more and more – driven by many more types and technologies in tyres today – the changeover times from one recipe to the other was put in the focus of operational optimisation. Not only flexible automation solutions are required but also quick availability of the mechanical equipment after the last batch of the current recipe was dispatched. In between other HF identified the cleaning of the mixing chamber as a critical action during changeover in two aspects: First it needs to be safe for the maintenance personal to enter the mixing chamber and secondly time can be saved if the access to the chamber can be optimized.

In order to meet both requirements HF’s engineers designed a maintenance box, the so-called mBox©, which is mechanically integrated directly underneath the mixer – combining the mixer with the chute of a dump extruder for example.

In the moment the mixing line is switched to cleaning mode and all movements of parts are blocked a moveable platform – the floor of the maintenance box – is inserted horizontally underneath the mixer. A door of the box can be opened, and maintenance personnel can enter the box safe and secure, standing underneath the mixer with easy access to the mixing chamber.

Besides the safe working environment customers from HF have noticed saving time and having the opportunity of even inspecting the mixing chamber easier and more frequent during a changeover.

Especially in new installations of a mixing line the mBox© can be integrated in the design of the line easily and right from the start – benefitting the safety and operation of the line daily.

HF Screw Presses

The production of screw presses is one of HF`s core competences for decades. The screw press has gained recognition during its affiliation with KRUPP. Thus, the presses operate all over the world and more than 2.500 presses are installed in various industries for example the edible oil industry, biomass technology and rendering. And, most interesting for the tyre industry, the presses accomplish benchmarking results in the dewatering of natural and synthetic caoutchouc. As a more efficient and space saving solution instead of band dryer systems or similar the screw press has its strong eligibility in dewatering process.

HF Curemaster

HF brought the first hydraulic column type curing press to the tyre industry in 1997. Since then, it continued to develop this product to meet the demanding requirements of its customers.

The HF Curemaster was launched two years ago and since then the patented truck tyre curing press has been successfully installed in multiple locations and in efficient operation. The press provides a flexible and compact footprint, making it possible to replace older presses with potentially more presses per existing trench.

The HF Curemaster also focuses on optimising energy efficiency to ensure the lowest total cost of ownership in the curing plant. The HF Curemaster´s hood design incorporates insulation inside the hood to provides the best insulation effect. In addition, the HF Curemaster provides an extremely fast cycle time to minimise the overall amount of heat loss during the open and close sequence of the press.

HF PCR Design

Delivering for a new greenfield plant is relatively straightforward. However, HF understands the important need of the replacement market as well. It is important to be flexible to meet all the varying trench layouts (pit, shelf, pitless, and so on). Equally important is the need to be able to replace existing 42” – 45” old mechanical presses with 48” – 52” modern presses in order to meet the growing demand for larger tyre sizes.

All replacement projects are analysed carefully together with customers. Attention is paid closely to all details related to operation, maintenance access, mould & bladder change requirements as well as all local safety regulations. HF´s long experience with curing presses provides a large variety of modular options to be used for finding the optimised fit for each specific request.

HF Stack Passenger Car Inflator (PCI)

The requirement for post cured tyres continues to grow in the market and HF has designed a simple and compact solution that can be incorporated in all HF presses as well as behind most all existing older presses.

The patented HF Stack PCI design allows for the PCI to be integrated into even the tightest footprints. This solution eliminates any movement or rotations of the PCI body itself and greatly reduces the amount of moving mechanical components and maintenance.

HF Digitalisation

HF recognises the important trend of digitalisation for the tyre manufacturers and has developed reliable, customised software solutions for machine data communication between machine control and customer IT systems. The main steps were to focus on MES, SCADA and Recipe Management interfaces.

HF Smart Curing enables customers to get started quickly and effectively with a future-oriented digitisation solution. The main advantage in this case is that software for machine data acquisition is supplied directly by the supplier and not by IT service providers.

OPC server technology and efficient network solutions are tailored to the machine enable secure data acquisition. This software can provide feedback in regard to condition monitoring, diagnostic function, machine services, energy monitoring and remote service.

The benefit of connecting your equipment with digitalised solutions clearly accelerates a target-oriented development and improves the Total Cost of Ownership of the equipment.

TyreSafe has entered into a new collaborative agreement with the Rail Safety and Standards Board (RSSB), marking a unified effort to mitigate occupational road risks and enhance vehicle safety standards within United Kingdom's rail sector. This strategic alliance will see TyreSafe integrating its expertise with the RSSB’s Road Risk Group (RRG) to bolster safety protocols for rail employees, contractors and all personnel traveling on industry business.

The core objective of this partnership is to embed tyre safety education, awareness and best practices into the rail industry's operational framework. By doing so, the collaboration directly targets the hazards associated with work-related driving. This initiative comes as data reveals that road traffic collisions were responsible for 3 out of 10 workforce fatalities in the rail industry over the five-year period leading up to 2024, underscoring the critical need for enhanced risk management.

In response, the Road Risk Group is spearheading sector-wide improvements by fostering collaboration, sharing safety methodologies and refining safety reporting and analysis. The group is also championing behavioural and cultural shifts within organisations while actively promoting the Occupational Road Risk Management Charter. This partnership recognises that effective risk management encompasses not only driver conduct but also vehicle maintenance and overarching safety culture.

Through joint educational campaigns and resources, TyreSafe and RSSB will encourage rail organisations to prioritise tyre condition as a fundamental component of their road safety strategies. This initiative directly supports the broader objectives of the Rail Health and Safety Strategy, which has identified occupational road risk management as a key priority for safeguarding the industry's workforce.

Lucy Powell, Strategy Manager at RSSB, who approved the partnership, said, “Road risk continues to be one of the most significant safety challenges facing the rail industry beyond the railway boundary. Partnering with TyreSafe enables us to strengthen awareness of one of the most critical elements of vehicle safety. Through education, collaboration and the sharing of best practice, we can help organisations better manage occupational road risk and support our industry’s commitment to protecting everyone who drives for work.”

Caitriona O’Brien, Workforce Health and Safety Manager at Network Rail and Chair of the RSSB Road Risk Group, said, “The Road Risk Group is committed to championing a stronger focus on managing occupational road risk across the rail industry. Working with TyreSafe brings valuable expertise that complements our strategic objectives, helping organisations place greater emphasis on vehicle safety as part of a wider culture of safe driving. By working together, we can continue to reduce preventable incidents and improve outcomes for everyone travelling on work-related journeys.”

Stuart Lovatt, Chair of TyreSafe, said, “We are delighted to become an official partner of RSSB and to support the important work of the Road Risk Group. Tyres are the only point of contact between a vehicle and the road, yet they are often overlooked in fleet safety programmes. By working with RSSB, we can help embed tyre safety into occupational road risk management across the rail sector, ensuring that employees and contractors understand the vital role that properly maintained tyres play in preventing incidents and saving lives.”

Yokohama Tire has renewed its environmental collaboration with the Surfrider Foundation’s North Orange County chapter through a recent coastal cleanup initiative at Seal Beach in Southern California. The joint effort resulted in the collection of dozens of refuse bags, with the total haul of hazardous waste exceeding 100 pounds (approximately 45.36 kg) removed from the local shoreline.

This beach restoration project represents the latest activity in a three-year partnership between the tyre manufacturer and the nonprofit organisation. The initiative falls under Yokohama’s broader corporate social responsibility framework known as the ‘Caring for our Communities’ programme, which coordinates various philanthropic endeavours.

Beyond the direct cleanup efforts, Yokohama continues to provide material support to the Surfrider chapter, including student club memberships, water quality testing kits, cigarette butt collection canisters and replacement equipment for harbour maintenance. The company maintains similar environmental partnerships with Tread Lightly! and the California State Parks Foundation alongside its ongoing work with Surfrider.

Alan Holtschneider, Senior Director of Marketing, Yokohama, said, “It’s been truly gratifying being a part of Surfrider Foundation’s North OC Chapter ongoing work to protect the environment, especially the beaches and oceans. We continue to volunteer on numerous projects with them, and the successful Seal Beach cleanup was another great example. It’s all part of Surfrider’s ongoing mission to protect and preserve the world’s ocean, waves and beaches for all to enjoy.”

George Manyak, longtime event coordinator for Surfrider Foundation North Orange County Chapter, said, “We really appreciate all the help Yokohama Tire has given us over the years. Their support has made a major impact on keeping our local beaches clean and safe for visitors to experience.”

Nexen Tire America has unveiled a comprehensive overhaul of its Next Level Associate Dealer Program, introducing structural changes designed to accelerate dealer qualification and enhance reward accessibility. The revised initiative directly responds to dealer input by lowering purchase thresholds and creating new earning opportunities for participants at various stages of engagement with the brand.

Central to the updated framework is a substantial reduction in the quarterly Tier 1 qualification benchmark, which has been decreased by 40 percent from 100 units to 60 eligible tyres per quarter. Additionally, a new introductory earning bracket has been established for dealers purchasing between 1 and 59 qualifying units, granting them USD two per tyre. The programme’s annual True-Up mechanism has also been expanded, allowing dealers who achieve year-end tier qualifications to receive volume bonuses for previous quarters where they initially fell short, with the 2026 annual qualifier reduced to 320 units.

Given the midyear implementation, Nexen has instituted a transitional qualification schedule for 2026, applying the former 100-unit standard to the first two quarters while the new 60-unit tier takes effect for the third and fourth quarters. To commemorate the programme’s relaunch, a Triple Dollars promotion will run from 1 July through 13 September, significantly increasing per-tyre payouts on select patterns, including the N’Blue 4S2, AH5, GTX, HP, CT8, AH7, AH8, N’Fera Sport, N’Priz S, N’Fera AU7, Roadian ATX, Roadian HTX2 and Roadian MTX models.

Participants can monitor their qualifying purchases, tier progression and total earnings through the Next Level online dealer dashboard. Complete eligibility criteria and payout structures are available through Nexen Tire America sales representatives, who can provide detailed guidance on the revised program provisions.

John Hagan, Executive Vice President – Sales, Nexen Tire America, said, “We listened closely to our Next Level dealers, and they have spoken about wanting a programme that makes it easier to qualify and provides more opportunities to earn. These changes deliver on that feedback by opening the programme to more dealers, allowing them to qualify sooner and begin earning rewards faster. We believe the new programme will help dealers grow their business with Nexen and ultimately strengthen our dealer network long term.”

FALKEN has released a new film titled ‘The Perfect Lap’, offering a gripping behind-the-scenes look at the team's recent campaign in the ADAC RAVENOL 24h Nürburgring. The film arrives following the team's 27th participation in the legendary endurance event, which took place this past May. It meticulously documents the intense operational rhythm within the pit lane and the unforgiving nature of the Nordschleife circuit, set against one of the world's largest motorsport gatherings, attracting over 450,000 spectators.

The documentary underscores the challenge of the 24-hour race, where contenders must execute between 156 and 162 nearly perfect laps to secure victory. Created with automotive film specialists FORMAT67, the production team spent six days capturing footage on the treacherous track. The use of a U-Crane camera rig enabled dynamic tracking shots following the FALKEN Porsche directly on the tarmac, delivering authentic and high-quality visuals.

Emphasising traditional filmmaking, the entire project was executed without artificial intelligence, from location shoots through post-production. This commitment to conventional methods was a deliberate choice to enhance the film's genuine credibility and emotional resonance. The film portrays a team defined by relentless determination, returning annually to pursue ultimate triumph in this iconic race.

Debuting in 1999, the FALKEN Motorsport Team has evolved into a front-running force at the Green Hell. Its greatest achievement remains a podium finish with third place in 2015, and the recognisable Porsche 911 GT3 R continues to be a fan favourite. With a history of ‘Top 10’ finishes and high-profile drivers, the team carries immense ambition, using compelling track footage to tell stories fuelled by emotion and the harsh realities of endurance racing.

Dennis Wilstermann, Marketing Manager, Dunlop Tyre Europe GmbH, which also includes the tyre brand FALKEN, said, “It was particularly important to us to give the film a classic, premium look while maintaining a timeless visual style. The film captures the unique atmosphere and intensity of the Nürburgring 24 Hours while also telling the story of a broader, recurring challenge in motorsport: the pursuit of the perfect lap.”

Evropi Dionysiadou, Brand Communications Specialist, Dunlop Tyre Europe GmbH, and responsible for the production, said, “The concept behind the film is to symbolise precision, passion, teamwork and the relentless drive to extract the maximum performance time and time again – lap after lap, day and night. In this respect, endurance racing and our complex film productions have a great deal in common.”