NACE 22.1 – Manufacture of Rubber Products | Public Tenders

Definition: NACE 22.1 covers the manufacture of all kinds of rubber products — from tyres and hoses to seals and technical rubber articles, as well as protective and sporting rubber equipment. These products are relevant to public procurement because vehicle fleets, fire services, emergency services and municipal infrastructure regularly procure tyres, seals and protective rubber equipment.

Legal basis: NACE Rev. 2 (Regulation (EC) No 1893/2006) · Last updated: January 2026

What does NACE 22.1 cover?

NACE 22.1 (Manufacture of rubber products) classifies companies that manufacture technical and consumer rubber products from natural or synthetic rubber — a sector of considerable importance to municipal vehicle, infrastructure and safety procurement.

Group 22.1 within Section C (Manufacturing) and Division 22 is broken down into several classes:

Technical rubber articles such as sealing rings, vibration dampers and rubber-to-metal bonds are essential components in municipal vehicle fleets, water supply infrastructure and safety equipment. Rubber protective clothing (acid-resistant coats, chemical-protection gloves) is another procurement-relevant segment.

Public tenders: scope of activity NACE 22.1

Rubber products are procured by the public sector both as direct purchases (tyres for fleets, seals for maintenance) and as part of vehicle and infrastructure projects — with thousands of individual tenders each year from municipalities, fire services and state fleet operators.

Typical contract types

• Tyre procurement for public vehicle fleets: framework agreements for cars, lorries and special vehicles used by police, armed forces, municipal works departments and emergency services
• Rubber fire-service equipment: pressure hoses, suction hoses, sealing collars, gloves and boots for fire services in accordance with DIN standards
• Technical seals and hoses: procurement for municipal water and wastewater infrastructure, pump stations and wastewater treatment plants
• Anti-vibration mats and bearing elements: vibration protection for machine halls, platform installations and bridge bearings
• Chemical-protection PPE: rubber protective clothing for hazardous-materials operations by fire services, civil protection agencies and municipal environmental authorities

Thresholds and procurement procedures

Tyre framework agreements for medium-sized and large vehicle fleets frequently exceed the EU supply threshold (EUR 221,000). These are regularly tendered EU-wide in the open procedure. Smaller purchases (individual tyres, sealing kits) are handled under the simplified procedure or by direct award below the national low-value threshold (EUR 25,000 net).

Relevant CPV codes for NACE 22.1

The following CPV codes are relevant for targeted searches for tenders in the field of rubber products — covering tyres as well as technical rubber articles and protective equipment.

Current tenders are published on TED (Tenders Electronic Daily) as well as on municipal procurement platforms and the German Procurement Portal (DTVP).

For whom is NACE 22.1 relevant in procurement law?

Public contracting authorities

The main contracting authorities for rubber products in the public sector are municipal fleet departments and works yards for tyre procurement, volunteer and professional fire services for hose and protective equipment, the German federal armed forces procurement office (BAAINBw) for military vehicle tyres and protective equipment, municipal water and wastewater associations for technical seals, and state police authorities for tyres on service and operational vehicles.

Companies and bidders

Tyre manufacturers, rubber-goods producers and specialist wholesalers acting as bidders should pay attention to the following aspects:

• Standards compliance: compliance with relevant EN standards, e.g. DIN 14811 for fire hoses, EN ISO 20471 for high-visibility clothing, EU Tyre Labelling Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2020/740)
• Logistics capability: short lead times (often 24–72 h) and nationwide service networks as award criteria in tyre contracts
• End-of-life concepts: scrap-tyre disposal and recycling as an ancillary service and potential sustainability criterion
• Suitability for framework agreements: capacity evidence for supplying multiple sites or vehicle locations

NACE 22.1 in context: Section C and Division 22

NACE 22.1 is part of Division 22 (Manufacture of rubber and plastic products) — a sector closely linked to the public sector through vehicle, infrastructure and safety procurement.

• NACE C – Manufacturing: parent section
• NACE 22 – Manufacture of rubber and plastic products: parent division
• NACE 22.2 – Manufacture of plastic products: pipes, containers, plastic components
• NACE 29 – Manufacture of motor vehicles: vehicle procurement as the main consumer of tyres

Frequently asked questions on NACE 22.1 and public tenders

How are tyres for municipal vehicle fleets typically tendered? Usually as a framework agreement with one or more suppliers for a defined vehicle fleet and term (typically 2–4 years). Award criteria, alongside price, often include response time, supply availability, tyre quality (EU label rating) and scope of service (fitting, disposal).

Which standards are mandatory for rubber fire hoses? Fire hoses must comply with DIN 14811 (pressure hoses) or DIN 14814 (suction hoses). Evidence of conformity from an accredited testing institute is typically a mandatory part of the specification.

Is the disposal of scrap tyres subject to procurement law? Where disposal is agreed on a fee-paying basis as part of a tyre supply contract, the total contract value is decisive. Pure scrap-tyre disposal services can be tendered separately as service contracts.

Last updated: January 2026 All information provided without warranty. For legally binding advice, please consult a law firm specialising in public procurement.