The jury has returned its verdict, the votes have been counted, and the winners have been announced in the 6th Tire Technology International Awards for Innovation and Excellence – the world’s biggest celebration of endeavour in the field of tire development and manufacturing.

Trophies were presented in five categories during a gala dinner on February 11 at this year’s Tire Technology Expo, in Cologne, Germany, with winners chosen by an independent, international panel of 23 tire industry experts.

Continental were the biggest winners on the night, picking up two awards at the prestigious event: Tire Manufacturing Innovation of the Year for their new ContiLifeCycle factory, and the coveted Tire Manufacturer of the Year Award 2014, beating off competition from other big players including Giti Tire, Goodyear and Hankook.

Judges noted the German manufacturer’s commitment to a global strategy, with sustainability at the forefront of operations, recognising its new ContLifeCycle facility in Hanover for the Tire Manufacturing Innovation, a plant which when fully operational will produce around 180,000 retreaded truck and bus tires per year using recycled rubber.

Nikolai Setzer, executive board member of Continental Corporation and responsible for the Division Tires said the company were delighted with the accolade: “As our Division Tires is currently midway through realizing its Vision 2025, the timing couldn’t be better. It is a great appreciation for our global tire team for the exceptional execution of our long-term growth plan, which is based on substantial investments into enlarging our existing tire plants and ramping up several new ones, further enhancing the high-tech capabilities of our proving grounds as well as investing into new premium products, processes and technologies at the highest level.”
Sumitomo Rubber Industries (SRI) picked up Environmental Achievement of the Year for their Enasave 100 tire, and became the only nominee to amass 100 points from the judges with 17 out of 23 choosing the Japanese manufacturer as first choice.

The Enasave 100 tire replaces synthetic rubber with epoxidized natural rubber and ultra-pure NR, and conventional carbon black with biomass-derived carbon black, giving good fuel efficiency, enhanced wet-braking performance, ride comfort and durability compared to earlier models.

“The SRI Enasave 100 represents the industrial implementation today of a future worldwide ‘must’: biomass will be always available, unlike fossil-fuel resources,” judge, Federico Mancosu said. He added, “This product has opened a path to be followed by the other tire producers, and already allows fossil-fuel resources to be saved.”

Bridgestone won a close battle with fellow nominee SRI to win the Tire Technology of the Year award for its ‘ologic’ tires.  The range features larger diameter and higher belt tension, as seen on the new BMW i3, which helps to significantly reduce tire deformation and therefore conserve energy that is otherwise lost through internal friction – also helping to reduce rolling resistance.

Franco Annunziato, CEO of Bridgestone Europe said: “Energy efficiency is an important development criterion for all our tires at Bridgestone. However, it becomes an even more critical factor in an electric car, which is why we have put all our knowhow, skill and passion into developing this unique tire technology concept, ‘ologic’. It is one that we are confident delivers the premium performance, safety and economy for consumers who have come to expect it from both brands.”

VMI picked up Tire Industry Supplier of the Year, in the year it launched Cortexx, a control portal that comes with VMI’s new tire production equipment and employs the same look-and-feel for user interfaces across all machines. VMI has also revealed the next generation of its Maxx tire building machines for ‘hands-off, eyes-off’ operation – the Maxx ActiZones, which uses segmented safety zones to reduce downtime.

“VMI has a long history of providing improvements to the tire industry with new equipment, new technologies and innovative approaches to challenges,” acknowledged Ray Labuda, retired VP technology for Hankook USA and member of the judging panel. “With the introduction of Cortexx and the next generation of Maxx building equipment, that history continues by providing improvements in efficiency, safety and operational quality in tire building.”

A special Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to the team of tire industry experts who between them have helped train more than 3,000 tire engineers and scientists in 40 separate Tire Mechanics Short Courses. The courses are run in association with the University of Akron and traditionally held at Tire Technology Conference events. The winning team includes: Dr Benjamin T.F Chung, Dr Gerald Potts, Dr Joseph D Walter, Dr Joe Padovan, Dr Marion G Pottinger and Dr Michael Trinko.

Tire Technology Conference Director Mark Fenner said: “This team of specialists has spent many years passing on in-depth knowledge to reams of young engineers, doing sterling work to drive up standards industry-wide. It is only right we recognise this phenomenal contribution to our industry and thank this dedicated team for its continued work pushing standards ever higher.”

The award ceremony was held at this year’s Tire Technology Expo, which has continued to grow in eminence, becoming the world’s leading tire design and manufacturing event. The 2014 show continues this upward trend with over 200 exhibitors taking part.
For a full list of nominees, winners and the full judging panel please see below.

For more information about events from this year’s Tire technology Expo click here.