Black Donuts launches InTire Labs for sustainability in tire and rubber materials

Pirkkala, Finland – Black Donuts Inc. has announced the launch of InTire Labs, a new independent material research center located in Tampere, Finland. The facility, officially open on July 16, 2025, is designed to accelerate the development of sustainable tire and rubber materials. It will serve as a neutral and confidential platform for research and development, supporting tire manufacturers, rubber product producers, and raw material suppliers worldwide.

InTire Labs will offer a comprehensive suite of services, including rubber compounding and recipe development, reverse engineering of rubber compounds, physical and chemical testing, and pilot-scale processing such as mixing, milling, pressing, and curing. A key focus of the lab will be the development of bio-based, recycled, and next-generation materials, helping the industry transition away from traditional fossil-based compounds like petroleum-derived synthetic rubber.

The facility spans 700 square meters and is equipped with state-of-the-art machinery and digital infrastructure. This setup enables precise formulation control, real-time data collection, and full traceability, which are essential for meeting stringent environmental regulations and ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) commitments.

According to Black Donuts CEO Kai Hauvala, the tire industry urgently needs dedicated infrastructure to meet rising sustainability targets. InTire Labs is intended to fill that gap by providing a high-performance, independent testing environment. Ilkka Lehtoranta, Head of Tire and Material Development at Black Donuts, emphasized that the lab will empower clients to meet their sustainability goals through both individual material tests and full-scale compound innovation.

In addition to its technical capabilities, InTire Labs is designed to foster collaboration across the industry. It will serve as a platform for joint research, testing, and analysis, offering opportunities for both large corporations and small-to-medium enterprises to access high-quality research tools and accelerate their innovation cycles.

The launch of InTire Labs is partially funded by the European Union’s NextGenerationEU initiative, highlighting its alignment with broader European goals for green innovation and sustainable industrial development.