TTE News: Michelin scoops top tire maker award

Hanover, Germany - Environmental initiatives over the past 12 months have helped  Michelin to earn the 'tire manufacturer of the year' title in the 2019 Tire Technology International (TTI) Awards.

The award recognised Michelin's commitment to 2048 sustainability targets and product innovation work in areas such as tire-materials technology.

“Michelin has been driving the market with innovations and sustainability concepts for years,” said TTI awards judge Klaus Baltruschat, tire expert for TÜV Süd.

As examples, he cited environmental initiatives "such as [the use of] micronised rubber powder and clever tread pattern design that still delivers good performance even when close to being worn out.”

Other winners of  the TTI Innovation and Excellence Awards, announced at a ceremony during Tire Technology Expo 2019 in Hanover included:

HF Group's One tire building machine for its capability to produce tires with inflated or flat turn-up, as well as standard tire designs, among other features.

Environmental Achievement of the Year – Bridgestone for its HSR (High-Strength Rubber) polymer, the world’s first polymer to bond rubber and resins at a molecular level.

Tire Industry Supplier of the Year – Test World (Millbrook) for its all-year-round tire and vehicle winter testing facility.

Tire Manufacturer of the Year – Michelin, partly for its environmental initiatives over the past 12 months

Lifetime Achievement Award – Rudi Hein in recognition of his 32-year career in special project teams at BMW, in particular his work on runflat tire systems, and the decade spent with Bridgestone as executive advisor standards and regulations.