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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Michelin unveiled the MICHELIN X Multi T2 at IAA Transportation 2026 in Hannover, presenting the trailer tyre in the widely used UK and Ireland size of 385/65 R22.5. Designed for regional and mixed transport operations, the tyre is engineered to manage heavy loads, resist lateral forces during manoeuvring and remain dependable across fluctuating operating conditions.

Compared with its predecessor, the X Multi T2 delivers as much as 15 percent greater mileage and up to 6 percent reduced rolling resistance. Its development centres on carcass stability and robustness, making it suited to demanding trailer duties spanning general cargo, containers, refrigerated goods, tankers and bulk haulage, along with car, specialised and heavy-haul transport. Such operations frequently involve peak loads, tight manoeuvring and inconsistent road surfaces, all of which affect tyre life, so a durable carcass and damage-resistant tread directly support cost-effectiveness.

Four principal innovations underpin the tyre. REGENION technology continuously forms new grooves as the tread wears, preserving grip and mobility throughout service life. The CARBION compound enhances mileage, rolling resistance and wear resistance. Within the structure, OPTICOIL is a weight-saving bead architecture, while DURACOIL strengthens the tyre-to-rim bond for greater stability. Michelin also employs POWERCOIL, a newer generation of lighter, longer-lasting steel cables.

As a multi-life product, the X Multi T2 can be regrooved and retreaded for notable total cost of ownership (TCO) savings. Regrooving takes place once tread depth reaches 3–4 mm, extending casing life in its most fuel-efficient state. Worn regrooved tyres can then be retreaded as Michelin Remix tyres at the company's Stoke factory, a process adding roughly 20 kg of raw materials versus about 70 kg for a new tyre. Retreads follow the local-to-local principle, being used exclusively within UK and Ireland, supporting skilled domestic jobs and avoiding export-related environmental impact. The tyre carries rolling resistance class B, wet grip class C and external noise class A under EU labelling, plus 3PMSF and M+S winter markings.

Andrew French, B2B Sales Director, Michelin UK & Ireland, said, “Alongside durability and versatility, Michelin recognises the growing pressure hauliers face to reduce rolling resistance, as trailers form an integral part of the total cost of ownership (TCO) equation. This is something our latest generation trailer tyre can help operators to achieve.”

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Goodyear Chile has reinforced its dedication to sustainability and the circular economy through programmes that encourage responsible handling of end-of-life tyres while supporting environmental protection across the country.

Beyond producing and selling tyres, the company ensures its discarded products are managed in an environmentally sound manner. These tyres are collected and treated at authorised recycling plants, where mechanical processes convert them into reusable materials suitable for new products and applications, in line with Chilean regulations for out-of-use tyres and the firm’s sustainability goals.

Goodyear Chile also continues working to meet requirements under Chile’s Extended Producer Responsibility Law. It currently uses two management mechanisms tied to regulatory categories. For Category A, covering tyres with rims under 57 inches except those measuring 45, 49 and 51 inches, the company participates in NEUVOL, a collective nonprofit system focused on collecting and recovering end-of-life tyres. Together with NEUVOL, Goodyear Chile sends these tyres to Polambiente, a Santiago-based recycler specialising in mechanical recycling that turns them into raw materials and products for new uses.

For Category B, which includes tyres with rims of 45, 49 and 51 inches and wheels 57 inches or larger, Goodyear Chile has operated under a management plan approved by the Ministry of the Environment since 2022, becoming the first Category B tyre company to secure such authorisation in Chile. It has consistently met annual collection and recovery targets for 2023, 2024 and 2025. These tyres go to Rembre Tires in northern Chile, where granulation recovers 100 percent of the tyre, separating rubber and steel for various applications.

Goodyear Chile’s responsible tyre management predates the REP Law targets and reflects its broader effort to cut environmental and social impacts. For over 10 years, it has advanced recycling initiatives and maintained a zero-waste-to-landfill policy while continuing research into more sustainable materials, including alternative raw materials, to help Chile reduce waste and build a more sustainable future.

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Hankook Tire, the exclusive tyre supplier for the FIA World Rally Championship, wrapped up its support for the 12th round of the season. The WRC Rally Chile Biobío concluded on 13 September near Concepción, Chile, with Hankook’s off-road Dynapro R213 tyres proving central to the event.

The rally featured 16 special stages covering 311.18 competitive kilometres. Competitors tackled forest roads and rugged, unpaved mountain terrain around Concepción and the Biobío region, beside Chile’s Pacific coast. The route blended fast corners with compacted gravel made of volcanic ash particles and small stones, severely testing both drivers and tyres. Repeated runs over rough ground magnified the difficulty.

Hankook’s Dynapro R213 was available in Hard and Soft compounds, letting teams strategically select tyres for surface and weather conditions. The tyre offered flexibility on steep slopes and across varied ground, from soft earth to thick gravel. Oliver Solberg of Toyota GAZOO Racing claimed his second win of the season, following his Rallye Monte-Carlo triumph. The result also earned Toyota the 2026 Constructors’ Championship, its sixth straight since 2021 and tenth overall.

The 2026 WRC season now moves to the 13th round, WRC Rally Italia Sardegna, scheduled for 1–4 October near Alghero, Sardinia. That event combines demanding coastal and interior mountain roads, with tight corners and blind crests that restrict forward visibility, placing high demands on tyre traction and durability.

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Bridgestone has unveiled the V-Steel Highway Service 3 (VHS3), a new high-speed radial tyre engineered for mobile all-terrain cranes. As a global leader in premium tyres and sustainable mobility solutions, the company designed the product to enhance vehicle and fleet performance. The VHS3 delivers improved wear life while helping reduce downtime and maintenance costs, enabling operators to perform confidently in demanding environments.

Compared with its predecessor, the VHS2, the new tyre offers up to 12 percent longer wear life. Bridgestone achieved this through an advanced rubber compound technology and an optimised contact area that minimises irregular wear. A new tread design featuring wide grooves and extended lug blocks further combines longer wear life with improved grip and stability on highways and off-road terrain.

The VHS3 is also 24 kg lighter than the VHS2, assisting fleets in reducing fuel consumption and operational costs while maintaining durability and improving load capacity. This results from a lighter casing design with a lighter belt construction. Bridgestone's new crane tyre will be available from September 2026 in size 445/95R25 178F.

Bas Rijpma, Fleet Manager, Sarens Netherlands, said, "In our business, reliability, uptime and efficiency are critical. Bridgestone has been a trusted partner to Sarens for more than a decade. As the next generation crane tyre, the VHS3 is already delivering very promising results. We have observed no irregular wear, the robustness we require for demanding heavy transport operations and favourable fuel efficiency potential thanks to its lighter weight. Combined with the TPMS solution, which gives us real-time insight into tyre pressure and temperature, the VHS3 helps us optimise tyre performance and minimise downtime. Together with low noise levels, it gives us confidence that Bridgestone VHS3 is setting a new standard for crane tyre performance."

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