What kind of products does Uzer Makina offer to global tyre industry?

Uzer Makina has been serving top tyre makers all around the world with its tyre curing presses and molds since 1978. Our press product category consists of mechanical and hydraulic presses for all kinds of tyres; while mold category includes tread segments, sidewall plates, container mechanisms, AG molds and bladder molds.

Tell us about the evolution of the company as a global leader

The company was founded by Selahattin Uzuner and his nephew Bahattin Ertuğ. At first, the company was working for petrochemical industry in Turkey and later on started to make mold maintenance activities for various tyre companies in Kocaeli. First mold was manufactured 1984. Nearly 10 years later, Uzer Makina started to manufacture tyre curing presses again for plants in İzmit. In 2000, the plant was moved to Kartepe, Kocaeli, where it  is currently located. In 2004, first hydraulic tyre curing press is manufactured and in 2007 Uzer Makina designed, manufactured and internationally patented its popular product Floating Column Hydraulic Press. Until late 2000s, the company mostly served domestic market. After 2010, we started to supply a good amount of its products abroad as well. With an aggressive growth strategy, Uzer Makina invested in buildings, brand-new equipment, human resources and expanded production in last five years to become a global player in tyre curing equipment market. We now serve top tyre makers and their plants in more than 40 countries.

What is the latest step in your expansion process?

After doubling capacity in 2018 by separating press and mold factory, Uzer Makina has completed another expansion by June 2020. This new facility is entirely dedicated for pre-production activities, including storing steel raw materials, cutting, bending, construction, welding, sandblasting and heat treatment serving both for tyre curing press and mold categories which used to be a part of press manufacturing facility before. Uzer Makina also moved its HQ office from mold factory to press factory.

Investment decision was made at the end of 2019 by the top management before Covid-19 pandemic with the goal of decreasing the costs by decreasing the amount of manufacturing activities which are outsourced. Following this decision, Uzer Makina has acquired 9500 m² land just next to existing press manufacturing facility and finished 6500 m² building in less than 7 months.

Uzer Makina also has added brand-new pre-production equipment like heat treatment furnace, sandblasting machine and bending machine. With these new machinery investment, Uzer Makina is planning to decrease the cost per product and production time while increasing the total quality of the processes by taking these operations in house rather than outsourcing them.

This expansion enables Uzer Makina to better use the existing press manufacturing facility. Since pre-production occupied a good amount of space before leaving the building, remaining place is now used for press manufacturing and assembly. Therefore, Uzer Makina is able to manufacture more presses at the same time compared to previous set-up. Uzer Makina has also made machinery investments for existing press area as well including automated spray-painting booth for painting press bodies/parts and vertical turning machine with 3 meters turning diameter which would mainly be used for parts of bigger (over 85”) mechanical presses.            

What are the features of the new SUV & TBR Floating Column Hydraulic Press?

A new era for SUV & TBR tyre curing has begun as Uzer Makina announced the development of SUV & TBR version of its most popular and internationally patented Floating Column Type Hydraulic Press in the last Tyre Technology Expo. Uzer Makina dispatched the first 65” Floating Column Hydraulic Type Curing Press at the end of 2020. This new version outweighs the existing solution Frame Type which used to be the industry standard almost in every aspect. It offers a simpler design, the construction weights much less, has fewer components, maintenance requirements are lower and finally the energy requirement is lesser compared to Frame Type. Besides, most importantly, pricewise there is no significant difference between these two types.

On the other hand, tyre manufacturers will be able to benefit all the advantages of the internationally patented Floating Column Technology for curing of larger tyres. Floating Column Technology provides fully automatic mold height adjustment and therefore eliminates the need for conventional mold height adjustment systems. The technology features two squeezing cylinders under the columns on both sides of each cavity. The piston rods of these cylinders are directly connected to the columns. Besides applying squeezing force, these cylinders also change the position of the locking point, which is located on the columns for adjustment of mold height. Therefore, the press does not need multiple locking points and can work perfectly well with just one. Columns rise at the end of each cycle and release the locking plates from grooves, meaning the locking mechanism can work without jamming.

In addition to these, Uzer Makina is able to construct this new size Floating Column Type Hydraulic Press as V-Shape as well in order to save space. The V-Shape design enables tyre manufacturers to use the curing press area at least 12% more efficiently, in other words, tyre producers would be able to place 112 curing presses in an area that was previously large enough for 100 machines. This concept was developed by Uzer Makina engineers in response to the recent market demand for upgrading existing machines in tyre production plants.

On the other hand, Uzer Makina have been recently putting so much effort to increase energy efficiency on the presses and therefore help tyre manufacturers to comply with the latest European regulations. With this object in mind, Uzer Makina has developed “Energy Saver Steam Hoses” as a subsidiary product that would work both with Uzer Makina presses and others. With these hoses, one can save up to 5% energy per press which is equal huge amount of energy considering the fact that tyre curing is the most energy consumer process of tyre production. These hoses also prevent curing area from overheating. In case there is an effort to cool down the area, there is no need for it or at least it requires much less effort to keep the curing area at normal temperature.

Uzer Makina is not solely a tyre curing press and mold producer – the company also strives to improve the efficiency of the entire curing process. Uzer Makina places great emphasis on digitization and designs its presses to be fully compatible with Industry 4.0 requirements such as EMS, AGV, SCADA, MES and ERP systems. In addition, the company conducts its own research and also works with leading industry companies to offer solutions such as mold pre-heating presses, mold changing pickup cranes and RFID mold management systems – to help tyre manufacturers achieve the most efficient curing processes.

How did the company take on the pandemic?

Even though pandemic conditions were very challenging for tyre industry especially in terms of demand last year, 2021 is very promising also for Uzer Makina. There are many reasons for this: firstly, because of US tariffs against Asian tyre makers, Turkey & Eastern Europe has become a very attractive country for capacity increase for tyre production. Almost all tyre makers in Turkey runs at full capacity and some of them already is expanding. Secondly, there has been a global change in transportation as many people now prefers to move more individually than ever, this probably will eventually affect the number of tyres produced globally. Uzer Makina started to feel this rebound in the demand as many existing customers has decided to restart their previously on hold orders and requesting inquiries for new equipment, and it is also a known fact that quite a few tyre makers are making new greenfield & expansion projects. As Uzer Makina continues to improve its reputation in the market year by year, this rebound will have much more positive effect on the company.

In the pandemic period, like all other companies, Uzer Makina also had to transform the way to operate business into more digital. Now in Uzer Makina, all internal meetings are video meetings. Since travelling abroad is still an issue, nearly all the meetings with customers and suppliers are done via video calls too. Uzer Makina enriched the content of the installation and commissioning materials and provided remote support in order to help the customers which cannot accept people to their plants because of travelling bans. (TT)

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Titan International has introduced the ITP Kinetic tyre line, marking a significant advancement in powersports engineering for modern utility terrain vehicles. Engineered to meet the demands of today’s largest and most powerful UTVs, the new tyre range prioritises all-terrain capability while ensuring long-lasting durability and consistent traction across diverse environments.

Designed for operators at every skill level, the Kinetic series combines aggressive styling with balanced functionality. Its open tread pattern delivers superior performance on hard pack, loose dirt, rocky trails and ruts, while strategic siping in select blocks enhances flexibility and grip on slick or uneven ground. Dimpled tread elements further contribute to improved stability and steering precision, offering riders enhanced control in challenging conditions.

Durability is reinforced through an eight-ply radial construction that provides a smooth ride alongside exceptional puncture resistance. Additional sidewall armour protects against cuts and abrasions, and an integrated rim guard shields wheels from debris damage, preserving both wheel integrity and visual appeal. All models are manufactured at the company’s Clinton, Tennessee facility, underscoring a commitment to domestic production.

The ITP Kinetic is now available in five popular sizes through authorised dealers nationwide, providing a versatile, no-compromise solution for enthusiasts seeking confident performance across multiple terrains.

Todd Hinson, Powersports Product Manager at Titan, said, “UTV owners today are pushing their machines further than ever. The new Kinetic tyre line was engineered to keep up with users that push their machine’s limits and utilise their UTVs in many versatile and challenging tasks and applications. Giving our customers one tyre for their ever-changing needs.”

Rhett Turpin, Director of Sales – Powersports, said, “This tyre does just about everything riders could ask for. It’s quiet on hard surfaces, aggressive on rough terrain and built to last.”

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Doublestar Tire has cemented its regional ambitions with the HEADWAY tyre series launch in Phnom Penh, where Chen Gang, Chairman of Doublestar (Cambodia) Factory, joined Deng Ling, General Manager of the Overseas Development Department and Xie Tao, Asia-Pacific Regional Director, to court local dealers and distribution partners. The Cambodian manufacturing base emerged as the centrepiece of the strategy, offering logistical agility and cost advantages that the company believes will underpin sustained growth throughout Southeast Asia. Executives used the gathering to reaffirm their commitment to tailoring products specifically for the Kingdom's road environment.

Engineering innovation took precedence as Xie Tao presented the HH316 passenger tyre, whose grooved architecture enhances wet-braking performance amid Cambodia's heavy seasonal rains, while five-pitch sequencing curbs cabin noise for a smoother ride. His counterpart Deng Ling outlined the brand's localised production philosophy, emphasising rigorous heat-reduction measures that extend tread life – a critical factor in tropical climates. The HU906 sports variant, engineered to rival premium benchmarks, rounded out a portfolio designed for both everyday commuters and performance-driven motorists.

The event also underscored the strategic value of the local partner, a 30-year industry veteran with nationwide reach, which has already invested heavily in promotional campaigns to elevate HEADWAY's profile. Distribution teams expressed enthusiasm for the product pipeline, while Chen Gang acknowledged their indispensable role in navigating Cambodia's fragmented retail landscape.

By merging domestic production with targeted product development and a seasoned ally, Doublestar signalled its intent to transform HEADWAY into a dominant local franchise, earning tangible buy-in from attendees who witnessed the brand's technological and commercial pitch firsthand.

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KENDA Europe has completed the relocation of its Belgian operations from Arendonk to Turnhout, with the new facility becoming fully operational in March 2026. Constructed by the Bolckmans Group, the 8,000-square-metre centre occupies a strategically central location designed to enhance regional service efficiency while actively reducing CO₂ emissions. This site joins KENDA’s network of five other European locations that deliver fitting, distribution and sales support close to customers.

The Turnhout logistics hub features nearly 6,800 square metres of warehouse space alongside a 1,500-square-metre fitting area. Equipped with two semi-automatic assembly lines and eight fitting stations capable of handling tyres from 3 to 17 inches, the centre streamlines workflows to ensure consistent and reliable service delivery.

Sustainability was a core design principle beyond operational performance. Bolckmans utilised lower-carbon materials such as CEM III B concrete and XCarb steel, while glulam timber beams actively store carbon within the structure. Energy efficiency is achieved through advanced insulation, solar-control glazing, heat pumps and intelligent building management systems, complemented by rooftop solar panels and an on-site wind turbine that supply 100 percent renewable power. Rainwater harvesting and on-site infiltration systems further manage water resources.

With this new Turnhout base, KENDA reinforces its commitment to efficient operations and responsible practices, ensuring robust infrastructure to support customers both now and in the future.

Richard Todd, COO, KENDA Europe, said, “The move not only improves the way we work today but also gives us the flexibility to support our customers well into the future. Throughout the relocation, maintaining a high level of service was our priority, and I am pleased that the transition was completed smoothly.”

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Bridgestone Americas has unveiled the second cohort of its national adaptive sports grant initiative, channelling USD 200,000 through Bridgestone Americas Trust Fund to eight school districts and nonprofit organisations. This latest allocation, consisting of eight grants valued at USD 25,000 each, is set to enhance athletic opportunities for 1,439 students across 75 public schools.

Despite over seven million public school students receiving special education services, participation in school athletics remains markedly low due to a shortage of adaptive programme resources. Bridgestone’s financial commitment directly confronts this disparity by bolstering both nascent and established K–12 sports offerings.

Building upon an initial 2025 investment, this new funding brings the company’s total two-year contribution to USD 400,000. The current cycle features five returning recipients receiving renewed backing alongside three newly selected grantees, ensuring continuity and fresh expansion.

The awarded funds are earmarked for curriculum development, specialised equipment purchases, and coach training. Recipients for 2026 span multiple states, including organisations and school districts in Ohio, Georgia, Illinois, California, Florida, Indiana and New York.

Wade Munday, Director, Corporate Philanthropy and Social Impact, Bridgestone Americas, said, "Every student deserves the chance to experience the benefits of sports by building confidence, connections and lifelong skills that come from being part of a team. Through these grants, we’re helping schools create more opportunities for students of all abilities to play, compete and reach their full potential both on and off the field."

Coach Rod Harris of Peach County High School in Georgia, a first-time grant recipient through AAASP in 2025, said, “Adding adapted track and field has helped enhance and grow our overall track and field programme. Everyone learns from each other, and it creates a strong sense of camaraderie within the team. It’s incredibly impactful, and we want to continue growing the programme because it is truly inclusive.”

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