Bear Machines - an innovation gets rolling

Logo of Bear Machines GmbH
© Bear Machines GmbH

Sometimes a single moment is enough to change an entire industry. That's exactly how the story of Bear Machines began: Mark Berendsen saw his cousin laboriously recutting a bus tyre and immediately had an idea. In his garage, the mechanical engineer developed a solution that revolutionised tyre recutting – economical, sustainable and with a real impact on the transport industry. Find out how this observation turned into an innovative company with a big impact in the story.

  • Mechanical and plant engineering
  • 5 employees
  • Heek
  • Federal Prize 2024, Münsterland Innovation Prize, Innovation Prize for Craftsmanship
Tyre testing at Bear Machines
© Münsterland e.V. / Philipp Fölting
New tyre tread
© Münsterland e.V. / Philipp Fölting
Bear-Cut in action
© Münsterland e.V. / Philipp Fölting
Digital control technology of the Bear-Cut machine
© Münsterland e.V. / Philipp Fölting
Modern tyre processing
© Münsterland e.V. / Philipp Fölting
Bus fleets with Bear Machines technology
© Münsterland e.V. / Philipp Fölting
1
ECONOMY MEETS SUSTAINABILITY

Tyres are a massive cost and environmental factor in the transport industry. This is exactly where the Bear Machines solution comes in: By regrooving the tread, tyres get up to 25 percent more mileage - and need to be replaced much later. This means: less tyre production, less waste and less CO₂.

But the effect goes even further. Regrooved tyres roll more easily. The fuel consumption of a truck is reduced by an average of 0.5 litres of diesel per 100 kilometres per tyre. Multiplied by the many tyres of a 40-tonne truck and annual mileages of several hundred thousand kilometres, this adds up to several tonnes of CO₂ savings per vehicle. And all this with considerable cost benefits at the petrol station.

The machine is also impressive from a business perspective: haulage and bus companies often recoup the purchase price in just 12 to 18 months, and in some cases even faster. From around 1,000 tyres per year, every regrooving turns into cash. The more kilometres the fleets run, the greater the profit - both financially and ecologically.

2
THE BUSINESS MODEL: FOCUSSING ON MACHINE SALES

The centrepiece of Bear Machines is the sale of Bear Cut machines. Customers ranging from haulage companies and bus companies to tyre services can implement the regrooving process directly in their own workshop. The machine has a modular design, can process tyres with or without rims and has a digital depth measurement system as well as a clever clamping system - efficient and safe to use.

There is also a mobile version with which the company can regroove tyres directly on the customer's premises. Essentially, however, the aim is to enable companies themselves to use tyres more sustainably and profitably.

3
SUPPORT FROM THE MÜNSTERLAND

The step from garage idea to market-ready product was not achieved alone. Mark Berendsen found the perfect environment at the maakwi Campus in Heek: start-up support, capital, workshops and a strong network. Together with Campus Director Markus Niewerth, the side project became a real start-up.

This network also led to contact with Josef Warmeling, an experienced industry expert from Altenberge. He immediately recognised the potential, brought the first machines onto the market and opened the door to internationalisation. His credo: "You don't sell something like this online, you sell it through trust."

4
CHALLENGES AND FINANCING

From the first prototype to series production, Mark Berendsen put an enormous amount of work into the project. He initially started it alongside his full-time job - often working late into the night, alongside his family and house building. "Champagne or seltzer - it was all or nothing," he recalls of the decision to finally take the plunge into self-employment in 2023.

This was made possible by the support of the maakwi Campus in Heek, which not only provided rooms and machines, but also capital and contacts. This was complemented by funding and awards such as the Federal Innovation Prize, the Münsterland Innovation Prize, the Innovation Prize for Crafts and the NRW Start-up Scholarship. Josef Warmeling, who joined as a shareholder and sales partner in 2024, also provided an important boost.

Courage and effort have paid off: a growing start-up has emerged from a garage idea that is now changing the tyre market for good.

5
STRONG TEAM, STRONG NETWORK

Today, the team consists of Mark Berendsen as the idea generator and engineer, his cousin Stephan Berendsen, who is responsible for organisation and marketing, Ludger Gaußling as investor and Josef Warmeling in sales. Together they combine technical expertise, organisational talent, capital and industry contacts - the basis for the success of Bear Machines.

6
VISION FOR THE FUTURE

"We want our machine to be in as many workshops as possible," says Mark Berendsen. The goals: To massively reduce tyre waste, lower fuel consumption and at the same time increase the profitability of the industry. The next step has already been initiated: Bear Machines is preparing for internationalisation, initially with a focus on Austria, Switzerland, Luxembourg and France.

What Mark and his team would like to pass on to other founders: Have courage, go out with the idea early, get feedback, remain open to criticism. And look for partners who bring more than just money.

Bear Machines thus impressively demonstrates how a clever idea from the Münsterland region can make the transport industry more sustainable and profitable. A start-up story that proves: green start-ups pay off - for companies, for the environment and for the future.

Bear Machines GmbH wins the Münsterland 2024 Innovation Award

The winners of the Westmünsterland 2024 start-up prize
© Münsterland e.V. / Philipp Fölting

Mark and Stephan were awarded the prestigious Münsterland Innovation Prize in the "Small and smart" category for their innovative idea and development of the semi-automatic "Bear-Cut " tyre regrooving machine and the founding of Bear-Machines GmbH. The award recognises the high contribution to sustainability and efficiency and demonstrates the innovative strength of companies in the Münsterland region.

Further information on the Münsterland Innovation Award and the award ceremony can be found here.

Be inspired by more green start-up stories

Photo shoot at Urbanhive
© Münsterland e.V. / Philipp Fölting
Learn more...

Further topics