Step Inside HF s Virtual Halls

Step Inside HF s Virtual Halls

Quality capability – outstanding results

During the past months HF ran through a VDA system-audit which was required by our valued customers who belong to the top ranked tyre manufacturers worldwide. HF achieved more than 95% which is considered an excellent achievement. HF was evaluated in the fields of risk management during the production process, traceability, maintenance, trainings, project change management, standardisation, production management, cutting edge technology, technical know-how and the professionality of staff.

Additionally, we renewed our ISO 9001:2015 certificate. ISO 9001 is not just a standard that consists of numerous requirements. Behind ISO 9001 is the philosophy of an (almost) automatically functioning company. A company that develops unique competitive advantages through clear business processes and responsibilities, a high level of customer orientation and continuous improvement. ISO 9001:2015 is a management system that enables companies to align their products and services to customer needs and, by defining clear business processes, to offer their customers consistently reliable services. The standard aims to bring lasting and sustainable success to companies.

We are confident that theses audits confirm our customers trust in our services.

 

Tyre building machines – Service support & technical upgrades

HF TBM Service department is ready and available to provide various service options for your machines. Our personnel are available to visit sites, inspect machines and provide detailed reports of the inspection. Reports will include technical improvement kit proposal, replacement parts, maintenance recommendations. HF can also offer a quotation for the maintenance/repairs to be completed on the machine.

HF has spare parts available for all machine types. For frequently ordered parts HF can provide standard price lists and yearly contracts for fixed pricing. HF also offers customised machine upgrades, technical improvement kits (new and replacement modules) for improvements in Quality, Reliability, Output, Capability. HF Technical Improvement Kits can be offered for all machine types

HF TBM Service Department provides turn-key services with our highly qualified personnel in the mechanical, electrical, technology and software disciplines.

HF TBM Service Department provides you with remote support using a connection terminal box that can be installed easily by the customer. Remote connection to PLC/Machine is safe and secure using a VPN connection. Online video and chat communications are available through TEAMS.

Tyre building machines – Common design approach for all tyre designs

The fundamental basis for our TBM design, no matter which type you are looking for, is the same. All tyre building machines consist of our long proven modular components and are sized to your specifications.

Depending on your requirements, we offer two carcass drum types, which are capable to adapt different tyre constructions: Inflated turn up with bladder or mechanical turn up drums or flat turn up with Ply up/down constructions with our patented FAPBS drum. This allows you to increase your flexibility and to react to current market changes due to the E-mobility such as high load index, lower rolling resistance and lower noise emissions.

The HF ONE is the solution for the current and future demands.

In addition, all TBMs are built up on a modular base to have the capability for integration of an automatic robot system for loading the beads & unloading the tire. The machine layout is prepared to allow a for simple future upgrade of these features as well as additional reinforcement strips which are applied on Body Ply or Innerliner.

Features & benefits:

- Multiple drums support with quick change from drum to drum

- Patented FAPBS drum for high Ply turn up, thick sidewalls and Ply up/down constructions 

- Modular machine design for upgrade possibilities

- Hands off operation with robot system for bead loading

- High OE quality standard by excellent accuracy of material positioning splicing

- Maintenance friendly

- Excellent machine availability by robust design and high repeatability (TT)

 

Contact: HF Tire Building Machines: tbm-service@hf-group.com; www.hf-tiretechgroup.com

MAXAM Strengthens MS406 Loader Tyre Line With New 45/65R45 Size

MAXAM Strengthens MS406 Loader Tyre Line With New 45/65R45 Size

MAXAM Tire has further expanded its off‑the‑road tyre portfolio by adding a new 45/65R45 size to the MS406 E4/L4 series. This larger variant is specifically engineered for heavy loader applications, offering operators an additional high‑performance solution that prioritises strength, longevity and cost efficiency over the long term.

The tyre’s deep E4/L4 tread pattern is designed to deliver strong traction while resisting wear and cuts, even in severe working conditions. This aggressive yet durable design helps loader fleets boost productivity, as the tyre maintains grip and reduces downtime. Over its service life, users can expect a lower cost per operating hour.

To withstand harsh job sites, the MS406 incorporates a thick undertread that provides enhanced puncture protection. Its robust casing not only endures heavy use but also supports excellent retreadability, further extending the tyre’s usable life and improving overall return on investment. A wide, flat footprint contributes to superior stability, ensuring dependable performance and operator confidence when the vehicle is under substantial loads.

With this new size addition, MAXAM Tire continues to strengthen its off‑the‑road product line, giving customers another valuable option that balances durability, traction and long‑term operating efficiency in demanding loader environments.

Jimmy McDonnell, Vice President – Sales and Marketing, MAXAM Tire North America, said, “With the addition of the 45/54R45 size, we’re continuing to respond directly to market needs while expanding access to a proven loader tyre. Our focus is always on delivering market-leading value and tyres that perform in real-world conditions while helping customers control operating costs.”

Hankook Prepares For Extreme Grip Variations At WRC Croatia Rally 2026

Hankook Prepares For Extreme Grip Variations At WRC Croatia Rally 2026

Hankook Tire, the exclusive tyre supplier for the FIA World Rally Championship, will face the demanding Croatia Rally from 9 to 12 April 2026. This event marks round four of the season and takes place in and around the port city of Rijeka. Among the most gruelling rallies on the calendar, it will feature both the Ventus Z215, engineered for precise dry handling and cornering stability, and the Ventus Z210, designed to deliver superior traction and rapid water evacuation in wet and unpredictable conditions.

The 2026 route spans roughly 300.28 kilometres across 20 special stages, with the service park relocated to the historic Grobnik Circuit. The course covers four counties, including shakedown stages on the island of Krk and technical tests through the Lika-Senj highlands. Drivers must contend with extreme grip variations along the Adriatic coast, from abrasive volcanic tarmac in the mountains to smoother, dustier sections near the sea, the latter becoming dangerously slick with even light rain.

Throughout the event, Hankook will operate its Brand World marketing booth inside the service park, reinforcing its unified global premium image. The booth will offer interactive experiences such as a motorsports history zone, racing simulator, tyre fitting activities, merchandise sales and a photo zone, giving fans an immersive brand encounter. Meanwhile, intense competition is expected: while Toyota GAZOO Racing has a strong history in Croatia, both Hyundai Shell Mobis World Rally Team and M-Sport Ford World Rally Team aim to exploit the new coastal terrain to challenge for the podium.

Sri Trang Agro-Industry Earns 23 CSR-DIW Awards For Sustainable Coexistence

Sri Trang Agro-Industry Earns 23 CSR-DIW Awards For Sustainable Coexistence

Sri Trang Agro-Industry Public Company Limited has earned a total of 23 CSR-DIW awards, demonstrating its longstanding commitment to operating with ongoing responsibility towards society, local communities and the environment. In 2025, the Department of Industrial Works honoured the company under the CSR DIW to MIND for Sustainability programme, which recognises industrial factories that enhance their social and community responsibility for sustainable coexistence.

Among these accolades, five facilities received the CSR DIW Award for maintaining these high standards continuously for a decade, while another 18 facilities received the CSR DIW Continuous Award for consistently implementing responsible practices, collectively celebrating industrial organisations that serve as models for industry growing in harmony with communities under the principle of good industry coexisting sustainably.

These achievements reflect how the Sri Trang Group balances economic, social and environmental priorities, allowing the industrial sector to work alongside communities effectively and advancing Thailand’s rubber industry towards a sustainable green future. The group has steadily carried out community focused and socially responsible initiatives across six key areas, including youth development, arts and local traditions, livelihood and career support, environmental management, workplace health and hygiene as well as disaster relief and assistance for vulnerable groups.

This recognition further underscores Sri Trang Agro Industry’s role as a leading organisation that drives sustainable industrial practices while consistently creating lasting value for society, communities and the environment.

Bridgestone To Showcase Lunar Rover Tyres At 41st Space Symposium

Bridgestone To Showcase Lunar Rover Tyres At 41st Space Symposium

Bridgestone has announced its participation in the 41st Space Symposium, the largest space conference in United States, taking place in Colorado Springs from 13 to 16 April 2026. The company’s exhibit will be hosted within the Japanese Space Industry pavilion organised by Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), marking its third consecutive year at the event since 2024. A key focus of Bridgestone’s presence is its ongoing development of lunar rover tyres, a project that embodies the company’s belief that ‘tyres carry life’.

Since 2019, Bridgestone has advanced research on lunar rover tyres and pursued co-creation with international partners to commercialise space mobility technology. In 2024, the company collaborated with Astrobotic Technology, followed by a basic agreement with ispace in 2025. These efforts aim to generate new value in the rapidly evolving space mobility sector.

At the symposium, Bridgestone will demonstrate tyres for small and medium lunar rovers, first unveiled in 2025, by mounting them on a mobility vehicle. Attendees can see and touch the tyres, experiencing their high traversability on simulated lunar challenges like fine sand and rocky ground. Through this showcase, Bridgestone seeks to expand its space business network and foster co-creation opportunities, ultimately supporting safe lunar mobility and humanity’s exploration goals.

The lunar rover tyre project applies Bridgestone’s AirFree technology, an exploratory business under its 2024–2026 Mid Term Business Plan. By refining this technology in the extreme lunar environment, the company aims to eventually bring those innovations back to Earth, enhancing conventional tyres and contributing to broader social value.