Tire Technology & Manufacturing

The Continental Executive Board has decided to spin off the Automotive group sector following its detailed evaluation announced in early August. Subject to the approval of the Supervisory Board in March 2025, the spin-off will be presented for resolution to the Annual Shareholders’ Meeting of Continental AG on April 25, 2025. The spin-off is expected to take place by the end of 2025. The preparations for it are to be completed by the end of the third quarter of 2025. 

As farms grow and fields get farther apart, farm equipment—especially tractors—spend more time on the road. Getting from field to field smoothly and quickly is crucial for productivity. Choosing tires that match your operation’s in-field and on-road needs ensures safe, efficient and comfortable road travel while maintaining performance in the field.

NEXEN TIRE has announced the development and implementation of its AI-based automated tire product inspection system. As the first instance in the tire industry, the system has been developed in a platform format, allowing easy application to new factories or equipment. With the introduction of this automated product inspection system, NEXEN TIRE, which has been expanding AI applications in the tire development process, has now extended the scope of AI utilization to manufacturing processes.

The research, commissioned by Bridgestone’s globally trusted fleet management solution, was conducted among 1,800 fleet managers across 15 countries to shed light on the current and future landscape of fleet digitisation. The findings show that fleets plan to increase their investment in digital fleet solutions in future and indicate significant planned adoption related to AI and EV technologies.

“The move towards digital solutions, including AI, is no surprise to us and a clear indication of where the future of fleet management is headed,” said Jan-Maarten de Vries, President Fleet Management Solutions at Bridgestone Mobility Solutions.

Bridgestone EMEA (Bridgestone), Grupo BB&G (BB&G) and Versalis (Eni) announced the signing of an agreement aimed at establishing a closed-loop ecosystem to transform end-of-life tires into new tires. The agreement will bring together the innovation, experience and technological skills of all three companies. The partnership aims to develop a model for the creation of a scalable and increasingly sustainable supply chain.

India’s Automotive Tyre Manufacturers Association (ATMA) reports that June 2024 saw actual natural rubber availability at merely 30,000 tons, falling significantly short of the projected 60,000 tons.

The crisis deepened in July, with ATMA noting an almost complete halt in natural rubber sales for most of the month. This scarcity has had wide-ranging impacts across the rubber industry, affecting both small and medium enterprises as well as major tire manufacturers.

Rajiv Budhraja, Director General, ATMA, highlighted the severity of the situation, stating, “Some tire plants of ATMA member companies have witnessed production sliding over 10 per cent in July owing to the natural rubber crunch. Production planning is in total disarray.”