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.

Kuraray America, Inc. (KAI) took part in the Women's Leadership Luncheon organised by the Economic Alliance Houston Port Region's Women In Alliance, held at San Jacinto College. The gathering drew women from throughout the Houston Port Region to exchange professional experiences, build connections and encourage the next generation of women leaders.

Andrea Cavalier, Principal Engineer at Kuraray America, Inc., noted that as she nears the later stages of her career, she has come to value how much can be learned from people at different points in their professional journeys. Her remarks underscored KAI's view that leadership growth is an ongoing process enriched by connections across career stages.

The event's centerpiece was a fireside chat titled ‘Beyond the Arena: Saddled for Success’, featuring Pat Mann Phillips, past Chairman of the Board for the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, with Nellie Baktashi Macaluso moderating. The conversation explored leadership, career development and spotting chances for personal and professional growth, highlighting three lessons: building trust through credibility and authenticity, embracing challenges by stepping outside familiar situations and knowing one's worth by recognising individual strengths and contributions.

Cavalier further stressed that leadership extends beyond personal success to using experience to create opportunities for others. That outlook mirrors Kuraray America's emphasis on mentorship, collaboration and continuous learning, where employees at all stages share knowledge and support one another.

Pirelli has unveiled the ANGEL GT III, a new radial Sport Touring tyre that combines easier, improved handling with enhanced wet-weather capabilities and more consistent performance across its service life while retaining the brand's sporting DNA. The rear tyre is built for greater durability and reduced rolling noise compared with other ANGEL family products, thanks to a new tread pattern, and it carries a high-contrast sidewall with the ANGEL symbol and Gran Turismo lettering.

Scheduled for availability from early 2027, the tyre is the fourth generation of the ANGEL family, which began with the ANGEL ST and evolved through the ANGEL GT and ANGEL GT II. Over the past 15 years, the range has helped raise standards in the radial Sport Touring segment for riders seeking a balance of sporty performance, riding enjoyment and long-distance touring capability, supporting Pirelli's steady expansion in one of the European market's most important segments. Each generation has brought technological and performance advances, earning growing rider recognition and strengthening the brand's presence.

Designed for modern mid- and large-displacement Sport Touring, Crossover and Naked motorcycles, the ANGEL GT III pursues a clear objective: Pirelli's interpretation of the Gran Turismo riding experience, with high levels of control, comfort and riding enjoyment. Dedicated work to reduce rear-tyre rolling noise further enhances touring comfort, an especially important consideration for long-distance riders, with the resulting reduction in fatigue benefiting both journey enjoyment and overall control.

The tyre's standout characteristic is improved easier handling, a trait particularly valued by riders in this category. Pirelli's designers aimed to make motorcycles feel more intuitive, smoother and less demanding in everyday use and on long journeys while preserving the precision and responsiveness of the brand's sporting DNA. Wet performance also received particular attention, with the tyre designed to deliver confidence and control on wet, low-grip roads, raising standards set by previous generations.

Consistency throughout the service life was another key focus. Extensive development work sought more uniform dynamic characteristics over time, even as wear increases, so riders retain high levels of control and enjoyment. While improving comfort and ease, the tyre remains true to Pirelli's heritage, its focus on sport performance, steering precision and support during spirited riding reaffirming a distinctive character over long distances.

Aesthetically, the ANGEL GT III evolves the family's visual identity, its new tread pattern reinterpreting signature ANGEL graphic elements while expressing clear stylistic evolution. The high-contrast sidewall, with the iconic ANGEL logo and Gran Turismo lettering, references an Italian motorcycling concept of travelling swiftly, comfortably and in style. Pirelli frames the launch as a new Sport Touring chapter and a renewed commitment to innovation and raising segment standards.

Sri Trang Group has earned the CAC Change Agent Award 2026 from the Thai Private Sector Collective Action Against Corruption (CAC), with the honour collected by Veerasith Sinchareonkul, Chief Executive Officer of Sri Trang Agro-Industry Public Company Limited (STA), alongside Vitanath Sincharoenkul, Chairman of the Executive Committee of Sri Trang Gloves (Thailand) Public Company Limited (STGT). The presentation formed part of the CAC Annual Conference 2026, convened around the theme of business integrity and collective action for Thailand's OECD journey, and was presided over by Rapee Sucharitakul, Chairman of the Thai Institute of Directors Association and of CAC, at the Stock Exchange of Thailand on 4 November 2026.

The award represents a fourth successive year of recognition for STA, while STGT secures its second. Across the Group, anti-corruption serves as a foundational corporate policy shaping the conduct of directors, executives and employees through explicit guidelines and measures that undergo periodic review to stay attuned to shifting circumstances and applicable standards. The Group further encourages cooperation with suppliers and business partners, nurturing a culture of transparency and accountability that reinforces confidence among all stakeholders.

Bestowed upon organisations that meaningfully advance transparency and sound corporate governance while carrying collective anti-corruption action into supplier networks and the wider business community, the accolade mirrors Sri Trang Group's resolve to lift responsible business conduct standards and weave anti-corruption collaboration across its entire value chain.

Veerasith Sinchareonkul, Chief Executive Officer, STA, said, “Receiving the CAC Change Agent Award 2026 is a source of pride that reflects our commitment to conducting business transparently, upholding good corporate governance and consistently combating corruption. It also recognises our role in extending collective action to suppliers and business partners to raise standards of ethical business conduct throughout the value chain. We firmly believe that good corporate governance is the foundation of sustainable growth and that trust must be earned through action.

“As a group whose operations span the entire natural rubber industry, from upstream to downstream, we are committed to driving change from within by embedding transparency and accountability in every process. We also cultivate a culture of zero tolerance for corruption and extend these principles to our suppliers and business partners, encouraging them to uphold the same ethical standards. We place particular emphasis on whistleblowing and encourage employees, suppliers and other stakeholders to remain vigilant and report suspected corruption so that concerns can be appropriately investigated and addressed.

“Translating good corporate governance into tangible outcomes is central to the role we embrace as a Change Agent. Creating a transparent and fair business environment requires collaboration and action across all sectors. This award provides further impetus for Sri Trang Group to strengthen corporate governance, reinforce a culture of transparency and expand anti-corruption collaboration throughout the value chain. Through these efforts, we aim to ensure that business growth goes hand in hand with stakeholder confidence while contributing to the long-term strength and sustainability of Thailand’s business sector.”

Vitanath Sincharoenkul, Chairman of Executive Committee of STGT, said, “Receiving the CAC Change Agent Award for the second consecutive year is an honour and a source of pride for our organisation. This achievement reflects the collective efforts of our people to uphold integrity and transparency in the way we conduct business. It is the result of everyone’s commitment to good corporate governance and to fulfilling their responsibilities transparently, ethically and accountably – principles that have become an integral part of our corporate culture. I would like to thank everyone who has contributed, especially our suppliers and business partners, for helping translate our commitment into tangible results. For STGT, trust is something we must uphold at every stage of our business. This award motivates us to continually raise our standards by building employee awareness, promoting accountable and verifiable work processes, and encouraging everyone to stand up for what is right, ensuring that anti-corruption principles are put into practice throughout the supply chain.

“Our commitment to transparency and anti-corruption is fundamental to putting our ‘Clean World Clean Gloves (CWCG)’ approach into practice. Environmental and social responsibility must be grounded in ethical, transparent and accountable business conduct. We therefore strive to apply good corporate governance principles at every level of our operations, ensuring that the delivery of quality rubber gloves goes hand in hand with building trust in our organisation. This prestigious award further motivates STGT to advance its corporate governance standards and strengthen a culture of integrity, transparency and accountability in line with our core values, supporting stable, long-term growth.”

TyreSafe, UK’s leading tyre safety charity, has published an analysis of nearly 137,000 vans showing that a tyre advisory at MOT is a strong predictor of future dangerous defects, with the risk doubling for larger vans in the 3–3.5 tonne class. The organisation is calling on fleets to treat every advisory as a task requiring completion rather than a mere annotation on a certificate.

According to the study of DVSA MOT data, vans that received a tyre advisory were almost twice as likely to present a dangerous tyre defect at their next test. Roughly 1 in 14 vans with an advisory, or 7.0 percent, had a dangerous tyre defect at the following MOT, compared with about 1 in 28, or 3.6 percent, of those without an advisory. For vans weighing 3–3.5 tonnes, the figures rose to 6.3 percent against 3.0 percent, a doubling of risk that persisted even after accounting for vehicle age.

The scale of the problem is considerable. Of the nearly 27,600 vans issued a tyre advisory in February 2024, more than 1,900 returned in February 2025 with a defect graded Dangerous, a classification meaning the vehicle should not be driven until repaired. In around 3 in 10 van tyre failures, the issue had already been flagged at the previous MOT, suggesting the warning was often available in advance.

Roadside evidence reinforces the pattern. Tyres are the most frequent reason DVSA takes action against a van, and between April and June 2026 tyre condition was the top prohibition defect, recorded against 22.7 percent of vans inspected. Because DVSA targets vans suspected of being overloaded or unroadworthy, the figure is not representative of all vans, but it illustrates how often neglected tyres put a working vehicle out of service.

The business consequences are significant. With 4.89 million vans licensed in the UK covering around one mile in every six driven on British roads, and about one in five work-related collision vehicles being a van, employers face a clear legal duty to manage work-related driving risks. A van off the road also means missed jobs and lost income.

TyreSafe advises fleet managers to log every tyre advisory with a repair or re-inspection date, confirm and record its resolution, incorporate tyres into daily walkaround checks, set pressures according to manufacturer figures for the load carried and ensure wheel nuts are torqued and re-checked after any wheel removal. Drivers are urged to follow the ACT routine: checking air pressure with an accurate gauge, inspecting condition for cuts, bulges, cracks, embedded objects and uneven wear and verifying tread depth against the 1.6 mm legal minimum for vans up to 3.5 tonnes. The release is the first in a weekly series on tyre safety and fleet risk management.

Stuart Lovatt, Chairman, TyreSafe, said, “An MOT tyre advisory is an early warning, and our analysis shows it is a reliable one. Vans that get one are almost twice as likely to have a dangerous tyre a year later. That is a risk to the driver, to everyone around them, and to the business that depends on that van. Fleet managers already have this information on the MOT certificate. The fix is simple: treat every tyre advisory as a job with a deadline, and make sure drivers ACT on their tyres every day."