hirty years ago, Continental used silica for the very first time in its tread compounds for car tires. The properties of this filler revolutionized the driving safety and energy efficiency of tires. Rolling resistance has been significantly reduced, and braking distances have since been cut by nearly 50 percent. This was made possible by the special surface properties of silica, which can form chemical bonds with the rubber polymer. During vulcanization – the process in which the tire obtains its shape – silica, as well as other components, is responsible for the formation of a very strong network between the rubber molecules. The result is an elastic tire with excellent safety properties.

Wacker Chemie AG reported that its 2024 sales and earnings fell versus the previous year due to persistently weak market conditions. WACKER’s sales totaled €5.72 billion, 11 percent less than in 2023 (€6.40 billion). This development was driven primarily by lower prices and much lower volumes at the Polysilicon division. By contrast, sales in the chemical divisions matched the previous year’s performance despite headwinds. The biotechnology division reported a year-over-year increase in sales.

The next WOMEN OF OUR INDUSTRY conversation this March 26, 12 p.m. – 1 p.m. ET with featured guest Kylie Knipp. This WORD Conversation begins with open networking for approximately 10 minutes followed by a conversation between our featured guest, Kylie Knipp, Senior Technical Account Manager at ACE Laboratories, and Heather Maimone, Training & Membership Director with Rubber Division, ACS.

Bringing in over five years of marketing experience, primarily in the HVAC manufacturing industry, Anette Sklarz Justice will lead the Marketing and Communication Unit at the BKT subsidiary in Ohio, U.S., to further extend the company’s presence in the tire market. She will focus on the brand’s growth strategy and develop communications plans tailored to the U.S. market. Not only does this new appointment strengthen the leadership of BKT USA, but the company also intends to establish a strong and recognizable presence of the BKT brand, by leveraging a strategic approach that aims to improve both brand visibility and overall communication, as well as broadening its target audience to reach customers and industry players through quality content and initiatives.

Hankook Tire & Technology (Hankook Tire) announced its partnership with renowned German luxury mobility brand BRABUS to unveil an electrifying brand film titled “Electrified, Hankook iON & BRABUS.”

The brand film highlights both companies’ shared passion for technological advancement and innovation-driven design philosophies in future mobility. With Hankook’s world-first full line-up of electric vehicle tire brand— ‘iON’— and BRABUS’s expertise in bespoke high-performance electric vehicle individualization, the two companies are driving the transformation of mobility through electrification.

In a significant move, the Supervisory Board of Continental has approved the planned spin-off of its Automotive division. The board is recommending that the 2025 Annual Shareholders’ Meeting also endorse this step. Upon approval, the new independent company will have cash funds of €1.5 billion and a revolving credit facility of €2.5 billion to strengthen its operating business.