Market and product

Held over three days in early March 2026 at Deutsche Messe in Hannover, Germany, Tire Technology Expo 2026 brought together tire manufacturers, materials suppliers and equipment providers from across the globe. Sustainable materials, recovered carbon black and production automation were the most discussed themes throughout the event.

I. Day 1: Wood-based fillers, AI inspection systems and circular economy debates

From the opening session, Tire Technology Expo 2026 attracted a large number of visitors and technical specialists on the exhibition floor. The morning plenary sessions revolved around two main themes: the sustainability transition in materials supply chains and the application of digitalization to tire manufacturing.

UPM: renewable functional fillers from wood

One of the more closely watched stands on the exhibition floor belonged to UPM, where the Finnish company displayed Nokian Tyres' Green Step Ligna concept tire. The tire uses UPM BioMotion renewable functional fillers (RFF) derived from wood to replace carbon black — a conventional filler associated with high CO₂ emissions during production. The product was recognized at the Tire Technology International Awards for Innovation and Excellence 2025 and won a 2025 New Wood Award.

According to UPM, their biorefinery is progressing and RFF is expected to become commercially available in due course. It is among the few 100% renewable carbon black alternatives currently at a near-commercial stage.

Black Donuts: integrated digital ecosystem from design to production

Black Donuts (Finland) presented turnkey factory solutions combining digital twin technology with bio-based material innovation. The integrated system connects tire design, digital factory simulation and real-world manufacturing in a single workflow, allowing compound formulation and material testing to be optimized before production begins.

Tekna Automazione: AI-driven defect detection with 3D modeling

Tekna Automazione (Italy) demonstrated its Vision Tire System 3D, an automated inspection solution using AI to detect and classify defects in PCR and TBR tires. The system reconstructs a precise 3D model of each tire using laser-camera triangulation and robotic arms, then applies AI analysis to identify holes, air bubbles, cuts and surface blemishes. Real-time software ensures traceable results for 100% online quality control.

Ecombine: liquid-phase mixing for improved filler dispersion

Ecombine (China) highlighted its continuous liquid-phase mixing process, which blends rubber solution and filler slurry in the liquid phase to improve dispersion compared with conventional dry mixing. According to the company, the technology reduces energy consumption, improves mechanical properties and increases polymer uniformity, while also supporting self-sealing applications through strong air retention.

Conference highlights — Day 1

In the morning conference sessions, Bridgestone presented on the company's circular economy roadmap, covering the digital tools supporting its materials strategy and end-of-life approach. Michelin's Sander Vermuelen then argued that improving end-of-life tire collection and sorting infrastructure is a prerequisite for unlocking higher-value recycling pathways.

Pirelli presented research on correlating laboratory friction test results with predictive tire models, aimed at shortening development cycles from indoor testing to real-world performance. In the afternoon, GDSO addressed digitalization across the full tire value chain, while WDK discussed risks in tire recycling.

II. Special focus: rCB — recycled filler or an entirely new material?

Among the most attended conference sessions was a presentation by Prof. Jorge Lacayo-Pineda, head expert in materials evaluation at Continental Tires, titled "Identification of rCB in cured rubber compounds".

"rCB is not carbon black; it is a new type of material." — Prof. Jorge Lacayo-Pineda, Continental Tires

The statement is brief but carries notable technical and commercial weight. Recovered carbon black (rCB) is produced from end-of-life tires through pyrolysis: tires are first separated into their three main components — textile fibers, steel and rubber granulate — and the rubber granulate is then heated to high temperatures in an oxygen-free environment. This process yields gas, pyrolysis oil and rCB. The recovered material can be reused in rubber compound manufacturing as a partial replacement for virgin carbon black.

However, according to Prof. Lacayo-Pineda, rCB differs significantly from conventional carbon black in terms of morphological structure: it has a heterogeneous composition, residual carbonaceous materials and a distinct thermal history. He used transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images to illustrate these differences, and proposed Raman spectroscopy as a practical method for distinguishing rCB from virgin carbon black in cured compounds.

Raman spectroscopy analyzes carbon structure through characteristic vibrational bands — specifically the D-band (disorder) and G-band (graphitic structure). The intensity ratio between these two bands reflects the degree of graphitization during pyrolysis, allowing the presence of rCB to be identified in compound samples. This matters as supply chain requirements for material transparency continue to tighten.

III. Day 2: Next-generation silanes, bio-based process oil and smart material handling

On the second day, the exhibition floor continued to draw visitors with live demonstrations and in-depth technical discussions from materials and equipment suppliers.

Ecopower: next-generation silanes for improved filler-polymer interaction

Ecopower (China) introduced a new generation of sulfur-containing silane coupling agents, alongside silane polymers and functional resins. According to the company, the new coupling agents improve filler-polymer interaction, enhancing abrasion resistance, wet grip and overall durability while reducing rolling resistance and heat build-up — parameters directly relevant to EU tire label performance ratings.

Skyhem: carbon-negative, bio-based process oil with full REACH registration

Skyhem (Turkey) presented Ecosky 3103, a 100% bio-based process oil with a carbon-negative profile, fully registered under EU REACH regulations. According to the manufacturer, the product meets the EU's highest environmental and safety standards while maintaining good performance in rubber compounding — including effective dispersion, processing stability and improved mechanical strength.

Zeppelin Systems: intelligent raw material handling for the mixing room

Zeppelin Systems (Germany) presented raw material handling solutions for tire mixing rooms, where a typical compound formulation may involve up to 50 different raw materials, increasingly including high-quality recyclates. The Zeppelin system covers modular storage, gentle pneumatic conveying for sensitive fillers and intelligent weighing and dosing. The aim is precise control over material quantities and delivery timing to ensure compound consistency.

Siemens: industrial AI, automated guided vehicles and production simulation

Siemens presented an integrated suite of solutions for tire manufacturing, including automated guided vehicles (AGVs) with fleet management for material flow automation, simulation software for production process optimization, and a manufacturing execution system (MES) providing real-time operational data. The company also highlighted solutions for mechanical and chemical recycling to improve resource efficiency.

Calemard by Spoolex and UP-Labels: precision aramid cutting and ultra-thin sidewall labels

Calemard by Spoolex (France) demonstrated aramid cutting solutions — aramid being the high-strength reinforcement fiber used in tires — through its Orion G1000 machine, which applies shear-cut technology with loop tension regulation and pre-cut liner insertion. The company states it can fully refurbish a complete machine in under three weeks.

UP-Labels (Austria) introduced its UP-Tireworks system, which allows custom micro-decals to be applied directly to the tire sidewall during the final finishing stage, compatible with both semi- and fully automated processes. The ultra-thin labels blend with the sidewall surface for a near-invisible appearance.

IV. Day 3: Simulation, Euro 7 regulation and tires for autonomous vehicles

The final day of the expo (March 5) closed with a technically intensive conference program covering advanced simulation and testing, Euro 7 requirements and the specific tire demands of autonomous vehicles. The exhibition floor closed earlier at 15:00, though conference sessions ran through to the afternoon.

Continental: tire requirements for autonomous vehicles

Continental delivered a total of four presentations at the conference. The opening address by Dr Andreas Topp, Head of Platform Development and Industrialization for passenger-car tires, covered the new technical requirements that autonomous vehicles place on tires — including interaction with smart vehicle dynamics control systems, fleet operation optimization and tailored solutions for specific use profiles. Continental also addressed tire wear particle emissions and development challenges related to the Euro 7 standard.

Pirelli: from compound friction data to predictive tire models

Pirelli's research team (Cecilia Malverti and Filippo Bassetto) presented a study on measuring rubber compound friction using a high-speed linear friction tester (HSLFT), then integrating the resulting friction maps into FEA-based tire models. The aim is to accurately characterize local friction behavior while maintaining overall grip consistency. Comparative analysis showed strong alignment between virtual models and physical test results across controlled surfaces, reducing reliance on costly outdoor testing while preserving performance prediction accuracy.

Bridgestone: circular economy roadmap and region-specific challenges

Representatives from both Bridgestone EMIA and the Americas (Marco Musaio and Marcela Castaño) presented on the company's journey toward a circular business model. A practical point emphasized was that each market has its own characteristics, requiring different ecosystems and pathways, even while knowledge is shared across projects. Castaño noted the company is balancing a long-term vision with near-term actionable solutions, rather than focusing exclusively on distant targets.

EU regulation: from Euro 7 to the Circular Economy Act

Adam McCarthy, Secretary General of Tyres Europe, addressed the conference via video link (unable to travel due to flight restrictions) and provided an update on the EU regulatory landscape reshaping the tire industry: from Euro 7's control of tire wear particle emissions, to the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) and the forthcoming Circular Economy Act. He described the past year as a "tsunami of regulations" and highlighted the tension between sustainability requirements, safety, quality and competitiveness in a rapidly evolving policy environment.

Solvay also presented on bio-sourced and recycled precipitated silica, arguing that circular conversion without costly compound reformulation remains a practical challenge, and that the company is developing solutions to help close that gap.

V. Tire Technology International Awards for Innovation and Excellence 2026

The Tire Technology International Awards for Innovation and Excellence 2026 ceremony took place on the evening of March 3 in Hall 19 at Deutsche Messe. This year's awards spanned 13 categories, recognizing outstanding achievements over the past 12 months. Michelin and Continental were the most decorated organizations.

Bridgestone received the Environmental Achievement of the Year — Tire Design award for its TBR tire produced with 70% recycled and renewable content. Continental won Environmental Achievement of the Year — Manufacturing for its efforts to reduce freshwater consumption in production. Michelin was awarded Environmental Achievement of the Year — Industry Contribution for the BioButterfly project, an initiative testing bio-based materials in tires. Flexsys won Chemicals and Compounding Innovation of the Year for its alternative to 6PPD — the conventional antiozonant additive under scrutiny for its toxic effects on aquatic environments. Teijin Aramid received the Materials Innovation of the Year award for Twaron Next technology. Goodyear and TNO were jointly awarded R&D Breakthrough of the Year for integrating tire intelligence with AEB systems. Comerio Ercole won Tire Manufacturing Innovation of the Year for its Zeus calendering line. Uzer Makina was named Tire Industry Supplier of the Year. Michelin also took Tire Concept of the Year for the Michelin Lunar Airless Wheel (MILAW) design, and Tire of the Year for the Primacy 5 Energy. Continental was named Tire Manufacturer of the Year for the fifth time since 2008.

In the individual categories, the Young Scientist Prize went to Max Dixey, a PhD candidate at Queen Mary University of London, for his presentation on the effects of carbon black activators on dynamic viscoelasticity. The Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Pascal Prost of Michelin, a long-serving engineer and researcher in the industry.Looking back across the full event

Across the three days of Tire Technology Expo 2026, the event offered a fairly clear picture of where the industry currently stands: multiple directions being explored in parallel, with limited consensus on which path will predominate. Material transparency — particularly around rCB —, increasingly stringent EU regulation, and the gap between laboratory results and large-scale production were the three issues that surfaced consistently across conference sessions and floor discussions.

Conference director Tim Sandford observed that a spirit of collaboration was the defining characteristic of this year's gathering, with many presentations making the case for cross-industry partnerships rather than individual organizations working in isolation. The organizers confirmed that Tire Technology Expo 2027 will take place in Hannover from 2–4 March 2027.

Source: Tire Technology International (tiretechnologyinternational.com). Event held 3–5 March 2026 at Deutsche Messe, Hannover, Germany.

Tire Technology International (tiretechnologyinternational.com). Sự kiện diễn ra 3–5/3/2026 tại Deutsche Messe, Hannover, Đức.
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