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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Bridgestone India has launched Project PRAVAAH, a new environmental initiative aimed at addressing severe water scarcity and ecological decline in the Dhar district of Madhya Pradesh. The programme, executed in partnership with the Society for Agriculture and Environmental Sustainability, targets the restoration of three traditional water bodies situated within a catchment zone of approximately 140 acres.

The region has historically suffered from critical groundwater depletion, with extraction rates reaching or exceeding the annual recharge capacity. This unsustainable usage has caused water tables to plummet to depths of 10 to 20 metres below ground level, particularly during the dry pre-monsoon period, severely impacting both domestic drinking water supplies and agricultural irrigation.

Moving beyond simple water conservation, Project PRAVAAH employs nature-based solutions and active community engagement to revive local ecosystems. The effort creates new livelihood opportunities for marginalised women and complements Bridgestone’s broader environmental portfolio, which already includes 9.5 acres of biodiversity parks and community gardens designed to promote conservation awareness.

The restoration project is projected to recharge up to 150,000 metric tonnes of groundwater, ensuring more reliable water access for nearby households, livestock and farms. By revitalising ponds as living ecosystems, the initiative aims to foster biodiversity, bolster community resilience against climate variability and reaffirm the company’s dedication to long-term societal and environmental well-being.

Sudhir Kulkarni, Executive Director – HR, Admin & CSR, said, “Care for the environment and the communities that it serves are core to Bridgestone’s philosophy. Project PRAVAAH aims at tackling the acute water shortage faced by communities in Dhar. With Project PRAVAAH, we are turning these ponds back into living ecosystems that will benefit these communities.”

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Pyrum Innovations AG has officially entered into a binding plant purchase agreement with its Czech-based joint venture, SUAS reTire s.r.o., marking a watershed moment for the German technology firm. The agreement, covering a thermolysis system for the planned Sokolov recycling hub, constitutes Pyrum’s inaugural external equipment sale, a transaction that significantly propels its commercial footprint beyond domestic operations.

Financial groundwork for the Czech project has been firmly secured, as the joint venture concurrently closed loan arrangements with a local banking institution. This development rendered the venture fully capitalised, prompting SUAS reTire to place an irrevocable order for Pyrum’s core technology, which encompasses three reactor units and auxiliary process systems. As the primary technology partner, Pyrum will assume responsibility for harmonising all ancillary site equipment with the master control architecture.

The corporate structure underpinning the initiative sees Pyrum owning 49 percent of SUAS reTire, while the remaining 51 percent is held by SUAS Ecology s.r.o., a partnership forged in the preceding year. The JV is exclusively mandated to oversee the design, construction and subsequent operation of the advanced tyre recycling facility in the western Czech city.

Ground preparation at the industrial zone has already commenced, and the impending down payments will unlock procurement of long-lead components to uphold the project timeline. Once operational, the three-reactor train is designed to process upwards of 22,000 tonnes of scrap tyres per annum. The location’s inherent logistical edge derives from the adjacent SUAS power plant, which will permit direct conversion of pyrolytic off-gas into electricity, circumventing heavy auxiliary capital outlays. The plant is slated to begin production by the spring of 2028.

Pascal Klein, CEO, Pyrum Innovations AG, said, “By signing our first external plant purchase agreement, we have reached a significant milestone in Pyrum’s development. This achievement is the result of a long and intensive journey during which, together with our partners, we established key technical, financial and organisational foundations. We are therefore all the more pleased to have now signed our first plant purchase agreement for an external facility, which we will build together with our partner SUAS. The secured financing underlines our partners’ confidence in our technology and provides an excellent foundation for the successful implementation of the project in the Czech Republic.”

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Kraton Corporation, a global producer of speciality polymers and bio-based chemicals derived from pine wood pulping byproducts, has secured its sixth consecutive EcoVadis Platinum rating for sustainability management. The firm achieved a record score of 90 out of 100, surpassing its own previous high of 88 from 2024 and improving markedly from the 86 posted in 2025.

This latest recognition carries added weight given that EcoVadis benchmarks performance relative to sector peers. The organisation evaluates over 150,000 companies globally, offering sustainability intelligence and improvement frameworks designed to foster responsible operations and ethical supply chains. Kraton’s sustained top-tier placement underscores its ongoing commitment to environmental and social governance standards within the speciality chemicals industry.

Rogier Roelen, Chief Sustainability Officer and General Counsel, Kraton, said, “While Platinum recognition has become familiar to many of our stakeholders, it should never be taken for granted. EcoVadis continuously raises expectations, and our peers continue to strengthen their sustainability programmes. Maintaining Platinum status for six consecutive years reflects the dedication of employees across our global organisation and the rigorous processes we have established to continuously advance our sustainability management practices.”

Sangwoo Ryu, Chief Executive Officer, Kraton, said, “EcoVadis serves as an important benchmark that helps us keep our sustainability management practices current, effective and aligned with evolving stakeholder expectations. This recognition reflects our commitment to building a more sustainable business and delivering long-term value for our customers, employees, investors and communities.”

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Hankook Tire emerged as a standout performer at the Red Dot Award 2026, securing six accolades in the Design Concept category. The South Korean manufacturer captured two Best of the Best honours alongside four Winner titles, underscoring its prowess in forward-thinking mobility design. This competition, recognised among the three premier design awards globally, evaluates concepts based on innovative potential at the prototype stage.

Among the top honours, the i-Flex Gen 2 received a Best of the Best award for its evolution as a next-generation airless tyre tailored for electric and autonomous vehicles. Building upon research initiated in 2015, this concept introduces a groundbreaking circumferential spoke structure that elevates visual design while reducing noise and enhancing stability. The second Best of the Best winner, Medi Buddy, emerged from collaboration with the Korea Institute of Design Promotion, integrating autonomous driving and AI into a smart intravenous system to alleviate anxiety for young patients.

The four Winner awards recognised the Bladder Upcycling Series, Concept S targeting 100 percent sustainable materials by 2050, the omnidirectional WheelBot2 and Bloom, an intelligent urban canopy. The full collection is slated for display at a special exhibition in Singapore. Hankook Tire, which in 2015 became the first Korean company to receive the Red Dot Luminary honour, later secured the iF Gold Award and an IDEA Bronze, completing a sweep of the top three design accolades.

Through continuous innovation and focus on sustainable mobility, the company continues solidifying its reputation as an industry leader committed to redefining transportation's future. The achievement reaffirms the company's global competitiveness, driven by commitment to sustainability and future-ready technologies.

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