Teijin Aramid wins Innovation Award at Tire Technology Expo 2026

Teijin Aramid has received the Innovation Award (Materials Innovation) at Tire Technology Expo 2026 for successfully enabling the first industrial scale use of Twaron Next® in Bridgestone’s solar car tires. A milestone achieved through close collaboration with Bridgestone from concept to road. 

Twaron Next® is produced using reclaimed aramid while retaining the mechanical performance of standard Twaron®. Working in partnership with Bridgestone, Teijin Aramid integrated Twaron Next® into the belt reinforcement of Bridgestone’s solar car tires, translating circular fiber innovation into a tire that performs under competitive conditions. That capability was proven when the Brunel Solar Team’s Nuna 13 won the 2025 Bridgestone World Solar Challenge, completing the 3,000 kilometer journey across Australia on tires reinforced with Twaron Next®. 

“This award recognizes more than a material, it recognizes a partnership that delivered real-world adoption. Together with Bridgestone, we proved that a circular aramid can meet top-level technical requirements in a demanding application, helping reduce environmental impact without compromising performance.” 
Philip Altena, Director Sustainability at Teijin Aramid

The award underscores Teijin Aramid’s role in co-developing and qualifying a circular reinforcement fiber for tire applications, reflecting a broader industry trend in which materials innovation is realized through close collaboration across the value chain. Teijin Aramid remains committed to advancing circular, high-performance material solutions for next-generation mobility.