As part of a larger strategy to increase the accessibility and awareness of its high-end Vredestein bicycle tyre line throughout Europe, Apollo Tyres Ltd has inked new distribution contracts for France and Scandinavia. Apollo Tyres has added two new partners in France: Alternativ Sport will concentrate on the sports market, while Triangle SAS will oversee distribution for inner tubes and urban and commuter tyres. For Scandinavia, the company has signed a partnership with Cykelgear.

Triangle SAS, a prominent distributor with a focus on bicycle and urban transportation components, was established in 1998. Triangle has started supplying a wide range of Vredestein city and touring tyres, such as the Perfect Tour and Dynamic City, thanks to its strong presence in all major French cities and wide retailer network. A variety of Vredestein high-performance tyres, such as the Superpasso Pro and Fortezza Senso Superiore, together with inner tubes and accessories, will be provided by Alternativ Sport. Cykelgear, a prominent distributor of cycling equipment, spare parts and accessories in Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Finland, was founded in 2008 and has been a part of Foreman Capital since 2021. Through its websites cykelgear.dk and bikable.com, the firm will provide the whole line of Vredestein bicycle tyres and inner tubes to both B2B and retail clients in the area, handling over 700,000 orders yearly.

Nic Knippers, Div Head TWT, Apollo Tyres Ltd, said, “These new agreements are a major step in our European growth strategy for the Vredestein brand. Triangle SAS, Alternativ Sport and Cykelgear are ideal partners to help us reach a broader audience of cyclists and drive long-term sales growth across France and Scandinavia, and we look forward to a successful, long-term collaboration with all three.”

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THE TIRE COLOGNE 2026 is advancing its position as the foremost global platform for the tyre and wheel industry through a significantly enhanced INNOVATION LAB. This evolution places a deliberate emphasis on the circular economy, reflecting the sector’s shift towards sustainable practices. A key addition is the dedicated ‘Material & Production’ segment, which allows visitors to engage directly with advancements in sustainable raw materials, intelligent manufacturing and closed-loop systems that define modern tire production.

This integrated approach addresses the industry's pressing challenges, including stringent sustainability regulations and the integration of digital technologies. The INNOVATION LAB serves as a dynamic hub for dialogue and demonstration, where companies and research institutions showcase practical innovations across the entire value chain. Attendees can explore everything from artificial intelligence and automation in manufacturing to zero-waste initiatives and advanced recycling methods, making the future of tire production tangible.

Central to this experience is a redesigned Circular Economy Area that visually maps the complete lifecycle of a tyre for the first time. It traces the journey from raw material extraction and resource-efficient production to use, reuse and final recycling. This physical representation is further enriched by a curated stage programme. Hosted by the European Rubber Journal, the Future Tire Forum will facilitate critical discussions on material science, production technologies, quality management and extended producer responsibility.

Collectively, these strategic expansions underpin the long-term vision of THE TIRE COLOGNE. By continuously adapting its offerings, the trade fair consolidates its essential role as the central nexus for innovation and business, guiding the international tire industry towards a more sustainable and technologically advanced future.

Ingo Riedeberger, Director, THE TIRE COLOGNE, said, "The combination of INNOVATION LAB and the expanded Circular Economy Area shows how sustainable processes interlock with one another in the tyre industry. With the new Material & Production segment, we depict the circular economy of the industry holistically for the first time."

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Apollo Tyres Ltd is broadening its cycling portfolio with a new all-season, high-performance option: the Vredestein Superpasso Pro 4S. Engineered for competitive cyclists, this tyre is designed to provide reliable speed and handling throughout the year, regardless of weather or road conditions. It will be available across Europe from 1 March 2026 in four different width sizes to accommodate various road bikes.

Developed at the company's European Global R&D Centre, the tyre builds upon the existing Superpasso Pro platform. It aims to merge the low rolling resistance and responsiveness of a summer performance tyre with the enhanced grip, durability and puncture resistance necessary for consistent year-round use. A key innovation is the proprietary ‘TriComp’ technology, which utilises multiple rubber compounds. A harder, reinforced centre section promotes efficiency and longevity, while softer shoulder compounds deliver superior traction and stability when cornering, even on wet or uneven surfaces.

Further contributing to its all-season capability is an optimised tread pattern. This design efficiently channels water away and maximizses the tyre's contact patch with the road, ensuring predictable handling. Underneath this tread, a 120 TPI casing and a reinforced breaker layer work in tandem to bolster puncture protection and overall resilience. Additionally, the model incorporates ‘Active Control Technology’, featuring a unique bridged centre structure. This construction method reduces overall weight and enhances the direct feedback transmitted to the rider, resulting in a more agile and connected riding experience.

Nic Knippers, Divisional Head – Vredestein Two Wheel Tyres, Apollo Tyres Ltd, said, “Following the success of the new-generation Superpasso Pro, we saw a clear opportunity to create an all-season variant that would allow competitive and enthusiast riders stay on the bike longer, regardless of the weather. The Superpasso Pro 4S achieves exactly that, faithfully transmitting rider power and steering inputs to all surfaces, year-round.”

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Polymer Alumni Welfare Association (PAWA), in association with Indian Rubber Institute (IRI) and Dr D Banerjee Centre of Excellence (DBCOE), Mysuru and with the support of Department of Polymer Technology at Karnataka (Govt) Polytechnic, Mangaluru, is jointly conducting the third edition of DPT-Con 2026, a national-level conference scheduled to be held on 23rd & 24th January 2026 at KPT College campus, Mangaluru.

Carrying the theme “Sustainable Polymer for a Smarter Future,” DPT-Con 2026 aims to bring together industry professionals, alumni, academicians, and students on a common platform to advance learning and collaboration for infrastructure development in polymer science and technology.

“Karnataka (Govt.) Polytechnic, a 78-year-old institution approved by AICTE, as India’s first Autonomous status Polytechnic, has been home to the Department of Polymer Technology since 1975. Over the past five decades, the department has produced more than 1,000 polymer technologists who today serve across the Tyre, Rubber, Plastics, TPE and composite industries in India and abroad. Many of these alumni now hold senior technical and leadership roles, forming a strong industry–academia bridge,” says S Vasudev Rao, convener, DPT-Con 2026. 

PAWA, established in 2017 by senior alumni of the department, has played a pivotal role in strengthening this ecosystem. The association focuses on enhancing student competencies through industry engagement, infrastructure upgrades and knowledge-sharing initiatives. Earlier editions of DPT Con, held in 2018 and 2023, directly contributed to the upgradation of the rubber processing laboratory and the establishment of a modern plastic processing laboratory at the institute.

Building on this legacy, DPT-Con 2026 has set ambitious objectives. The conference seeks to fundraising to establish a cutting-edge incubation centre for composites, to provide scholarships to meritorious & deserving students, and support the maintenance and modernisation of existing rubber, plastic, TPE and composite laboratories. Enhanced student exposure through advanced equipment and real-time industrial interaction is a key focus area, alongside fostering long-term collaboration between industry, alumni and academia. The two-day programme will feature technical paper presentations, expert lectures, networking sessions and cultural programmes. A structured sponsorship framework—ranging from main and platinum sponsors to gold, kit and lunch sponsors—has been designed to encourage active industry participation, with opportunities for technical presentations and brand visibility during the event.

Organisers have set a fund-raising target of INR 2 million to support the planned initiatives and have invited industry leaders, alumni and well-wishers to contribute through sponsorships, kind support or direct participation. According to the organising committee, contributions to DPT-Con 2026 will have a direct and lasting impact on student skill development and the creation of infrastructure aligned with contemporary industry standards.

"With sustainability, innovation and collaboration at its core, DPT-Con 2026 is positioned not merely as a conference, but as a collective effort to shape the next generation of polymer technologists and strengthen India’s polymer ecosystem for the future," adds S Vasudev Rao. 

In addition to Polymer Alumni dedicated team Indian Rubber Institute- DBCOE team joined hands to fulfill this noble cause.

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Pirelli’s 2025 was defined by exceptional innovation and acclaim across its product lines and pioneering technologies, earning numerous independent awards and test victories. The company’s flagship families – P Zero, Cinturato and Scorpion – collectively secured 27 podium finishes in 34 comparative evaluations, with 15 of those positions being first place. New global market launches were particularly successful; both the fifth-generation P Zero and the new Cinturato summer tyre each claimed two major victories. The P Zero was celebrated as the top ultra-high performance summer tyre by industry experts, while the Cinturato demonstrated an outstanding blend of safety and efficiency. Winter performance was also highlighted by the P Zero Winter 2, which won its category in rigorous testing by a leading Swedish automotive magazine.

Specialised technologies integrated into these tyres further enhanced their appeal, offering motorists tangible benefits such as increased puncture resistance and reduced cabin noise. Meanwhile, the all-season segment saw remarkable dominance from Pirelli, especially in the European market. The Cinturato All Season SF3 proved extraordinarily versatile, earning 11 test victories and widespread praise for its balanced safety profile across diverse conditions. Its SUV-oriented counterpart, the Scorpion All Season SF3, quickly replicated this success following its launch. This collective achievement led Pirelli to be crowned the All Season Champion and Top Manufacturer of All Season Tyres by prestigious German institutions.

Complementing these product triumphs, Pirelli’s Cyber Tyre technology received significant international recognition, underscoring its role in advancing connected mobility. This integrated system uses in-tyre sensors and proprietary algorithms to communicate vital data with vehicle electronics in real time, enhancing safety and performance. Over the year, it was honoured four times across different continents, including a top innovation award in the United States, a safety prize in France, a pan-European safety accolade and a Company of the Year title from a noted market analysis firm. These awards collectively affirm how Pirelli’s digital advancements are fundamentally transforming traditional automotive components, positioning the company at the forefront of the industry’s connected future.

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