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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Hankook Tire has underscored the competitiveness of its winter and all-season portfolio through strong showings in two recent independent assessments. The Kinergy 4S 2 all-season tyre and the Winter i*cept RS 3 winter tyre both earned top-tier results in tests conducted by Auto Zeitung, in its issue 20/2026, and by the Automobilclub von Deutschland (AvD) in August 2026. The evaluations positioned the manufacturer’s products favourably across multiple performance and economic criteria.

In the Auto Zeitung all-season comparison, the Kinergy 4S 2 was assessed in the widely used 225/45 R 17 fitment and received the publication’s ‘Highly recommended’ designation. The tyre demonstrated notable composure on snow, with predictable cornering behaviour that testers described as making it a comfortable winter-capable option. It also excelled in aquaplaning resistance while cornering and recorded the quickest wet-handling lap on the circular track. On dry surfaces, the editorial team noted trouble-free behaviour at the limits, solid projected mileage, and strong value for money.

The AvD’s 2026 all-season test delivered similarly positive outcomes. Evaluated in size 225/50 R 17, the Kinergy 4S 2 claimed the best value-for-money ranking and performed strongly in the economy and environment category, earning 4.78 out of five stars overall. It achieved five stars each for mileage and fuel consumption, along with 4.9 stars for tyre wear. Against a twelve-tyre field, it also placed highly for aquaplaning and aquaplaning in curves, securing 4.20 stars in the final ranking and an overall ‘Good’ rating.

Separately, the Winter i*cept RS 3, tested in 225/45 R 17, received an overall ‘Good’ verdict with 4.26 stars in the AvD winter tyre evaluation. It performed particularly well in snow braking and traction, scoring 4.4 and 4.3 stars, and in aquaplaning in curves and straight-line aquaplaning, with 4.5 and 4.4 stars. The tyre also earned 4.43 stars across economic and environmental criteria, including 4.6 stars for weight and 4.5 stars each for fuel consumption, mileage and tyre wear.

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Bridgestone Corporation has confirmed it will become the exclusive tyre supplier for the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, the foremost all-electric motorsport series, beginning with the 2026/27 season. The announcement positions the Japanese manufacturer at the centre of a championship that has grown into a global platform for electric racing since its founding in 2014.

The forthcoming season will mark the competitive debut of the GEN4 car, a machine that redefines performance boundaries. With permanent active All-Wheel Drive, remarkable torque and acceleration, the GEN4 reaches 100 kmph in 1.8 seconds and attains a top speed of 335 kmph, while producing a peak output of 815 bhp. These figures make it the quickest and most potent Formula E vehicle ever built.

(From left) Emilio Tiberio (WEST CTO, Bridgestone), Jeff Dodds (CEO, Formula E), Yasuhiro Morita (Global CEO and Representative Executive Officer, Bridgestone), Marek Nawarecki (Senior Circuit Sport Director, FIA) and Hiroshi Imai (Executive Officer, CPO, Global Motorsports, Bridgestone)

To harness this performance, Bridgestone has engineered the POTENZA GEN4 tyre, designed to deliver high grip, broad adaptability across varied road and weather conditions and durability that sustains performance throughout a race. A second specification, the POTENZA GEN4 for TYPHOON TYRE, has also been created to ensure stable handling and strong grip when heavy rain leaves substantial water on the track.

Sustainability features prominently in the tyre programme. Each GEN4 tyre incorporates a 65 percent allocation of recycled and renewable materials, including carbon black recovered from pyrolysis oil of end-of-life tyres and silica derived from rice husks. Natural rubber is drawn from supply chains subject to Bridgestone due diligence, compliant with the GPSNR Assurance System and verified by an independent third party. Manufacturing uses 100 percent renewable energy for both heat and electricity, while low-carbon logistics help curb CO₂ emissions, with chemical recycling of end-of-life tyres among wider value-chain initiatives pursued alongside partners.

Formula E, governed by the FIA, has expanded rapidly through street races in cities such as Monaco, Sao Paulo, Sanya and Tokyo, alongside traditional circuits. Its digital engagement and programmes such as FIA Girls on Track have helped build a fan base exceeding 400 million. Committed to Making Progress Thrilling, the championship demonstrates that electric racing can drive measurable change rather than merely inspire.

The Bridgestone Formula E World Premiere, held in Rome on 30 September ahead of the 2026/27 season, drew representatives from the FIA, Formula E, teams, drivers, international media and influencers. Global CEO Yasuhiro Morita shared his enthusiasm for the entry, while Chief Product Officer for Global Motorsports Hiroshi Imai and WEST Chief Technology Officer Emilio Tiberio detailed the tyre technology behind the GEN4. The new Bridgestone motorsport logo and design elements appeared on the GEN4 tyres for the first time, and Bridgestone’s Technical Center Europe subsequently offered demonstrations of the production site and the development work of engineers and test drivers.

Bridgestone will supply tyres for all races in the 2026/27 Season and will also serve as the title sponsor for the following four races:

Yasuhiro Morita, Global CEO and Representative Executive Officer, Bridgestone Corporation, said, “Our return to the FIA World Championship is an exciting re-entry that embodies Bridgestone’s history of passion and innovation. Under our Mission ‘Serving Society with Superior Quality’, we have continued to push the limits with an insatiable quest for performance and a sense of responsibility for a better future through motorsport activities. On the supreme stage of Formula E, we will further evolve the balance of performance and sustainability and pioneer a new future for mobility. Together with organisers, teams, drivers, partners and fans, we look forward to creating a new future.”

Jeff Dodds, CEO, Formula E, said, “We are delighted to welcome Bridgestone to Formula E as our sole tyre supplier for the 2026/27 Season and beyond. Combining rich motorsport heritage with cutting-edge sustainable innovation, Bridgestone is a fitting partner as we embark on this exciting new era. The GEN4 car represents the pinnacle of sustainable motorsport design, and we look forward to working with Bridgestone as we continue to redefine electric racing and lead the race for progress both on and off the track.”

Marek Nawarecki, Senior Circuit Sport Director, FIA, said, “Bridgestone’s appointment as the sole tyre supplier for the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship marks an exciting new chapter as we enter the GEN4 era. The tyres will play a key role in delivering the performance and efficiency expected from this new generation of Formula E cars. Building on the collaboration already established during the development of the GEN4 tyres, we look forward to continuing this work with Bridgestone, Formula E and the teams to deliver tyres that meet the demanding requirements of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship and contribute to close, competitive racing for drivers and fans.”

Hiroshi Imai, Executive Officer, CPO, Global Motorsports, Bridgestone Corporation, said, “We are truly delighted to showcase Bridgestone’s technology and passion to the world on the new stage of Formula E. In developing POTENZA GEN4, we pushed the limits of our technology to fully unlock the overwhelming performance of GEN4. In particular, the newly introduced POTENZA GEN4 for TYPHOON TYRE represents a symbolic evolution for the GEN4 era, enabling drivers to confidently take on even wet conditions. By supporting the dramatically evolved GEN4 from the ground up, we are also advancing initiatives towards carbon neutrality and resource circulation, striving to realise sustainable motorsport. We will continue to deliver the superior quality to circuits around the world, bringing new excitement and inspiration to racing fans worldwide.”

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Kumho Tire USA celebrated a strong result at Round Seven of the Formula DRIFT PRO Championship, where KUMHO driver Jack Shanahan drove his E82 BMW to a third-place finish at The Bullring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on KUMHO Ecsta V730 tyres. The Las Vegas podium was Shanahan’s third of the season, following a third-place result at the Streets of Long Beach opener and a second-place finish at Round Four in Stafford Springs, Connecticut.

After qualifying sixth, Shanahan advanced through the main competition by defeating Jhonnattan Castro in the Top 32, Ryan Tuerck in the Top 16 and Chris Forsberg in the Great 8. In the Final 4, he faced his younger brother, Conor, in a close battle that ended when Jack dropped two tyres off course in Zone 4. Despite the narrow loss, he remains fourth in the standings with one round left in Long Beach, California, on 23–24 October.

The KUMHO Ecsta V730 is an extreme-performance summer tyre designed for exceptional grip, responsiveness and consistency under demanding track conditions, making it a proven option for competitive motorsports and enthusiast drivers.

Ed Cho, CEO, Kumho Tire USA, said, "Jack's performance this season continues to demonstrate not only the determination and skill of our drivers but also the reliability of KUMHO tyres. In high-pressure situations, our drivers can rely on KUMHO tyres to deliver the traction, responsiveness and control they need to compete at their best."

Shanahan said, "It's been an exciting season, and I'm proud to have secured another podium finish with the consistent performance of the KUMHO Ecsta V730 tyres. The team and I are looking forward to carrying this momentum into the final round next month and fight for the Championship podium."

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Shalva Akhvlediani, Director of Tegeta Green Planet, took part in a training course titled ‘Circular Economy and Sustainable Business Models’, organised by the UN Global Compact Network Georgia on 17 September. He presented his organisation’s practical experience in applying circular economy principles and sustainable business models to the participants.

Tegeta Green Planet serves as Tegeta Holding’s environmental arm and operates as an Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) organisation in Georgia. It focuses on collecting and recycling specific waste streams, including used tyres, waste oils and automotive batteries. Its work is grounded in circular economy principles, aiming to improve waste management, convert waste into resources and lessen environmental harm.

The UN Global Compact Network Georgia delivered a 10-hour training course across 16 and 17 September, designed to give businesses practical knowledge about circular economy principles and sustainable business models. Participants explored core circular economy concepts, ways to integrate them into business operations, modern waste management approaches, circular business models and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) for products and materials. Giorgi Berechikidze, Environmental Manager at the UN Global Compact Network Georgia, led sessions on these main topics, offering practical approaches to circular economy, waste management and LCA.

International perspectives were provided online by Anders Ladefoged, a member of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) and representative of the European Circular Economy Stakeholder Platform (ECESP), who discussed European circular economy standards, and Dr Silke Megelski, a circular economy advisor at Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), who presented the Circular City Lab approach and deposit return system pilot experiences in Georgia. The course concluded with certificates for participants, supporting the spread of practical knowledge and resource-efficient, sustainable, circular business models.

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