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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Nokian Tyres is putting the question of North America’s roughest roads directly to drivers, launching a voting campaign that runs from 30 March to 10 April 2026. The initiative invites the public to cast votes for the state or province they believe has the most challenging surfaces, with the conversation playing out across the tyremaker’s social media channels on Instagram, Facebook and TikTok under the handle @NokianTyresNA.

This bracket-style competition brings back champions and notable contenders from previous years, with the semifinal matchups now set. Quebec faces off against Massachusetts, while Colorado takes on Oregon. For those living outside these regions, the company encourages participation through a write-in option on its dedicated contest website, where drivers can also make their case for why their local roads deserve the title.

Central to the campaign is Nokian Tyres’ use of aramid fibres, the lightweight yet incredibly strong material found in aerospace and defence applications. By weaving these fibres into the sidewalls and sometimes the tread, the company strengthens its tyres against punctures and blowouts. This technology features prominently in the new Hakkapeliitta 01, a studded winter tyre debuting this fall, and qualifies the tyres for the brand’s Pothole Protection warranty, which offers a free replacement if a tyre is damaged beyond repair by a road hazard.

The campaign will be amplified through social media content, testimonials from North American brand ambassadors and messaging from business partners. Drivers following @NokianTyresNA can vote directly on posts and stories, while those entering the tyre giveaway or submitting their regional nomination can do so on the contest website. The company, renowned for inventing the winter tyre, continues to serve the North American market with its full range of all-season, all-weather and winter products.

Hans Dyhrman, Director of Marketing, Nokian Tyres North America, said, “Our tyres come with a Pothole Protection warranty because we understand the unique challenges of North American roads. While the ‘Worst Roads’ contest offers a chance to complain about potholes and rough surfaces, it’s also an opportunity for consumers to learn about the ways Nokian Tyres helps keep them safe thanks to our aramid-reinforced products.”

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Tyrecycle has announced the upcoming implementation of a pioneering conveyor belt system at its East Rockingham facility in Western Australia, marking a significant step forward in sustainable industrial practices. This particular product, the Infinity Series, was developed by Fenner Conveyors and holds the distinction of being the first conveyor belt manufactured in Australia using locally sourced recycled materials. The material used in its production was supplied through an established strategic partnership between the two companies, underscoring a collaborative foundation that prioritises resource efficiency and domestic manufacturing.

By integrating this locally manufactured belt into its own operations, Tyrecycle is transforming its facility into a living demonstration of the shared environmental vision it holds with Fenner Conveyors. The deployment at East Rockingham serves a dual purpose: it not only upholds the rigorous performance standards required for such critical infrastructure but also actively nurtures a novel closed loop ecosystem. This system represents a first of its kind approach where industrial components are deliberately reclaimed and repurposed, reinforcing the viability of circular economy principles within heavy industries like mining.

Together, the two organisations are effectively closing the loop by converting end-of-life conveyor belts into robust new products that maintain high durability standards. This collaborative effort directly supports mining operations seeking to advance their decarbonisation strategies and circularity targets. Their work illustrates how a combined focus on innovation and corporate responsibility can yield tangible solutions, proving that industrial advancement and environmental stewardship can indeed move forward on a parallel and mutually reinforcing path.

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CEAT Kelani Holdings emerged as a standout performer at the 2026 Best Management Practices Company Awards of the Institute of Chartered Professional Managers of Sri Lanka (CPM Sri Lanka), securing the overall Gold award for Best Management Practices. This top honour, which recognised the company as the nation’s best-managed enterprise, was complemented by four additional distinctions. Among these were the Sector Award as the winner in the Manufacturing category for Tyre and Rubber, a place among the 40 Outstanding Companies and a Best Management Practices Excellence Award, underscoring the breadth of the organisation’s operational excellence.

The company’s leadership also received significant acclaim, with Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Ravi Dadlani being presented with the Leadership Excellence award. This particular recognition highlighted the effectiveness of the strategic direction at the helm of the organisation. The CPM awards themselves serve to evaluate public and private sector entities based on comprehensive management criteria, including leadership effectiveness, people management, resource utilisation and overall performance during the review period.

Central to CEAT Kelani’s achievements this year is its Quality-Based Management philosophy, which prioritises customer satisfaction by aligning quality controls and workforce efforts with strategic business goals. A notable initiative presented during the awards process was the overhaul of the customer claim settlement process, which now facilitates inspections within a single day. This improvement was driven by a structured Quality Improvement Project involving cross-functional teams from Technical Services, Supply Chain and Distribution, supported by digital integration and process enhancements.

The revamped claim settlement system has not only bolstered customer confidence and dealer trust but has also contributed to volume growth, particularly in the Truck and Light Truck segments. Dadlani emphasised that the QBM approach has been instrumental in steering the company towards greater customer centricity while maintaining strong financial results, with continuous improvement through digital transformation and employee engagement remaining central to the corporate strategy. This consistent recognition by CPM reflects the sustained depth and continuity of the company’s management practices over time.

Commenting on the awards, Dadlani said, “To be named the best-managed company in Sri Lanka is an extraordinary honour as well as a reward for years of hard work in times of challenge. This recognition reflects the company’s sustained focus on embedding best-in-class management practices across its operations with the involvement of employees at every level.”

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Zeon has confirmed its role as an official sponsor of RubberCon 2026, scheduled for 28 and 29 April in Paris. The conference is organised by AFICEP under the aegis of IRCO. The event will centre on the theme ‘Ecodesign and Rubber Innovation’, serving as a gathering for global experts spanning academia, research, manufacturing and technology sectors. This focus reflects the industry’s growing emphasis on sustainable material development and circular economy principles.

Through its sponsorship, the company underscores its commitment to sustainable solutions, innovation and international knowledge exchange. Zeon anticipates engaging with industry professionals to explore new approaches and contribute to meaningful sector progress.

“By sponsoring RubberCon 2026, we reaffirm our commitment to driving forward sustainable solutions, fostering innovation and supporting the international exchange of knowledge and best practices. We look forward to engaging with industry professionals, discovering new approaches and contributing to meaningful progress within our sector,” read the company statement.

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