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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Continental has introduced the ContiMotion EVO, the successor to its well-regarded ContiMotion sport touring tyre. The new model targets motorcyclists seeking a balanced blend of riding enjoyment, safety and longevity. It arrives with multiple product enhancements over the previous generation.

Technical upgrades include new carcass materials that deliver greater stability and consistency, translating into improved handling and more agile dynamics. Updated compounds further boost performance in both wet and dry conditions. The tyre also features Continental's EasyHandling technology for predictable steering, a hybrid silica tread compound for reliable grip, an advanced compound and dedicated pattern for extended mileage and ZeroDegree steel-belt construction with new carcass materials for high-speed stability.

The ContiMotion EVO suits sporty weekend riders and touring enthusiasts alike. It fits motorcycles such as the BMW R12 nineT, Triumph Daytona 660, Ducati Supersport 950, Honda CB 650R, Suzuki GSX-8TT and Yamaha MT-09. It can also be paired with the existing ContiMotion.

Christoph Ettenhuber, Head of Business Field Motorcycle Tires, Continental, said, “With the ContiMotion EVO, we’re offering a versatile sport touring tyre. It combines intuitive handling with reliable grip in both wet and dry conditions – all while delivering impressive mileage for everyday use. The ContiMotion EVO has been upgraded in key areas without losing the fundamental renowned qualities of its predecessor. Riders benefit from a tyre that is noticeably more agile. The ContiMotion EVO is compatible with a wide range of popular naked bikes, roadsters and modern classics.”

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Goodyear takes centre stage at Silverstone this weekend as title sponsor of the Goodyear 4 Hours of Silverstone, the second consecutive year it has headlined the European Le Mans Series event following its return to the calendar last year after a six-year break.

The manufacturer will equip 37 cars across LMGT3, LMP2 and LMP2 Pro/Am with its Racing Eagle tyres. LMGT3 entrants will use the Medium compound, chosen for its adaptability across varying conditions and driving styles, while LMP2 and LMP2 Pro/Am crews run their own Medium specification, a staple of the series since debuting at Le Castellet last season. Wet-weather Racing Eagle tyres remain available should conditions demand.

Silverstone's fast nature is set to shape tactics, with fuel consumption a likely determinant of pit-stop windows. Goodyear anticipates LMGT3 outfits will favour single-stinting to maximise pace on fresh rubber at every stop, whereas LMP2 and LMP2 Pro/Am squads could split between single and double-stinting approaches.

Off-track, Goodyear has arranged several activations. Vector Sport's #10 car ran a special Goodyear Racing livery last weekend at Caffeine & Machine's Warwickshire venue and will race in the same colours. The company also backs Friday's ELMS Charity Run, where Racing Eagle tyre stacks will mark each kilometre and runners finish beneath an inflatable Goodyear arch, with proceeds going to the Luca Guintoli Foundation, supporting families affected by childhood cancer. Goodyear Racing Eagle tyres additionally feature in NASCAR action at World Wide Technology Raceway in Madison, Illinois.

Stephen Bickley, Goodyear Endurance Program Manager, said, “Silverstone should be a fairly straightforward race from a tyre strategy perspective. The high-speed nature of the circuit means fuel consumption will be high, so fuel strategy is likely to be the main factor influencing pit stop timing. The tyre allocations broadly give teams the flexibility to change tyres at every stop, so there is less of a need to stretch a set of tyres purely to save time in a pit stop. We therefore expect teams across both categories to largely focus on single-stinting tyres. The biggest variable at Silverstone is always the weather, which can quickly change stint lengths and pit stop timing.”

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The new AZuR CO₂ savings certificate gives commercial vehicle fleet operators a way to quantify and prove the emissions reductions they achieve through smarter tyre strategies. The tool turns calculated savings into transparent, verifiable documentation, allowing businesses to showcase their resource efficiency efforts. The certification sits within AZuR's wider vision of a closed-loop tyre economy, in which quality tyres are kept in service as long as possible through repair, retreading and regrooving, and materials are recovered through proper recycling channels only once further use is ruled out.

Three distinct levers form the basis of the assessment, and fleets may adopt them separately or together. Reusing sound tyre casings through retreading cuts demand for virgin materials and stretches each tyre's service life. Reprofiling technology from Bear-Machines adds as much as a quarter more mileage to compatible commercial tyres, depending on the tyre and how it is used, while simultaneously trimming fuel burn. Digital tyre management powered by CO2OPT analyses a fleet's tyre usage patterns through artificial intelligence, guiding the selection and deployment of suitable tyres; under the right operating conditions, this can shrink fuel consumption and its associated emissions by as much as 10 percent.

Reliability of the reported figures rests on a defined calculation framework applied to each fleet's own data. The retreading portion draws on life cycle assessment work from Fraunhofer UMSICHT, while the remaining measures follow their own established methodologies and fleet-specific inputs. The result is auditable evidence linking implemented tyre management practices to calculated CO₂ reductions.

Beyond emissions figures, the certificate reveals how deeply a fleet has embraced circular practices by showing its share of retreaded tyres. Three tiers structure this indicator: Category A covers fleets above 50 percent, Category B spans 25 to 50 percent and Category C captures 5 to 20 percent. Documented savings and a practical circularity measure are thus combined in a single certification.

Early adopters already illustrate the concept in action. Over a 12-month window, SIS Internationale Speditions GmbH calculated 31.99 tonnes of CO₂ saved through retreading, CO2OPT software and the fuel savings that followed, with retreaded tyres on more than half its vehicles, earning Category A. The Steinkühler Group, meanwhile, reached 44.72 tonnes of calculated savings in the same period using retreading, reprofiling, CO2OPT and resulting fuel reductions, landing in Category C.

Christina Guth, Network Coordinator, Alliance for the Future of Tires (AZuR), said, “Many companies are already investing in lower-emission vehicles and alternative drive systems. However, it is often overlooked that tyres can also make a quantifiable contribution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. With the AZuR CO₂ savings certificate, we demonstrate how retreading, reprofiling and intelligent tyre optimisation can be combined in a joint tyre management strategy.”

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DUNLOP has premiered a new atmospheric short film titled ‘Taking the Line’, which centres on the brand’s participation in the 2026 ADAC RAVENOL Nürburgring 24 Hours. The two-minute production chronicles the journey of the black-and-yellow DUNLOP Porsche 911 GT3 R, car number 17, offering an emotive portrayal of the challenges faced during one of the world’s most gruelling endurance events.

The film, shot over a week at the legendary Nürburgring Nordschleife, employed two dedicated camera crews utilising digital cinema cameras, action cameras, car-to-car tracking and aerial drones to capture the action. The notoriously capricious Eifel mountain weather, with its fog, rain and dramatic lighting, serves as a dynamic backdrop, amplifying the drama and underscoring the circuit’s unique character.

Rather than focusing exclusively on track action, the narrative shifts following the retirement of the DUNLOP car to highlight the essential human element of the race. The production pays tribute to the mechanics, marshals, support crews, drivers and devoted fans, emphasising that the event’s spirit relies on these individuals. This approach also connects to DUNLOP’s deep-rooted heritage in motorsport, blending tradition with innovation since the invention of the pneumatic tyre.

In a notable technical achievement, the filmmakers utilised advanced artificial intelligence to reconstruct a historically accurate sequence depicting the car without using any archive footage. This innovative process, informed by extensive visual documentation and historical references, successfully bridges more than four decades of DUNLOP’s racing history, creating a new and authentic representation of its enduring legacy at the Nürburgring.

Evropi Dionysiadou, Brand Communications Specialist at Dunlop Tyre Europe GmbH and responsible for the production, said, “One of the film’s most memorable moments creates a bridge between the past and the present. As a tribute to DUNLOP’s heritage, a Porsche 962 C appears on the start-finish straight for a few seconds, bearing the same number 17 that raced at the Nürburgring on DUNLOP tyres in 1986 and 1987.”

Dennis Wilstermann, Marketing Manager, Dunlop Tyre Europe GmbH, said, “With ‘Taking the Line’, DUNLOP underlines its deep roots in motorsport. For decades, experience gained in racing has been transferred into the development of road tyres, helping us create products capable of performing in the most demanding conditions and regularly earning recognition in independent tyre tests. An icon of 24-hour racing, DUNLOP has also contributed to 34 victories at Le Mans, a legacy that continues to inspire and drive us today.”

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