Nokian Tyres recently opened its new passenger car tyre factory in Oradea, Romania. Interestingly, the factory operates without utilising any fossil energy, making it the world’s first full-scale tyre factory with zero CO2 emissions. 

After two years of work the factory inauguration sets the ground for commercial production in early 2025. It was inaugurated in the presence of high-level Romanian government and local authorities; Ambassadors of Finland and Romania; together with Nokian Tyres’ Board of Directors, management team and 200 guests.   

Jukka Moisio, President and CEO, Nokian Tyres said, “We are very pleased to be inaugurating our Oradea factory today. It will strengthen our capability to serve our customers in Central Europe and beyond and support our growth as planned toward net sales of EUR 2 billion. With our full-scale zero CO2 emission tire factory we are ready to lead the industry and set the new standard for sustainable tire manufacturing.” 

At the Nokian Tyres Oradea factory, no energy generated by fossil fuels is used. This enables the whole factory to operate with zero CO2 emissions. This is achieved through a combination of solutions. 

“The factory makes Nokian Tyres, once more, a pioneer of the tyre industry. All electricity used at the Romania Oradea factory is CO2 emission free. Part of the electricity used in the factory is generated by on-site solar power units. Steam used to cure the tyres is generated by innovative electric boilers which use fully CO2 emission free electricity instead of the usual fossil fuels such as coal or gas. In addition, the tyre manufacturing process is very energy efficient as we are only utilising the most modern technology and machinery. With our new Oradea factory, we are truly demonstrating our commitment to sustainability,” stated Adrian Kaczmarczyk, SVP, Operation Excellence, Nokian Tyres.  

It was in July 2024, the factory produced its first tyre and the project is ramping up to the annual capacity of 6 million tyres, with expansion potential in the future. The factory will focus on passenger car tyre production to be primarily sold in the Central European market. 

The factory spread across 54 hectares and the facility includes the production unit, a distribution facility for storage and distribution of tyres, and mixing, utility and administrative buildings. The combined built-up area totals approximately 100,000 square metres. 

Largest foreign investment in Romania

Nokian Tyres states that it chose Oradea in North-West of Romania as the location for the new tyre factory as a result of a thorough evaluation, including more than 40 sites in various European countries. Among the criteria supporting the decision were talent, business environment, infrastructure, real estate and utilities, operational cost and risks.  

Susanna Tusa, General Director and Vice-President, Nokian Tyres Romania said, “The work done in the last years is aimed at bringing us closer to our customers, creating a sound foundation for future sustainable growth. Oradea is now home to us, and we are committed to be a good neighbour, supporting the community, the regional economy and each member of our team.” 

The total value of the project is approximatively EUR 650 million, which positions the Finnish company as one of the largest foreign investors in Romania in the recent years. To finance its sustainable tire manufacturing investment, Nokian Tyres will receive state aid from the Romanian government worth some EUR 100 million and an investment loan from European Investment Bank worth EUR 150 million.  

Along with the construction work, Nokian Tyres conducted a recruitment campaign for attracting skilled employees, with a focus on local talents in Bihor County. The planned headcount of the Oradea factory is about 500 people. By end-2024, the number is expected to reach 300, and the process will continue in 2025. 

Bridgestone will supply tailored-made tyres for Lamborghini’s Huracán STO, which will be launched in 2021.

Bridgestone ensured the high-performance tyre can maximise the Huracán STO’s traction, handling, control, and extreme overall performance.

Key to the tyre’s success in maximising the super sports car’s performance is the combination of pattern and cavity design. The Potenza tyres apply an asymmetric tread design for enhanced steering response and cornering stability, and an internal crown structure that distributes footprint pressure evenly when cornering.

As well as the road-focused, custom-developed Potenza fitment, Bridgestone will also be providing a track-oriented, road-homologated version of the tyre that applies “race” technologies to maximise the vehicle’s track performance, especially in dry conditions.

Steven De Bock, VP Consumer Replacement and OE at Bridgestone EMIA, said, “It’s been a pleasure for our team to work so closely with Lamborghini for the first time, and on such an exciting project. The Huracán STO is an incredible piece of engineering that deserves a custom tyre that can fulfill its full potential. I can proudly say that Bridgestone has delivered such a high-performance tyre. It has been fantastic for the team to have worked on a project that is at the forefront of technology in so many ways.”

Hankook, one of the major global tyre brands, has started testing and development operations at its new ultra modern facility in Spain.

The testing facility has been set up on the premises of the Applus+ IDIADA Group and can also cater to European premium car manufacturers that have their own demanding tyre tests. The facility is completely automated and will host a 20-member team from the Spanish testing centre, which is affiliated to the Hankook Europe Technical Centre.

Klaus Krause, Head of European Research and Development Centre, said, "With the further expansion of our testing capacities in Spain, we are reaching the next level together with our local partner Applus+ IDIADA."

He also added, "We are confident that the newly installed testing facilities in particular will significantly improve our efforts to provide the best tyre testing conditions and services to our employees and customers. In addition, we will also be able to conduct significantly more tests on site." (TT)

ASCENSO introduced a construction tyre - BLB 730- which is used for boom lift vehicles used in construction and other industries. It comes with several features that cater to the unique needs of aerial lifting equipment.

The BLB 730 tyre is available in different sizes to fit various boom lift vehicles. This range of sizes provides versatility and compatibility with different types of aerial lift work platforms.

“ASCENSO's BLB 730 tyre is a significant advancement in specialised equipment for the construction industry. It focuses on load capacity, stability, traction, and durability to improve the performance and safety of boom lift vehicles. Whether working at heights or manoeuvring on tough terrains, this tyre offers reliability and durability for efficient operations,” said the company in a statement.

The BLB 730 tyre is built to handle heavy loads and stabilise boom lift vehicles. It has solid lugs and a more extended shoulder design, which ensures good traction and prevents slipping during operation. This is important for safely carrying heavy weights at high elevations. ASCENSO has used a special rubber compound in making the BLB 730 tyre, making it durable and long-lasting, resulting in less downtime and more productivity on construction sites.

To make the tyre even better, the company has optimised its inner volume to reduce tyre fill consumption, reducing the risk of tyre punctures, minimising the need for maintenance, and keep the vehicles running smoothly.

Falken Tyre Europe is an official IHF Men's World Championship 2023 partner for the upcoming tournament, the company has announced. The tournament is taking place at nine venues in Sweden and Poland from 11-29 January, 2023. Falken Tyre claims that the partnership was organised by the sports marketing agency SPORTFIVE. SPORTFIVE is responsible for exclusive marketing and media rights for all IHF World Championships until 2031.

Falken Tyre claims that this is its second agreement with the International Handball Federation. In addition to title and logo rights (Official IHF Men's World Championship 2023 Partner), the company has also secured advertising rights, including the Falken logo in each goal and centre circle of the courts, as well as the presence of Falken branding in the official tournament social media communications and print materials. According to Falken Tyre, this is complemented by 30-second video ads that will be shown on the big screens in the nine sports halls before the start of each match and at half-time.

Sharing his views, Robert Müller von Vultejus, Chief Growth Officer at SPORTFIVE, said, “With Falken, the IHF World Handball Championships have secured a great partner who is positioned with far-reaching influence in the relevant core markets. We are delighted to have been able to bring two global partners together for one of the most exciting sporting events of next year.”

Markus Bögner, COO and President of Falken Tyre Europe GmbH, explained, “Handball isn’t just of great importance in Europe, but all over the world, which has led us to partake in this top-level tournament once again. The fact that the international tournament is taking place in countries that are among our core markets is another great reason for our involvement. We can also look back on a long partnership with our colleagues at SPORTFIVE, who always offers us excellent opportunities that are an excellent fit for the Falken brand, which stands for enthusiasm, performance and achievement.”