The Yokohama Rubber Co Ltd has entered into a share purchase agreement with the Swedish-based Trelleborg AB to acquire all outstanding shares of Trelleborg Wheel Systems Holding AB (TWS), a company engaged in the manufacture and sale of off-highway tyres (OHT) for agricultural and industrial machinery. TWS’s enterprise value is EUR 2,040 million. 

Yokohama Rubber said in a statement that the acquisition is scheduled to be completed in the latter half of 2022. The acquisition’s impact on Yokohama Rubber’s consolidated financial results is currently under examination, it said. 

Yokohama Rubber is currently implementing its Yokohama Transformation 2023 (YX2023) medium-term management plan for fiscal years 2021–2023.  

The TWS acquisition will contribute to the expansion of Yokohama Rubber’s OHT business, which YX2023 has positioned as a future growth driver for the company’s commercial tyre business. The ratio of consumer tyres to commercial tyres in today’s global tyre market is 1:1, but Yokohama Rubber’s tyre business sales are more heavily weighted toward consumer tyres, with a 2:1 ratio versus commercial tyres, the release pointed out. To bring the sales composition of its tyre business more in line with the overall market and secure the business’ stability and earnings growth, one of the key challenges facing Yokohama Rubber’s commercial tyre business is the growth of an OHT business capable of securing stably high earnings. The TWS acquisition will not only help Yokohama Rubber’s tyre business achieve a more optimal sales composition, but it will also strengthen the company’s commercial tyre business in each of the four thematic areas set forth in YX2023—product lineup, cost, service, and DX, the company said. 

TWS sales in fiscal 2021 totalled about YEN 129.0 billion, accounting for about 30 per cent of Trelleborg AB’s consolidated sales. Over the past 10 years, TWS has expanded its sales by 2.6 times and more than tripled EBIT (earnings before interest and taxes). While expanding sales it has sustained stably high profitability, with its EBIT ratio continuously above 10 per cent, the release said. 

Of tyres manufactured and sold by TWS, agricultural tyres account for about 60 per cent and industrial tyres about 20 per cent, with the remainder being tyres for construction machinery and motorcycles. TWS has 14 manufacturing plants in nine countries — seven in Europe (Italy, Latvia, Serbia, Slovenia, and three in the Czech Republic), two in the United States, one in Brazil, and four in Asia (two in China and two in Sri Lanka). About 70 per cent of its sales are in Europe. (TT)

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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.”

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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.

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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.

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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.

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