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.

Goodyear has been named one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies for 2026 by Ethisphere, marking the third consecutive year it has received this prestigious honour. This recognition reflects the company’s enduring commitment to fostering integrity throughout its global operations. Goodyear is the only tyre manufacturer and one of just eight automotive businesses to appear on this year’s list, which spans 17 countries and 40 industries.

Ethisphere determines its honourees through a rigorous, data-driven evaluation process that examines corporate governance, ethical culture, compliance programmes, environmental and societal impact and third-party management. A panel of experts analyses this information to identify organisations that demonstrate exceptional ethical leadership and best practices in business integrity.

This latest recognition reaffirms Goodyear’s ongoing dedication to principled conduct and responsible business practices worldwide.

Erin Lewis, Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, said, “Receiving this recognition for the third consecutive year is a reflection of our associates’ strong commitment to acting with integrity. Goodyear’s inclusion on this respected list again this year underscores our longstanding commitment to ethical decision-making, responsible leadership and creating a culture where integrity guides every action.”

Nokian Tyres has launched the Nokian Tyres Snowproof 3P, a new premium winter tyre engineered for predictable and high-performance driving across a variety of Central European conditions. This new product integrates the company’s Nordic expertise into a tyre designed to perform reliably on snow, slush, wet and dry roads. It has been awarded the Premium TÜV SÜD Tyre Mark, an independent certification that verifies its outstanding quality and performance against rigorous benchmark standards, complementing the manufacturer's own extensive internal testing.

The tyre is intended for drivers of high-performance vehicles, sedans and SUVs who require dependable performance for daily commuting, mountain driving, long journeys and high-speed travel. The initial launch includes 50 products ranging from 17 to 21 inches, with the majority classified as XL for heavy loads, and the range is planned to expand to 98 SKUs covering 16 to 22 inches. Reflecting a commitment to sustainability, up to 40 percent of the tyre’s raw materials are renewable, recycled or ISCC PLUS certified. This advancement supports the company’s broader goal of increasing that proportion to 50 percent by 2030. Production takes place at the company's new facility in Oradea, Romania, recognised as the world's first full-scale tyre factory to operate with zero CO2 emissions in scopes 1 and 2, with select sizes also manufactured at the factory in Nokia, Finland.

The tyre’s performance capabilities were validated through extensive testing in both controlled and real-world environments. Winter testing was conducted at the Ivalo Test Center in Finnish Lapland to ensure high standards on snow and ice, while high-speed and wet performance evaluations took place at the Hakka Ring in Spain and the test track in Nokia, Finland. The Nokian Tyres Snowproof 3P becomes the flagship winter offering for Central and Southern European consumers, joining the Seasonproof 2 for all-season and the Powerproof 2 for summer in the company's latest product lineup.

The tyre features a Triple Zone Tread designed to enhance safety and control. This includes an Arctic Zone with 3D siping for improved snow grip, an Aqua Zone with a blade groove design to increase groove volume and resist aquaplaning and a Performance Zone with optimised geometry for enhanced directional stability and cornering precision. The Alpine Grip Compound incorporates a new generation of polymers and renewable resins, alongside the highest proportion of silica ever used by the company in a winter tyre for this market. This high silica content ensures responsiveness in cold temperatures, supports wet grip and contributes to lower rolling resistance for improved efficiency. The Power Lock Core utilises Performance Bead Rings to enhance stability and handling during sudden, high-speed manoeuvres.

Durability is addressed through the inclusion of Aramid Strong Sidewalls on all sizes 17 inches and above. These sidewalls embed lightweight aramid fibres, a material also used in defence and aerospace industries, to reinforce the tyre against impacts from potholes and road hazards and reduce the risk of punctures. A large rim protector is also incorporated to shield wheels from curb damage. The tyre is designed to seamlessly fit both internal combustion engine vehicles and electric vehicles, carrying the Electric Fit emblem to signify it has been developed and tested to meet the specific demands of EVs regarding weight, noise, torque and range. It also features SilentDrive Technology, which uses a layer of acoustic foam attached to the inner liner to dampen bothersome frequencies and provide a quieter, more comfortable cabin experience.

Tommi Alhola, Senior Vice President – Central Europe, Nokian Tyres, said, “As electric vehicles and SUVs become more popular in Europe, larger rim sizes and heavier loads are more prevalent than ever. The diverse size options and outstanding safety and performance properties of the Nokian Tyres Snowproof 3P meet the needs of Central and Southern European winter drivers as their vehicle choices evolve.”

Martin Dražík, Product Manager, Nokian Tyres, said, “We developed the Nokian Tyres Snowproof 3P to balance ultimate confidence with exciting performance. Central European consumers demand a product that keeps them safe in a wide array of winter conditions without sacrificing an enjoyable driving experience. We spent years preparing the Snowproof 3P to blend Nordic winter know-how with the unique properties needed to thrive in unpredictable winter conditions.”

Bridgestone will continue as a tyre supplier to the FIM Endurance World Championship (EWC) in 2026, extending its partnership with the series which began in 2017. The company will increase its involvement by equipping seven teams with its premium BATTLAX motorcycle tyres, a rise from the five teams supported the previous year. The seven teams are AutoRace Ube Racing Team, BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team, F.C.C. TSR Honda France, Kawasaki Webike Trickstar, KM99 Yamaha, Yamalube YART Yamaha EWC Official Team and Yoshimura SERT Motul.

This expanded role follows a highly successful 2025 season where a Bridgestone-equipped team, Yamalube YART Yamaha, claimed the EWC title. This victory marked the sixth championship win for a team using Bridgestone tyres and the fifth consecutive year of such dominance, with five of the top six overall positions occupied by Bridgestone-supported teams.

The BATTLAX racing tyres are the result of advanced engineering, utilising sophisticated materials and construction methods to provide superior grip, consistent performance and lasting durability. These qualities are essential for the demanding nature of endurance racing, which features events lasting up to a full day. Engineered to perform reliably in diverse weather and track conditions, the tyres give riders the confidence to maintain a competitive pace throughout each stint.

Bridgestone views the racetrack as a crucial development environment, using the extreme conditions of the EWC to rigorously test and refine its technology. With races ranging from 8 to 24 hours, the series places continuous, intense stress on tyres, offering a perfect setting to advance compound chemistry and construction techniques. This knowledge is then applied to consumer products under the company’s From Circuit to Street philosophy. The latest proof of this process is found in new additions to the BATTLAX family, including the track-only RACING BATTLAX V03 slick tyre and the road-legal BATTLAX RACING STREET RS12, both of which feature technology honed in the crucible of endurance competition.

Nico Thuy, Director Motorcycle, Bridgestone EMEA, said, “The FIM Endurance World Championship represents the ultimate proving ground for tyre performance, durability and innovation. The 2025 season once again demonstrated the consistency and capability of Bridgestone tyres under the toughest racing conditions. Following this success, we are proud to offer our expertise and top-performing tyres to seven teams for 2026.”

The 2026 EWC season schedule is as follows:

• 18 April: 24 Heures Motos, Le Mans, France
• 6 June: 8 Hours of Spa Motos, Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium
• 5 July: Cuca-Cola Suzuka 8 Hours, Suzuka race track, Japan
• 19 September: the Bol d'Or, Circuit Paul Ricard, France

The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd. has unveiled its comprehensive motorsports activity plan for the 2026 season. The company views its participation in global motorsports as essential for advancing tyre technology and reinforcing the ADVAN and GEOLANDAR brands. Its strategy encompasses a diverse range of events, from top-tier championships to grassroots competitions worldwide.

Key championships and series

• SUPER FORMULA: Yokohama Rubber has renewed its exclusive agreement as Official Tyre Partner and control tyre supplier for Japan's premier racing series, a partnership dating back to 2016. The new contract extends through the 2030 season. For 2026, the company will supply ADVAN racing tyres featuring a high renewable and recycled raw material ratio of approximately 46%. The series will also introduce the SUPER POLE QUALIFYING Supported by YOKOHAMA TYRE, a three-stage knockout format.
• SUPER GT: Yokohama will supply ADVAN racing tyres to one car in the GT500 class and 17 cars in the GT300 class, aiming for victories and a championship title in the latter.
• Nürburgring 24-Hour Race: Yokohama will supply ADVAN racing tyres to three teams: Haupt Racing Team, KONDO RACING with Rinaldi, and BMW M Motorsport. This marks the first collaboration with BMW M Motorsport in nearly 40 years, with ADVAN tyres fitted to two BMW cars entered by Schubert Motorsport and a special fan-focused BMW entry. Tyres will also be supplied for the Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie (NLS).
• Porsche Sprint & Endurance Challenges: For the sixth consecutive year, ADVAN racing tyres will serve as the control tyre for the Porsche Sprint Challenge North America and Porsche Sprint Challenge USA West. It will also be the control tyre for the Porsche Endurance Challenge North America for the third straight year.
• Ford Mustang Cup: Yokohama will again supply ADVAN racing tyres as the control tyre for this one-make series, which features the Ford Mustang Dark Horse R.
• American Off-Road Racing Championship (AORC): Yokohama has become a supporting sponsor of this newly launched premier desert racing series. The company will supply GEOLANDAR tyres to top teams competing in the championship, which includes renowned races like Best in the Desert and The Mint 400.

Other major events and disciplines

• Hill Climb: At the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, Yokohama will supply ADVAN racing tyres to top drivers and continue sponsoring and providing the control tyre for the Pikes Peak GT4 Trophy by Yokohama.
• Off-Road Races: Yokohama will seek a second consecutive overall win at the Asia Cross Country Rally (AXCR) using GEOLANDAR M/T G003 tyres. In North America, the company will support the King of the Hammers (as title sponsor of the Every Man Challenge), the Championship Off-Road series (with GEOLANDAR X-AT and A/T4 tyres), and the TrophyLite Series (supplying GEOLANDAR M/T G003 as the official specification tyre for the eighth year). They will also supply tyres for the XCR Sprint Cup Series in Japan.
• Rally: In the Japanese Rally Championship (JRCA), ADVAN rally tyres will be supplied to top JN-1 class teams, including the NUTAHARA Rally Team (with an ADVAN-coloured car) and SUBARU Team ARAI. Yokohama will also support the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Rally Challenge for a second year.
• Drift: For FORMULA DRIFT JAPAN (FDJ), Yokohama will supply ADVAN NEOVA AD09 tyres to teams in the top FDJ class and provide control tyres (ADVAN NEOVA AD09 for FDJ2, ADVAN APEX V601 for FDJ3). The company will also supply ADVAN tyres to a team competing in the D1 GRAND PRIX.
• Speed Competitions: In Japan, Yokohama will supply ADVAN A052 and A050 tyres for the All Japan Gymkhana Championship and a range of ADVAN tyres for various surfaces in the All Japan Dirt Trial Championship.

Participatory & Grassroots: Yokohama will support grassroots events globally, including supplying ADVAN dB V553 tyres as the control tyre for the new CATERHAM CUP JAPAN. The company also announced its Yokohama Motorsports Scholarship 2026 programme to support participants in Japanese rally, gymkhana and dirt trial competitions.