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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Continental has introduced the ContiMotion EVO, the successor to its well-regarded ContiMotion sport touring tyre. The new model targets motorcyclists seeking a balanced blend of riding enjoyment, safety and longevity. It arrives with multiple product enhancements over the previous generation.

Technical upgrades include new carcass materials that deliver greater stability and consistency, translating into improved handling and more agile dynamics. Updated compounds further boost performance in both wet and dry conditions. The tyre also features Continental's EasyHandling technology for predictable steering, a hybrid silica tread compound for reliable grip, an advanced compound and dedicated pattern for extended mileage and ZeroDegree steel-belt construction with new carcass materials for high-speed stability.

The ContiMotion EVO suits sporty weekend riders and touring enthusiasts alike. It fits motorcycles such as the BMW R12 nineT, Triumph Daytona 660, Ducati Supersport 950, Honda CB 650R, Suzuki GSX-8TT and Yamaha MT-09. It can also be paired with the existing ContiMotion.

Christoph Ettenhuber, Head of Business Field Motorcycle Tires, Continental, said, “With the ContiMotion EVO, we’re offering a versatile sport touring tyre. It combines intuitive handling with reliable grip in both wet and dry conditions – all while delivering impressive mileage for everyday use. The ContiMotion EVO has been upgraded in key areas without losing the fundamental renowned qualities of its predecessor. Riders benefit from a tyre that is noticeably more agile. The ContiMotion EVO is compatible with a wide range of popular naked bikes, roadsters and modern classics.”

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Goodyear takes centre stage at Silverstone this weekend as title sponsor of the Goodyear 4 Hours of Silverstone, the second consecutive year it has headlined the European Le Mans Series event following its return to the calendar last year after a six-year break.

The manufacturer will equip 37 cars across LMGT3, LMP2 and LMP2 Pro/Am with its Racing Eagle tyres. LMGT3 entrants will use the Medium compound, chosen for its adaptability across varying conditions and driving styles, while LMP2 and LMP2 Pro/Am crews run their own Medium specification, a staple of the series since debuting at Le Castellet last season. Wet-weather Racing Eagle tyres remain available should conditions demand.

Silverstone's fast nature is set to shape tactics, with fuel consumption a likely determinant of pit-stop windows. Goodyear anticipates LMGT3 outfits will favour single-stinting to maximise pace on fresh rubber at every stop, whereas LMP2 and LMP2 Pro/Am squads could split between single and double-stinting approaches.

Off-track, Goodyear has arranged several activations. Vector Sport's #10 car ran a special Goodyear Racing livery last weekend at Caffeine & Machine's Warwickshire venue and will race in the same colours. The company also backs Friday's ELMS Charity Run, where Racing Eagle tyre stacks will mark each kilometre and runners finish beneath an inflatable Goodyear arch, with proceeds going to the Luca Guintoli Foundation, supporting families affected by childhood cancer. Goodyear Racing Eagle tyres additionally feature in NASCAR action at World Wide Technology Raceway in Madison, Illinois.

Stephen Bickley, Goodyear Endurance Program Manager, said, “Silverstone should be a fairly straightforward race from a tyre strategy perspective. The high-speed nature of the circuit means fuel consumption will be high, so fuel strategy is likely to be the main factor influencing pit stop timing. The tyre allocations broadly give teams the flexibility to change tyres at every stop, so there is less of a need to stretch a set of tyres purely to save time in a pit stop. We therefore expect teams across both categories to largely focus on single-stinting tyres. The biggest variable at Silverstone is always the weather, which can quickly change stint lengths and pit stop timing.”

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The new AZuR CO₂ savings certificate gives commercial vehicle fleet operators a way to quantify and prove the emissions reductions they achieve through smarter tyre strategies. The tool turns calculated savings into transparent, verifiable documentation, allowing businesses to showcase their resource efficiency efforts. The certification sits within AZuR's wider vision of a closed-loop tyre economy, in which quality tyres are kept in service as long as possible through repair, retreading and regrooving, and materials are recovered through proper recycling channels only once further use is ruled out.

Three distinct levers form the basis of the assessment, and fleets may adopt them separately or together. Reusing sound tyre casings through retreading cuts demand for virgin materials and stretches each tyre's service life. Reprofiling technology from Bear-Machines adds as much as a quarter more mileage to compatible commercial tyres, depending on the tyre and how it is used, while simultaneously trimming fuel burn. Digital tyre management powered by CO2OPT analyses a fleet's tyre usage patterns through artificial intelligence, guiding the selection and deployment of suitable tyres; under the right operating conditions, this can shrink fuel consumption and its associated emissions by as much as 10 percent.

Reliability of the reported figures rests on a defined calculation framework applied to each fleet's own data. The retreading portion draws on life cycle assessment work from Fraunhofer UMSICHT, while the remaining measures follow their own established methodologies and fleet-specific inputs. The result is auditable evidence linking implemented tyre management practices to calculated CO₂ reductions.

Beyond emissions figures, the certificate reveals how deeply a fleet has embraced circular practices by showing its share of retreaded tyres. Three tiers structure this indicator: Category A covers fleets above 50 percent, Category B spans 25 to 50 percent and Category C captures 5 to 20 percent. Documented savings and a practical circularity measure are thus combined in a single certification.

Early adopters already illustrate the concept in action. Over a 12-month window, SIS Internationale Speditions GmbH calculated 31.99 tonnes of CO₂ saved through retreading, CO2OPT software and the fuel savings that followed, with retreaded tyres on more than half its vehicles, earning Category A. The Steinkühler Group, meanwhile, reached 44.72 tonnes of calculated savings in the same period using retreading, reprofiling, CO2OPT and resulting fuel reductions, landing in Category C.

Christina Guth, Network Coordinator, Alliance for the Future of Tires (AZuR), said, “Many companies are already investing in lower-emission vehicles and alternative drive systems. However, it is often overlooked that tyres can also make a quantifiable contribution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. With the AZuR CO₂ savings certificate, we demonstrate how retreading, reprofiling and intelligent tyre optimisation can be combined in a joint tyre management strategy.”

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DUNLOP has premiered a new atmospheric short film titled ‘Taking the Line’, which centres on the brand’s participation in the 2026 ADAC RAVENOL Nürburgring 24 Hours. The two-minute production chronicles the journey of the black-and-yellow DUNLOP Porsche 911 GT3 R, car number 17, offering an emotive portrayal of the challenges faced during one of the world’s most gruelling endurance events.

The film, shot over a week at the legendary Nürburgring Nordschleife, employed two dedicated camera crews utilising digital cinema cameras, action cameras, car-to-car tracking and aerial drones to capture the action. The notoriously capricious Eifel mountain weather, with its fog, rain and dramatic lighting, serves as a dynamic backdrop, amplifying the drama and underscoring the circuit’s unique character.

Rather than focusing exclusively on track action, the narrative shifts following the retirement of the DUNLOP car to highlight the essential human element of the race. The production pays tribute to the mechanics, marshals, support crews, drivers and devoted fans, emphasising that the event’s spirit relies on these individuals. This approach also connects to DUNLOP’s deep-rooted heritage in motorsport, blending tradition with innovation since the invention of the pneumatic tyre.

In a notable technical achievement, the filmmakers utilised advanced artificial intelligence to reconstruct a historically accurate sequence depicting the car without using any archive footage. This innovative process, informed by extensive visual documentation and historical references, successfully bridges more than four decades of DUNLOP’s racing history, creating a new and authentic representation of its enduring legacy at the Nürburgring.

Evropi Dionysiadou, Brand Communications Specialist at Dunlop Tyre Europe GmbH and responsible for the production, said, “One of the film’s most memorable moments creates a bridge between the past and the present. As a tribute to DUNLOP’s heritage, a Porsche 962 C appears on the start-finish straight for a few seconds, bearing the same number 17 that raced at the Nürburgring on DUNLOP tyres in 1986 and 1987.”

Dennis Wilstermann, Marketing Manager, Dunlop Tyre Europe GmbH, said, “With ‘Taking the Line’, DUNLOP underlines its deep roots in motorsport. For decades, experience gained in racing has been transferred into the development of road tyres, helping us create products capable of performing in the most demanding conditions and regularly earning recognition in independent tyre tests. An icon of 24-hour racing, DUNLOP has also contributed to 34 victories at Le Mans, a legacy that continues to inspire and drive us today.”

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