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 Tire is launching a philanthropic initiative with ROUSH Performance and automotive influencer Supercar Ron to deliver hope to children with critical illnesses. The collaborative effort centres on raising funds for Make-A-Wish, the global leader in granting transformative wishes for children facing serious health challenges. At the campaign’s core is the ‘Full Throttle for Wishes Giveaway’. This sweepstakes offers a grand prize of a fully equipped ROUSH-supercharged F-150 Nitemare, outfitted with Continental ExtremeContact DWS-06 Plus tyres, with all proceeds directly benefiting the charity.

Since 1980, Make-A-Wish has fulfilled over 615,000 wishes worldwide, providing hope and joy during immensely difficult times. The organisation believes a wish can serve as a pivotal moment, fostering resilience and optimism that positively impacts a child’s journey. With a child becoming eligible for a wish approximately every 25 seconds, the mission is urgent. By uniting high-performance automotive passion with philanthropy, this initiative aims to create life-changing experiences and deliver moments of joy to as many children as possible.

Brian Beierwaltes, Head of Marketing US PLT, Continental Tire, said, “Together, we have the power to create something extraordinary. By joining forces with ROUSH and Supercar Ron, we’re turning passion into action and making a huge difference for kids who need hope the most.”

Supercar Ron said, “Cars have always been my passion, but helping kids is my purpose. This initiative is about more than horsepower; it’s about giving these incredible kids the strength to keep fighting. I’m thrilled to team up with Continental and ROUSH to make this happen.”

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Apollo Tyres has achieved an A- rating from the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) in both Climate Change and Water Security for 2025. This recognition places the company among the foremost international leaders in transparency and tangible environmental action, as evaluated by this prominent disclosure platform. Apollo Tyres began its formal CDP reporting journey in 2020, demonstrating its dedication to accountability through alignment with major frameworks including the Taskforce on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) and the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi).

The company’s performance trajectory illustrates a consistent and marked improvement, rising from an initial Climate Change score of D in 2020 to achieving leadership status just five years later. This progression was bolstered in 2023 when Apollo Tyres expanded its disclosures to encompass water security, immediately securing a B- rating. The subsequent elevation to a dual A- rating underscores robust advancements in corporate governance, risk management, and comprehensive emissions reduction initiatives.

Central to this progress is Apollo Tyres’ commitment to achieving net zero emissions across its value chain by 2050. In support of this ambitious long-term vision, the company is developing a detailed decarbonisation roadmap and will shortly announce specific, absolute near-term emission targets. This systematic approach reinforces ongoing efforts to deepen stakeholder engagement and implement science-based environmental strategies, solidifying the company’s strengthened standing within the competitive global sustainability landscape.

Rajeev Kumar Sinha, Chief Manufacturing Officer, Apollo Tyres Ltd, said “Reaching an A- rating underscores our dedication to environmental stewardship and our progress towards a low-carbon, water-secure future. We remain committed to driving meaningful action and transparency across our operations.”

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Michelin is accelerating its retail expansion in North India through strategic new partnerships. The global tyre manufacturer has inaugurated two new Michelin Tyres & Services stores in Delhi NCR region. In Noida, Michelin has collaborated with Tyre Shoppe India, an established retailer with over 25 years of industry presence and a substantial facility renowned for its technical proficiency and customer service. A separate flagship outlet has also opened in Delhi’s Model Town in partnership with Liberty Tyres, a trusted automotive specialist operating for more than two decades.

These new stores provide customers with full access to Michelin’s premium tyre portfolio alongside comprehensive automotive care. Both facilities are equipped with advanced diagnostic tools, high-precision alignment and balancing equipment and offer a complete suite of vehicle services to ensure efficient and accurate maintenance. This expansion is part of Michelin’s focused strategy to strengthen its footprint across Northern India, enhancing convenience and reliable access for motorists.

Shantanu Deshpande, Managing Director, Michelin India, said, “Delhi–NCR plays an important role in Michelin’s growth strategy for India, with its strong base of premium and performance vehicle owners. The addition of these two new Michelin Tyres & Services Stores strengthens our retail presence in the region and brings us closer to our customers. As we prepare to introduce our Made-in-India passenger car tyre range next year, expanding our network remains central to ensuring accessibility and providing consumers with world-class mobility solutions.”

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Bridgestone Retail Operations, the service and retail arm of Bridgestone Americas, has named Zachary Borden as its 2025 Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) Master Technician of the Year, recognising his performance across technical skills, productivity and customer service.

Borden received the award at a ceremony hosted by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence, which oversees certification standards for vehicle repair and maintenance technicians in the US.

Borden joined the company’s Firestone Complete Auto Care network in Virginia Beach, Virginia, in 2016 after completing an associate degree in automotive technology at Tidewater Community College. He holds nine ASE certifications and has exceeded his service productivity rate by nearly 300 per cent for the past two years, according to the company.

Marko Ibrahim, president of Bridgestone Retail Operations, said: “Zach exemplifies the spirit of this award through his commitment to efficiency, clear and productive communication, and fostering a collaborative work environment. He is a standout technician and a trusted advisor for our customers, and it is an honour to recognise his servant leadership.”

Borden said: “Being named ASE Master Technician of the Year is truly an honour, and I’m grateful to be recognised for the quality of my work. What means the most to me is the opportunity to grow alongside a team that supports, challenges, and learns from one another every day.”

ASE Technician of the Year nominations are determined by employers based on test scores, on-the-job performance and community involvement. Bridgestone Retail Operations selects candidates from its network of more than 2,200 outlets across the US operating under the Firestone Complete Auto Care, Tires Plus, Hibdon Tires Plus and Wheel Works brands.

The award follows the accreditation of Bridgestone Retail Operations’ technician-training curriculum by ASE in October. Accreditation is granted to institutions that meet established standards for technical education and is intended to support technicians in gaining ASE certifications throughout their careers.

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