Henkel and 4JET have joined hands to introduce a new process for producing silent tyres for electric vehicles (EVs). In the new LASER-FIT process, a tailor-made acoustic foam is produced directly inside the tyre from liquid starting materials, at the end of the tyre line.

The current process of making silent tyres carries along with it a number of overheads, namely a second logistics line to transport the lightweight but high-volume foam to the ‘tyre wedding’ at the end of the production line, multiple stages of intermediate storage for the foam and several additional manual or semi-automatic steps for logistics, cutting, adding adhesives and foam insertion into the tyre. Also, the appropriate foam must be provided ‘just-in-sequence’. This process increases the cost of production by up to 25 percent and leaves us with significant volumes of waste generated from the off cuts of the foam pieces.

The new direct-foam-to-tyre process aims to eliminate all these hassles. With the LASER-FIT process, you don’t need to worry about the ‘just-in-sequence’ complexity, time-consuming logistics and manual process steps. Moreover, it also provides greater freedom in adapting the foam’s geometry and volume to the tyre type, thereby reducing waste generation. This process is made possible using patented foam activation process using a laser after the application of foam. The foam forms an air-impermeable skin on the surface, which minimises the penetration of sound into the open-pored acoustic foam and prevents sound absorption.

The process concept was presented at TireTech in Hannover this March and the complete solution will be presented at RubberTech24 in Shanghai this month.

Dr Rainer Schönfeld, Global Market Strategy Head in Henkel`s Automotive Component business unit, explains, “Our new to market Loctite LASER-FIT acoustic foam achieves its sound absorption effect through a large inner surface and a pore design specifically tailored for tyre noise suppression. Without 4JET`s laser activation process, which precisely removes the foam skin, the majority of sound waves would be reflected off the foam surface instead of being absorbed. This great idea is a prime example of the innovative strength of German SMEs, which continue to be the engine of our economy!”

George Kazantzis, Global Head of Henkel`s Automotive Components business unit, adds: “This revolutionary direct-foam-to-tyre technology represents our joint commitment to innovation and sustainability. By eliminating the transportation of pre-fabricated foam and reducing cutting waste, we will enable our customers to lower their carbon footprint.”

Dr Armin Kraus, Co-CEO of the 4JET Group, stated: “In Henkel, we have found the ideal development partner for this innovation. Henkel combines expertise in the development of technically sophisticated PU foams with their mechanical application like few companies in the world. At the same time, Henkel has the necessary industry knowledge in the automotive industry as well as the global footprint required to reliably supply the tyre industry worldwide with products of consistently high quality. We witnessed this. What impressed us most was the passion and speed with which Henkel works. From the idea to the finished application in record time: we will be presenting our joint complete solution at RubberTech24 in Shanghai this month.”

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Designed to tackle the largest truck and bus wheels while maintaining precision for passenger vehicles, the RB30T Hybrid Wheel Balancer from Ranger (a BendPak division) delivers power and versatility. Switching between heavy-duty and light-duty applications is effortless, requiring just a button press. Its integrated pneumatic wheel lift enhances safety and ergonomics by minimising manual handling and reducing injury risks.

Capable of balancing wheels for buses, semi-trucks, OTR vehicles, light trucks and cars, the RB30T ensures fast, accurate results without recalibration. Its re-engineered platform supports wheels up to 330 lbs (approx. 150 kg), 49.25 inches in diameter and 20 inches wide, with rapid cycle times – seven seconds for car wheels and around 20 seconds for full truck assemblies. At its core, the Ranger Drive-Check system uses advanced 64-bit processing and quartz piezoelectric sensors to detect even the slightest imbalances across multiple axes. This smart technology simulates real-world driving conditions, identifying vibrations before they become road issues and automatically recommending optimal corrections.

Built for durability, the RB30T features a ribbed nylon-fibre drive belt, counter-weighted flywheel system and a three-phase motor with solid-state phase conversion for smooth, high-torque operation under heavy loads. The balancer comes ready to use with a commercial mounting kit, including cones and adapters, while its spacious top tray and side shelves keep wheel weights and tools organised for efficient workflow.

Available as a standalone unit or with the Ranger Select package – which includes professional installation and training – the RB30T is a robust solution for shops handling diverse wheel balancing needs.

Sean Price, Director of Product Development, said, “The new RB30T wheel balancer can do it all. Its versatility makes the RB30T a great choice not just for heavy-duty fleets and repair garages but also for high-volume tyre shops and mixed fleets.”

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Bridgestone has officially rolled out its proprietary aircraft tyre management system “easytrack” in collaboration with Cebu Pacific Air, marking the first deployment of the solution by a commercial airline.

The system, launched in April 2025, uses QR codes and a smartphone app to track aircraft tyres across the supply chain—replacing Cebu Pacific’s manual, paper-based process.

“As Cebu Pacific continues to expand its operations, it's essential that we invest in smart solutions that enhance efficiency and reduce manual workload,” said Shevantha Weerasekera, Vice President, Engineering & Fleet Management at Cebu Pacific. “Partnering with Bridgestone to implement the ‘easytrack’ system has enabled us to significantly improve our tyre  management processes significantly, ensuring greater accuracy, safety, and productivity across our operations.”

Bridgestone said the system has halved labour time for inventory management and achieved full tyre tracking accuracy after verification trials at Cebu Pacific’s warehouses, MROs, and maintenance bases.

“As a value co-creation partner, we have proposed solutions tailored to on-site operations based on learnings and insights gained from Cebu Pacific Air’s frontline operations,” said Arata Tomita, Director, Global Aviation Tire Solutions Business Division at Bridgestone. “We are very pleased that the official implementation of ‘easytrack’ has contributed to the improvement of operational accuracy, safety, and productivity.”

Bridgestone said the move aligns with its “Bridgestone E8 Commitment,” with a focus on enhancing efficiency and ecology by supporting sustainable tyre practices and operational productivity.

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Japanese start-up ispace inc. and tyre maker Bridgestone have agreed to jointly develop tyres for small and midsize lunar rovers, targeting Moon use by 2029.

The partnership equips Bridgestone’s elastic wheel technology—designed to adapt to harsh lunar terrain—on ispace's rover prototypes. The companies will conduct Earth-based performance tests before Moon deployment.

“Bridgestone’s lunar rover tyre has a structure of thin metal spokes, enabling flexible deformation while maintaining durability,” said Masaki Ota, Director of OE Business Strategy & Planning/New Mobility Business Division at Bridgestone. “This design delivers superior ability to traverse and shock absorption, allowing the rover to traverse the lunar surface and overcome obstacles such as lunar rocks.”

Bridgestone started developing lunar rover tyres in 2019 and unveiled concept models in April 2025 with lower weight to suit smaller rover platforms.

ispace, known for micro-sized lunar rovers, sees the partnership as key to its long-term lunar economy mission.

“ispace's goal of establishing a new economy on the Moon requires the participation of players from a wide range of industries,” said Takeshi Hakamada, Founder & CEO of ispace. “Bridgestone… is now developing lunar rover tyres for the extreme environments found on the Moon. These tyres will undoubtedly contribute to future human advancement on the Moon.”

The companies said they are also exploring collaboration opportunities through the Space Strategy Fund at Japan’s national space agency, JAXA.

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Magna Tyres, a leading premium off-the-road (OTR), industrial and truck tyre solutions company, has launched a new AI-powered (Artificial Intelligence) chatbot on its official website.

The chatbot will provide instant assistance to its customers 24x7 in any language around the world.

Robert Gruijters, Head of Marketing, Magna Tyres, said, “Customer service is at the core of our brand promise. With a Net Promoter Score (NPS) of 67, we already outperform many in our industry and this launch reinforces our commitment to becoming a truly best-in-class brand by being always available, accessible and responsive.”

This move is part of the company’s efforts to not only meet but exceed customer expectations by providing an instantaneous response ranging from product queries to general support.

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