Apollo Tyres, one of India’s largest tyre manufacturers is said to have improved its productivity by 9 percent. The tyre major worked with Amazon Web Services (AWS) partner Deloitte, to implement an Internet of Things (IoT) solution on Amazon Web Services, connecting its production equipment to a data lake. 

Through a centralised dashboard the company saw nine percent improvement in its productivity on primary equipment and nine percent reduction in energy usage as it got access to real-time data collection, integration, and advanced analytics.

At present, Apollo Tyres has seven manufacturing plants in Asia and Europe. AWS states that the company’s widespread operations was facing limited insights into the performance of its expensive equipment’s. It wanted an IoT solution to digitalise and standardise its manufacturing processes, where machine data held the key to process efficiency.

While many may not be aware, manufacturing tyres is a very complex process and involves numerous steps and a variety of heavy equipment. The machines at Apollo Tyres were equipped with supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems, which collect data on production capacity and other metrics. But this data was siloed, offering a window into the performance of individual machines only, with no basis for comparison between machines or plants.

AWS stated that limited visibility were particularly concerning in the case of Apollo’s tyre rubber mixers. These machines are crucial to the manufacturing process. They are also extremely capital intensive — representing an investment of about $24 million (INR 2 billion) each, including related infrastructure — labour intensive, and energy intensive. Any improvement to their performance promised significant returns.

Shibu George, Global Head Advanced Manufacturing, Apollo Tyres said, “With the help of Deloitte, we could shine a light and show our teams how the data could help them improve. It was a great experience. When we started streaming data to AWS, we could compare the performance within the plant, and across plants. That was a unique opportunity.”

With seamless access to mixer data, Apollo Tyres was able to identify performance discrepancies and take corrective actions. The company proceeded with deeper analytics and improved productivity by nine percent — equivalent to the capacity of more than one mixer. 

This also helped reduce its energy usage by three percent, which may look small, but it is important to understand that a single mixer has a massive energy load of about 10 megawatts, which is enough to illuminate a town of about 200,000 people. Reducing CO2 emissions in this energy load by a mere three percent is equivalent to cutting emissions from 4,000 vehicles traveling for an entire year.

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Nokian Tyres is putting the question of North America’s roughest roads directly to drivers, launching a voting campaign that runs from 30 March to 10 April 2026. The initiative invites the public to cast votes for the state or province they believe has the most challenging surfaces, with the conversation playing out across the tyremaker’s social media channels on Instagram, Facebook and TikTok under the handle @NokianTyresNA.

This bracket-style competition brings back champions and notable contenders from previous years, with the semifinal matchups now set. Quebec faces off against Massachusetts, while Colorado takes on Oregon. For those living outside these regions, the company encourages participation through a write-in option on its dedicated contest website, where drivers can also make their case for why their local roads deserve the title.

Central to the campaign is Nokian Tyres’ use of aramid fibres, the lightweight yet incredibly strong material found in aerospace and defence applications. By weaving these fibres into the sidewalls and sometimes the tread, the company strengthens its tyres against punctures and blowouts. This technology features prominently in the new Hakkapeliitta 01, a studded winter tyre debuting this fall, and qualifies the tyres for the brand’s Pothole Protection warranty, which offers a free replacement if a tyre is damaged beyond repair by a road hazard.

The campaign will be amplified through social media content, testimonials from North American brand ambassadors and messaging from business partners. Drivers following @NokianTyresNA can vote directly on posts and stories, while those entering the tyre giveaway or submitting their regional nomination can do so on the contest website. The company, renowned for inventing the winter tyre, continues to serve the North American market with its full range of all-season, all-weather and winter products.

Hans Dyhrman, Director of Marketing, Nokian Tyres North America, said, “Our tyres come with a Pothole Protection warranty because we understand the unique challenges of North American roads. While the ‘Worst Roads’ contest offers a chance to complain about potholes and rough surfaces, it’s also an opportunity for consumers to learn about the ways Nokian Tyres helps keep them safe thanks to our aramid-reinforced products.”

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Tyrecycle has announced the upcoming implementation of a pioneering conveyor belt system at its East Rockingham facility in Western Australia, marking a significant step forward in sustainable industrial practices. This particular product, the Infinity Series, was developed by Fenner Conveyors and holds the distinction of being the first conveyor belt manufactured in Australia using locally sourced recycled materials. The material used in its production was supplied through an established strategic partnership between the two companies, underscoring a collaborative foundation that prioritises resource efficiency and domestic manufacturing.

By integrating this locally manufactured belt into its own operations, Tyrecycle is transforming its facility into a living demonstration of the shared environmental vision it holds with Fenner Conveyors. The deployment at East Rockingham serves a dual purpose: it not only upholds the rigorous performance standards required for such critical infrastructure but also actively nurtures a novel closed loop ecosystem. This system represents a first of its kind approach where industrial components are deliberately reclaimed and repurposed, reinforcing the viability of circular economy principles within heavy industries like mining.

Together, the two organisations are effectively closing the loop by converting end-of-life conveyor belts into robust new products that maintain high durability standards. This collaborative effort directly supports mining operations seeking to advance their decarbonisation strategies and circularity targets. Their work illustrates how a combined focus on innovation and corporate responsibility can yield tangible solutions, proving that industrial advancement and environmental stewardship can indeed move forward on a parallel and mutually reinforcing path.

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

CEAT Kelani Holdings emerged as a standout performer at the 2026 Best Management Practices Company Awards of the Institute of Chartered Professional Managers of Sri Lanka (CPM Sri Lanka), securing the overall Gold award for Best Management Practices. This top honour, which recognised the company as the nation’s best-managed enterprise, was complemented by four additional distinctions. Among these were the Sector Award as the winner in the Manufacturing category for Tyre and Rubber, a place among the 40 Outstanding Companies and a Best Management Practices Excellence Award, underscoring the breadth of the organisation’s operational excellence.

The company’s leadership also received significant acclaim, with Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Ravi Dadlani being presented with the Leadership Excellence award. This particular recognition highlighted the effectiveness of the strategic direction at the helm of the organisation. The CPM awards themselves serve to evaluate public and private sector entities based on comprehensive management criteria, including leadership effectiveness, people management, resource utilisation and overall performance during the review period.

Central to CEAT Kelani’s achievements this year is its Quality-Based Management philosophy, which prioritises customer satisfaction by aligning quality controls and workforce efforts with strategic business goals. A notable initiative presented during the awards process was the overhaul of the customer claim settlement process, which now facilitates inspections within a single day. This improvement was driven by a structured Quality Improvement Project involving cross-functional teams from Technical Services, Supply Chain and Distribution, supported by digital integration and process enhancements.

The revamped claim settlement system has not only bolstered customer confidence and dealer trust but has also contributed to volume growth, particularly in the Truck and Light Truck segments. Dadlani emphasised that the QBM approach has been instrumental in steering the company towards greater customer centricity while maintaining strong financial results, with continuous improvement through digital transformation and employee engagement remaining central to the corporate strategy. This consistent recognition by CPM reflects the sustained depth and continuity of the company’s management practices over time.

Commenting on the awards, Dadlani said, “To be named the best-managed company in Sri Lanka is an extraordinary honour as well as a reward for years of hard work in times of challenge. This recognition reflects the company’s sustained focus on embedding best-in-class management practices across its operations with the involvement of employees at every level.”

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

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.

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!