Ainscough Crane Hire, UK’s largest crane hire business, has significantly deepened its collaboration with Michelin by placing its entire tyre management operation in the hands of Michelin’s Connected Solutions (CXS) division. What began in 2023 as an arrangement focused on the company’s truck tyres has now evolved into a comprehensive, long-term partnership covering the full spectrum of the operator’s fleet.

Operating from 30 sites nationwide, the agreement encompasses more than 350 Liebherr cranes, a substantial number of which are 16-wheelers, alongside 135 trucks and trailers and 199 support vans. Included within this are 40 Scania heavy goods vehicles dedicated to heavy haulage. CXS now coordinates the supply of roughly 1,000 tyres annually through a national network while also providing detailed sustainability reporting to support Ainscough’s environmental goals.

The extension of the partnership was reinforced by a successful benchmarking trial, which demonstrated that Michelin’s X Multi truck tyres delivered three times the lifespan of a leading competitor. These fitments now equip the majority of the haulage fleet. Michelin is also introducing its advanced X Crane 2 tyres across the heavy crane fleet as existing rubber is replaced. These tyres offer a new tread pattern for enhanced grip and braking, alongside a higher load capacity that permits an additional 800 kilogrammes per tyre at highway speeds. Certified testing also shows they are more than 13 percent more fuel-efficient than their main premium rival due to reduced rolling resistance.

Sustainability remains central to the arrangement. Ainsworth makes full use of Michelin’s multi-life tyre policy for its trucks and ballast trailers. Casings are regrooved once tread depth diminishes, then later retreaded at Michelin’s Remix facility in Stoke, with the option for further regrooving. The company’s Mercedes-Benz service vans are fitted with the adaptable Michelin Agilis CrossClimate tyre.

Supporting this comprehensive operation is Fraser Greer, Key Account Manager at CXS. Ainscough Crane Hire continues to serve a wide array of sectors including infrastructure, defence, energy and telecommunications, cementing its role as a key contributor to the UK’s built environment.

Chris Britton, Head of Operations Support, Ainscough Crane Hire, said, “Michelin has become our latest highly valued strategic supplier relationship. Being the number one operator in our field, we only go with trusted and number one brands as our suppliers. The fuel savings of GBP 130 per 10,000 km will save us GBP 100,000s across the lifetime of the machines and reduce their environmental impact. Likewise, the increased load factor of the fitments and the 20 percent improvement in braking distances really impressed us. It means safety margins will increase, and safety is at the heart of everything we do.

“As a business we aren’t looking for the cheapest deal, but the best value. We are receiving a world class service from Michelin. It has streamlined procurement and helped us forecast tyre costs better; it has delivered the right products in the right place ensuring maximum uptime for our cranes; we have a ‘best way of working’ when it comes to protocols and tyres being fitted at our sites; and we have full traceability of each tyre and an insight into its environmental impact.”

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Zeon has confirmed its role as an official sponsor of RubberCon 2026, scheduled for 28 and 29 April in Paris. The conference is organised by AFICEP under the aegis of IRCO. The event will centre on the theme ‘Ecodesign and Rubber Innovation’, serving as a gathering for global experts spanning academia, research, manufacturing and technology sectors. This focus reflects the industry’s growing emphasis on sustainable material development and circular economy principles.

Through its sponsorship, the company underscores its commitment to sustainable solutions, innovation and international knowledge exchange. Zeon anticipates engaging with industry professionals to explore new approaches and contribute to meaningful sector progress.

“By sponsoring RubberCon 2026, we reaffirm our commitment to driving forward sustainable solutions, fostering innovation and supporting the international exchange of knowledge and best practices. We look forward to engaging with industry professionals, discovering new approaches and contributing to meaningful progress within our sector,” read the company statement.

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Maxxis Rubber India has been presented with an Appreciation Award from the Ahmedabad Rural Police in recognition of its support during VIP movements. The accolade was conferred by Superintendent of Police Om Prakash Jat, acknowledged for his role in fostering community safety and collaboration through his leadership.

Guided by its core principles of respect, care and appreciation, the company emphasises its commitment to quality, service and trust alongside cooperation with authorities. Expressing gratitude to the police department for acknowledging its efforts, Maxxis stated that the honour reinforces its dedication to integrity and public safety partnerships, motivating the organisation to continue contributing with the same unwavering commitment and a focus on building stronger, more resilient communities every single day forward together.

“At Maxxis, our core values – respect, care and appreciation – drive us beyond business. Whether ensuring 100 percent quality, service, trust in our products or standing alongside authorities for public safety, we believe strong partnerships build stronger communities. We sincerely thank the Police Department-Ahmedabad Rural Police for acknowledging our ‘unwavering support’ and ‘invaluable cooperation’. This honour motivates us to continue contributing with the same commitment and integrity,” the company acknowledged in a social media post.

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The organisers of the International Rubber Conference 2026 have opened exhibitor applications for the accompanying Rubber & Elastomer Technical Exhibition, with discounted early-bird rates available until 30 April 2026.

The conference will take place from 2 to 6 November at the Aichi International Exhibition Center (Aichi Sky Expo), bringing together global scientists, engineers and industry stakeholders working across rubber and elastomer technologies.

Exhibitors submitting applications by the April deadline will benefit from reduced participation fees. The final deadline for regular applications is 15 July 2026.

Held alongside the conference from 3 to 6 November, the exhibition is expected to attract more than 4,500 visitors and is regarded as one of the leading international platforms for showcasing advances in rubber science, materials engineering and industrial applications.

IRC 2026 marks the sixth edition hosted in Japan, following previous conferences in Tokyo, Kyoto, Kobe, Yokohama and Kitakyushu. Under the theme “Future Rubber Technology toward Sustainability”, the event aims to address evolving industry demands, particularly as Asia accounts for a growing share of global rubber production and consumption.

Organisers said the event will provide a platform not only for established players but also for emerging engineers and researchers to engage with international experts, fostering collaboration and technological advancement across the sector.

Applications and further details are available via the official conference website.

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Tegeta Green Planet, in partnership with the Wasteless specific waste management association, hosted the Georgia Rubberized Asphalt Summit (GRAS) 2026 in Tbilisi. This international conference was designed as a platform for exchanging global knowledge on sustainable road infrastructure and rubber-modified asphalt technologies, bringing together industry leaders and international experts to examine both the challenges and opportunities within the sector. A dedicated panel discussion formed a central part of the event, fostering in-depth dialogue among participants.

Despite being widely adopted in United States, Portugal, Spain and across Europe for over six decades, rubber-modified asphalt remains unused in Georgia. This technology offers significant advantages over conventional pavement, including a service life of 8 to 10 years, superior resistance to water damage, reduced noise pollution and a substantial decrease in environmental harm caused by automotive waste. The summit’s organisers aim to address this gap by promoting responsible waste management and raising public awareness about the dangers of unprocessed refuse.

More than a forum for knowledge exchange, the summit served as a call to action, underscoring Georgia’s potential to become a regional frontrunner in sustainable infrastructure. Tegeta Green Planet, a subsidiary of Tegeta Holding established in 2022, was among the first companies in the country authorised by the Ministry of Environment and Agriculture to recycle used tyres, oils and batteries under extended producer responsibility principles. The organisation operates by collecting specified waste types, managing their transport and recycling and ultimately processing these materials in line with circular economy models, thereby supporting the nation’s shift towards innovative green initiatives.

Ekaterina Kavtaradze, CEO, Tegeta Holding, said, “For Tegeta Holding, sustainable development is one of the most important principles of our operations, which is reflected in concrete solutions. I am delighted that Georgia has had the opportunity to host such a large-scale event. GRAS 2026 demonstrates that the circular economy can become a real economic priority in Georgia as well, bringing significant benefits to the country, as waste is transformed into a resource, creating economic advantages and reducing the negative impact on the environment.”

Shalva Akhvlediani, Director, Tegeta Green Planet, said, “Georgia is at a stage where infrastructure decisions can shape the economic and environmental outcomes of the next generation. This summit provides us with a unique opportunity to learn from the world’s leading countries and implement these lessons at the local level. Overall, the circular economy is the way forward: it allows us to transform waste, such as used tyres, into a useful resource, ensuring economic stability, environmental protection and sustainable development.”

Giorgi Guliashvili, Chairman, Wasteless, “Our goal is to implement a fully circular model in Georgia – from waste collection to recycling and the effective use of recycled materials. Starting this autumn, Georgia will launch its first high-tech tyre recycling plant, which will process used tyres collected throughout the country. Using recycled rubber in asphalt is a clear answer to the question of how the resulting raw materials are utilised. As a result of the plant’s launch, we estimate that we will produce up to 12–15 thousand tonnes of rubber crumb per year, which will allow us to use this material locally to build more durable and environmentally friendly roads. This will bring significant benefits to both the environment and the economy.”

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