North America's Top 50: Tire companies in the news

You don't make the list of Top 50 North American rubber products makers without making a little bit of news along the way. Here's a look at some of the headlines made by tire makers in the last year.

HANOVER, Germany—Digitization and sustainability were the theme for Continental this past year.

In May 2022, Conti took one step closer toward its goal of a "digital ecosystem," most recently in the industrial and hydraulic hose fabrication space, introducing a cloud-based addition to its Smart Test Bench technology. This modular design integrates CrimpCloud, CrimpIQ technology and the smart bench for hose building. This announcement came just two months after it launched the new Conti Load Sense system, a more efficient, reliable and safe conveyor belt which uses 2D radar to measure material flow.

For the fourth year running, Continental A.G. achieved the highest grade from the Carbon Disclosure Project in reducing CO2 emissions along its supply chain. The company was in the top 8 percent of more than 13,000 companies considered. Claus Petschick, head of sustainability at Continental Tires, said, "Continental's goal is to achieve fully sustainable supply chains by 2050 at the latest."

GWANGJU, South Korea—Kumho began 2022 with a major deal in Saudi Arabia, signing a memorandum of understanding with a Saudi investors' group, which includes the construction of a tire plant in the country.

NOKIA, Finland—The ongoing Russian war on Ukraine has impacted the 2022 outlook for Nokian Tyre P.L.C.

Nokian withdrew its outlook for 2022 in a Feb. 28 statement, saying that the Russian military action in Ukraine and the consequent sanctions have caused "significant uncertainty" for the Finnish tire maker.

The expansion of European Union sanctions on Russia has pushed Nokian to expedite plans to increase capacity at plants in Dayton, Tenn., and Nokia, Finland. Nokian said in April that it was ramping up plans to build a second European factory to replace the 16-year-old Russian plant's capacity.

MILAN—Pirelli S.p.A. is looking to the future.

The Milan-based tire maker announced a North American expansion with a two-year, $15 million investment to build on its Silao, Mexico, manufacturing presence by establishing a technological and R&D hub.

It was announced May 16 that current co-CEO Giorgio Luca Bruno will take over as CEO by spring 2023. Marco Tronchetti Provera will continue as executive vice chairman of Pirelli until spring 2026.

QUINCY, Ill.—Titan International Inc. made several large-scale changes internationally.

Titan secured a three-year, $400 million agreement with farm equipment maker CNH Industrial. The Turin, Italy-based company will be supplied with agricultural wheels and tires.

Australian tire, wheel and service provider, OTR Tyres, has acquired Titan International Inc.'s wheel business for $17.5 million. The deal does not include Titan's undercarriage business in the country. OTR Tyres will assume all liabilities, including employee and lease obligations. The deal was completed in late March.

TRELLEBORG, Sweden—In one of the largest moves in the industry as of late, Trelleborg Wheel Systems, an agricultural tire and wheel business that generated about $1.17 billion in sales last year for parent company Trelleborg A.B., is being sold to Yokohama Rubber Co. Ltd. for $2.3 billion. The deal was announced in March 2022 and is anticipated to be completed "in the latter part of 2022" subject to regulatory approval.