Dr Lakshman Rodrigo, former Acting Director of the Rubber Research Institute of Sri Lanka (RRISL), was honoured with the B.C. Sekhar Gold Medal. The B.C. Sekhar Gold Medal is a prestigious award, exclusively for research excellence in rubber at an international level. In light of Dr Rodrigo’s pioneering R&D works in rubber-based farming systems, expanding rubber cultivation to non-traditional areas, introducing new low frequency latex harvesting systems to Sri Lanka, and developing a carbon trading project for newly planted rubber (together with his contribution to the international rubber community through Rubber Research & Development Board (IRRDB) and other international organisations), he was bestowed with this award. The award was offered by the IRRDB at its International Rubber Conference 2023 (IRC 2023) held recently in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

During his 36 years of research career at RRISL, Dr Rodrigo initially served as a junior researcher. He then stepped through different positions up to the level of Additional Director and Acting Director. He is a graduate of the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. He received his MSc from the University of Essex, UK on the effect of climate change on agriculture. He then obtained his PhD on Agroforestry from the University of Wales, UK in 1997.

Dr Rodrigo has also held the position of Liaison officer for the socio-economic specialist group of IRRDB. He has been an eminent person representing Sri Lanka in key forums of the Association for Natural Rubber Producing Countries (ANRPC) and International Rubber Study Group (IRSG). Presently, he has been offered the Fellow status and the position of Liaison Officer for the task force on climate change and sustainability of the IRRDB.

Besides this, Dr Rodrigo has supervised several PhDs and other postgraduate students. Plus, he has contributed to over 200 scientific articles, including 20 in high-end journals in Science Citation Index achieving H index of 15, according to the Google Scholar. The excellence of his research work had been appraised early on several occasions, which include eight presidential research awards and another four national level awards offered by different organisations in Sri Lanka, such as National Research Council (NRC), Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science (SLAAS), Sri Lanka Council for Agricultural Research Policy (SLCARP) and National Science and Technology Commission (NASTEC).

Apollo Tyres Ltd has secured a one-season shirt-sleeve sponsorship agreement with AS Monaco, one of French football's most successful clubs, to increase awareness for its premium Vredestein brand.

This partnership will leverage Ligue 1's ranking as the fifth most watched football league in the world to raise awareness of Vredestein's award-winning products among a large audience in France and abroad. On November 22, AS Monaco's home league game against Brest will have the new sleeve branding for the first time. The Vredestein brand will be heavily promoted at Stade Louis-II for the 2024–2025 season, including on player sleeves and LED screens around the field. Exclusive social media initiatives will further help make the brand prominent, reaching a large and interested audience.

Yves Pouliquen, Vice President – Commercial, Europe, Apollo Tyres, said, “This partnership is an exciting opportunity to strengthen Vredestein’s presence in one of our key markets. AS Monaco’s rich history and commitment to excellence mirror our focus on performance and innovation. We look forward to building a successful relationship with the club and celebrating its achievements this season.”

Thibaut Chatelard, Marketing and Revenue Director, AS Monaco, said: “We are delighted to welcome Apollo Tyres and its Vredestein brand to the family of AS Monaco partners. This collaboration makes sense in view of the values we share, such as the constant pursuit of performance and excellence. There’s no doubt that this new support will be precious for the rest of our season, which promises to be thrilling.”

Nexen Tire, a leading global tyre manufacturer, has launched the Nexen N´Blue S tyre, adding to its range of summer tyres and providing drivers with advanced safety, energy efficiency and superior driving stability in wet and dry conditions.

Developed using highly dispersed silica and equipped with an optimised structural design, the Nexen N´Blue S tyre provides reduced road noise and improved driving stability. The tyre features an innovative tread compound, formulated with hydrophilic fillers and microstructure-controlled polymers, and provides lower rolling resistance and exceptional dry and wet grip. The tyre also excelled in test results by demonstrating an 11 percent improvement in wet braking distance compared to its predecessor.

Apart from providing excellent performance, the Nexen  N´Blue S also scores high on the sustainability index. The tyre provides an eco-friendly solution for environmentally conscious drivers by minimising fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. The Nexen N´Blue S summer tyre is available in 58 sizes, which makes it compatible with different types of vehicles.

Kumho Tire Vietnam Co., Ltd. is all set to expand its investment project in Binh Duong province of Vietnam, with the phase 3 of expansion commencing in early 2025. This was discussed at a recent meeting between Vo Van Minh, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee (PPC), and Kim Hyun Ho, General Director of Kumho Tire Vietnam Co., Ltd.

The meeting was held on 13 November at the Administrative Centre of Binh Duong province, as per an official statement. Apart from the company’s investment till date and the planned investment for phase 3, the two also discussed about the challenges and obstacles regarding procedures and processes to have more land funds to expand the manufacturing plant, along with taking measures to tackle the obstacles. Kim Hyun Ho also conveyed to the PPC Chairman that Kumho Tire Vietnam Co., Ltd. belongs to South Korea's Kumho Tire Group and is currently ranked 10th in the car tyre manufacturing industry.

The company had invested in a tyre manufacturing plant in My Phuoc 3 Industrial Park in 2007 with a total initial investment of USD 308 million, which was supplemented by another USD 300 million in 2021. This extended the factory scale to six hectares and increased the production capacity to 12.5 million tyres annually. With the expansion in early 2025, the company will raise its total investment to USD 908 million and increase the factory's production capacity to 17 million tyres annually. The expanded capacity is expected to be operational by early 2026.

Yokohama-ATG, a leading manufacturer of all-terrain and off-the-road tyres, has expanded its Galaxy MFS 101 SDS range of forklift tyres with the launch of white, non-marking tyres.

The Galaxy MFS 101 SDS range consists of puncture-proof SDS tyres with extended wear limits designed for high-intensity working shifts and long durability. These are premium, solid rubber tyres developed for tough demands, a long service life and high driving comfort. The addition of white, non-marking tyres is specifically aimed at clean working environments.

Marked by a 3-stage construction process, the forklift tyres feature reduced heat build-up, effective shock absorption and minimised vibrations. The pattern design guarantees a smooth ride and good steerability thanks to its continuous centre lug and circumferential grooves. Furthermore, the flat walls and wide flat profile offer excellent stability when using a forklift for vertical stacking. The tyres are also equipped with anti-slip steel beads for improved rim fitment

In a case study on a CAT 2.5-tonne forklift that was used for handling heavy pallets on asphalt, the Galaxy MFS 101 SDS outshone the competitors with impressive performance. The tyre delivered an approximate 900 working hours before replacement against competitors’ 500 working hours.