The praised solution has been in use at Eurl Saterex-Iris in Algeria since autumn 2019. Eurl Saterex-Iris is the third biggest tyre manufacturing plant in Africa, serving both local and export markets. The modern plant was mainly designed and constructed by Black Donuts Engineering and its international partner network. Black Donuts is also responsible for production management, which applies the core principles of Lean Management and focuses on reducing the interim stocks to the bare minimum according to the pull method. To enhance this, the company developed an RFID-based electronic eKanban solution together with Toptunniste.

“The eKanban project started from a need to improve production management. The first acute challenge we met was the lack of adequate and accurate information on the overall production status,” Solution Manager Aki Nurminen recalls.

Originally, there were nine Kanban boards located all over the two-floor factory. One had to check each board manually, so it took time and effort to capture a complete view of the production status.

Another deficit concerned the insufficient information provided on manufacturing schedules. The old Kanban boards did not give enough information on when certain materials were supposed to be in production.

The returned cards included no accurate time markings, so it was hard to stay updated, notice stock alerts and to respond on time.

Real-time production status

New technology was needed to solve the problem. It became clear that initiating remote monitoring would require electronic boards instead of the traditional ones. Black Donuts contacted another Finnish technology company, Toptunniste, to present the idea and search for a way to actualise it. The solution was simple: adding RFID features to an existing Kanban board would upgrade it to a more accurate, more informative, and easy-to-use eKanban board. Next, the old cards were replaced by RFID tagged cards, readable through RFID technology.

Now, all nine eKanban boards are online in Saterex’s internal data system and easily monitored from any computer. Consequently, an up-to-date overall view of the entire production is now always at hand.

The eKanban solution enables better and real-time tracking of overall production status and enhances the supervision of production processes.

It adds the time markings automatically to each card on return, keeps account, and establishes automatic triggers to replenish stock when predefined minimums are reached for each inventory item.

The system also calculates and presents the estimated time left before reaching the pre-defined minimum of each item in the downstream processes. This is the lens that helps us prioritize and schedule the production runs.

Optimised processes

The new eKanban boards were taken into use at Saterex tyre plant in fall 2019. For the users operating in the production lines, the new solution has not brought any changes in their daily routines, but the Kanban boards are used the same way as before. For the supervisors and factory management, the new system enables a remote and real-time view of the production status through a web interface.

The new solution helps in prioritizing the tasks and shortens the reaction time to different problems arising in production. eKanban is also a great planning tool, as it gives us a complete process overview, Aki explains.

The eKanban system gets all the production information it needs straight from the company’s MES, where the daily consumption levels of each process, as well as the minimum and maximum storage levels, are defined. Separate eKanban views, visualizing the interim storage levels, can be reviewed through MES which enables effective inventory management.

The eKanban solution is designed for tracking the production, not to automatically assign anything. It is always the team, the people, who make the decisions based on the information they receive. However, the solution helps to improve tracking and optimizing operations, Aki says.

Advanced work management

Moreover, the eKanban solution enhances work management.

Compared to manual Kanban systems, eKanban gives additional information on storage unit rotations, events and even stock rotation history. It is valuable information for both follow-ups and for managing transportation activities and best working methods. Earlier, the material transportation could idle, and the return of cards to the Kanban boards be irregular, which caused various scheduling challenges, stockouts and unexpected changes in demand.

It was nearly impossible to find the root cause for problems and consequently improve it. Thanks to the digitised solution, we can now track every event, which supports work development and feedback giving.

While the manual Kanban boards already gave a good boost for companies in optimizing production, the new eKanban solution brings monitoring, tracking and optimizing to a remarkably higher level.

eKanban is an excellent example of how we can improve proven old methods during digital transformation.

eKanban was designed to add a remarkable value to the supply chain support operations. This was accomplished by optimizing cost-effectiveness, efficiency, and the movement of materials. Currently, Aki’s team is already developing the next generation eKanban solution, one without any physical cards or printed labels and boards. This will serve the needs of the highest automation solutions, which require visual identification instead of manual labelling or printed cards.

The operators do not even need to touch the storage units anymore, but the Electronic Shelf Label (ESL) completes the visual identification. Electronic Shelf Label is automatically updated during the manufacturing processes and events referring to RFID identifications and data communication. This way, the labels are never missing, old or wrong, and they are readable in all occasions and all the time, Aki explains.

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Tyres Europe has underscored that tyres qualify as fully recyclable under ISO 22628:2002 and UN Regulation No. 133, describing the established methodology as a robust foundation for assessing tyre recyclability. The organisation recently set out its position on the matter.

The distinction between recyclability and actual recycling rates is central to the group's argument. Recyclability refers to the technical potential of a product and its materials to be recycled, while the real rate hinges on treatment capacity and demand for secondary raw materials. Regulatory frameworks should therefore separate the two concepts clearly and align with an internationally recognised standard.

Tyres consist of rubber compounds, chemical additives and reinforcing textile and steel cords, and at end of life they are separated into rubber, textile and steel fractions, all of which existing mechanical or chemical routes can recycle. Mechanical processing yields rubber granules and powders usable as secondary raw materials across many applications, recovered textiles can be further processed and valorised, and cleaned recovered steel can re-enter metal recycling and steelmaking.

Tyres Europe pledged continued cooperation with policymakers and value-chain partners to strengthen circularity and maximise recovery of valuable tyre materials in Europe, with the full paper available on its website.

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Prinx Chengshan showcased comprehensive tyre solutions for diverse North American driving needs at the 2026 Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show in Las Vegas. The company presented products designed to address the continent's varied geography and climate, where drivers seek year-round performance from a single tyre set.

The PRINX HiSEASON 4S HS1 and Fortune CLIMAFLEX 4S FSR402 deliver consistent grip and handling in snow and wet conditions, with low noise and long tread life balancing comfort and cost efficiency. For off-road capability, the PRINX HiCOUNTRY A/T2 and Fortune TORMENTA A/T 2 provide puncture resistance and traction on unpaved roads, resisting cuts from sharp gravel – suited to 4×4 and SUV owners who combine commuting with off-road excursions.

At the show, Prinx Chengshan's sales team engaged in extensive discussions with North American distributors, channel partners and end users about real-world applications of all-season and off-road tyres. The team gathered substantial firsthand market feedback and reached preliminary understandings on future cooperation, laying a foundation for continued North American expansion.

As Chengshan Group marks its factory's 50th anniversary, Prinx Chengshan continues strengthening international brand presence. In 2026, PRINX entered the European commercial vehicle market, partnered with the Garrett Trucksport team at the FIA European Truck Racing Championship and became an official USL partner. The Fortune brand maintains a strong North American presence through USA Pickleball sponsorships. The SEMA appearance highlights product strengths and globalisation progress as the company pursues coordinated development across overseas capacity, distribution, branding, and supply chain.

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TyreSafe, UK’s leading tyre safety charity, has announced Nottinghamshire Police as an official partner, joining the network of police forces committed to promoting safer tyres and safer roads. The collaboration aims to raise awareness of the essential role tyres play in road safety, urging road users to conduct regular checks and address problems promptly. TyreSafe maintains that partnerships between road safety organisations and police forces are a valuable means of building awareness and helping prevent avoidable incidents.

The partnership arrives amid ongoing road safety concerns in Nottingham and the surrounding county. Department for Transport road safety data, published through its STATS19 dataset, recorded 780 personal-injury collisions in Nottingham in 2025, involving 900 casualties. Eight were fatal and 164 resulted in serious injuries, with the total exceeding the 761 recorded in 2024. Although collisions can have many contributing factors, tyre condition remains an essential element of vehicle safety that every driver can help manage.

Tyres represent a vehicle's only point of contact with the road, influencing grip, braking, steering and stability. Incorrect tyre pressures, damaged tyres and insufficient tread can compromise performance, particularly in wet weather and during emergency manoeuvres. Nottinghamshire Police serves a diverse area of around 834 square miles, spanning Nottingham's urban centre, major towns, rural communities and extensive road networks. Home to approximately 1.16 million residents and two major universities, the area saw more than six billion vehicle miles travelled across Nottingham City and Nottinghamshire County combined in 2025.

Through joint efforts, TyreSafe and Nottinghamshire Police aim to reinforce the importance of regular tyre checks as part of a wider commitment to responsible driving and reducing road casualties. The addition of Nottinghamshire Police strengthens this shared commitment, supporting TyreSafe's work with partners across the country to make tyre safety a priority for every road user.

Stuart Lovatt, Chairman, TyreSafe, said, “We’re delighted to welcome Nottinghamshire Police as an official TyreSafe partner. Police forces play a vital role in keeping our roads safe, and their support helps us reach more drivers with a message that can make a real difference. Tyre safety is sometimes overlooked, yet it is fundamental to how a vehicle performs on the road. Drivers may take care to observe speed limits and remain alert to hazards, but they also need to ensure their vehicles are safe and their tyres are in the right condition for the journey. By working with Nottinghamshire Police and our wider network of police partners, we want to make tyre checks a simple, everyday habit. Checking air pressure, condition and tread depth can help drivers identify problems before they become more serious and contribute to safer journeys for everyone.”

Chief Inspector James Walker, Operational Support department at Nottinghamshire Police, said, “Road safety is a shared responsibility, and ensuring vehicles are safe and roadworthy is an important part of protecting everyone who uses our roads. Tyres are the only point of contact between a vehicle and the road, yet their condition and pressure can easily be overlooked. We’re pleased to be partnering with TyreSafe to help raise awareness of the importance of tyre safety and encourage drivers to make regular checks part of their routine. Taking a few moments to check tyre pressure, tread depth and overall condition can help identify potential problems before they put drivers, passengers and other road users at risk. By working together, we can help spread this important message and support safer journeys across Nottinghamshire.”

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Trelleborg Tires unveiled two new agricultural tyre solutions at the ongoing EIMA International 2026 in Bologna, Italy, expanding its premium portfolio with products engineered for demanding field applications. The CR3000 and PneuTrac Aqua were presented during a dedicated conference at Hall 14, Stand B2, combining advanced engineering and application-specific technologies developed over decades of expertise.

The CR3000 addresses the harvesting segment, designed for high-power combines operating in challenging conditions. Its Off-Stubble Technology pairs an optimised structure with a dedicated compound to resist crop residue damage, while an interlug design improves self-cleaning and maintains traction across varying soils. Integrated VF-CFO technology reduces soil compaction and supports higher cyclic loads, together extending tyre life and sustaining productivity when harvest hours are critical.

For centre pivot irrigation systems, the PneuTrac Aqua targets continuous operation in wet fields where traction, stability and uninterrupted performance are essential. The tyre combines an airless PneuTrac carcass, an Omega-shaped sidewall using CupWheel technology by Galileo Wheel Ltd. and a ProgressiveTraction tread design. Its puncture-proof construction eliminates maintenance and replacement, while the wide, uniform footprint minimises soil compaction and supports consistent ground contact in water-saturated soils.

Both solutions reflect Trelleborg's focus on helping agricultural professionals maximise productivity throughout the season. The CR3000 delivers stubble protection, high load capacity and extended tyre life, while the PneuTrac Aqua ensures maintenance-free irrigation performance. Together, the launches reinforce the company's commitment to long-lasting value and high performance in the field.

Luca Sabelli, Global Marketing Director, Trelleborg Tires, said, “Innovation is most valuable when it responds to real agricultural needs. CR3000 and PneuTrac Aqua are developed for two highly specialised applications, bringing together advanced engineering and decades of expertise for unmatched productivity. At EIMA 2026, we are proud to showcase these latest innovations and demonstrate how Trelleborg Tires continues to drive the future of agricultural productivity through premium tyre technology.”

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