The Innovation Forum for Sustainable Tyre Recycling (AZuR) recently conducted a fact-finding mission to Finland to examine the high market penetration of retreaded tyres in Scandinavia, with a visit to Nokian Tyres. While the German market for retreaded commercial vehicle tyres remains below 20 per cent, the Scandinavian sector reaches up to 50 per cent, providing a benchmark for the ecologically and economically viable tyre life cycle championed by AZuR.
AZuR Delegation Studies Scandinavian Retreading Excellence at Nokian Tyres
The delegation, comprising representatives from Bundesverband Reifenhandel und Vulkaniseur-Handwerk e.V. (BRV), REMA TIP TOP, RIGDON, RuLa-BRW, Marangoni S.p.A., Nokian Tyres, and Solid Plant, focused on how the Finnish market organises and sustains its retreading volumes.
The itinerary commenced at the Nokian Tyres new tyre production facility in Nokia, near Tampere. The plant is characterised by highly automated processes, with the majority of production steps robot-controlled. The facility operates a three-shift system seven days a week, employing approximately 1,100 people.
Following the tour of the new tyre production, the group visited the Nokian Tyres retreading plant in Sastamala. This facility produces treads in approximately 30 different patterns and over 200 variations to suit diverse commercial vehicle applications and dimensions. Notably, the plant continues to produce and refine certain tread patterns that have remained in successful production for more than five decades.
A central component of the visit was a technical exchange between the AZuR experts and their Finnish counterparts. Discussions focused on integrating AI-supported processes, the growing role of robotics in the workshop, and collaborative strategies to enhance the tyre circular economy.
Host Janne Ruhanen welcomed the participants and facilitated an open dialogue regarding technical advancements and market structure. The visit to Nokian Tyres follows previous AZuR delegation tours of facilities operated by Marangoni, Michelin, Rigdon, Rösler, and RuLa-BRW, all aimed at strengthening the international retreading community through shared expertise.
