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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The Association of Natural Rubber Producing Countries (ANRPC) has confirmed that its Annual Conference 2026 will take place on 23–24 November 2026 at the Pullman Pattaya Hotel G in Pattaya, Thailand. The gathering will adopt the theme ‘Building a Resilient, Competitive and Sustainable Global Natural Rubber Industry’, reflecting the sector’s urgent need to address mounting pressures across the global value chain.

The two-day programme will feature five thematic sessions before a moderated panel discussion. These sessions will cover geopolitics and the Middle East conflict, climate change and its effects on production and productivity, supply-demand dynamics and price volatility, advancing sustainability beyond the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) and the implications of protectionist policies for trade and consumption. A 40-minute High-Level Roundtable on the Future of the Global Natural Rubber Industry will close the conference, focusing on strategic priorities, collaborative action and practical pathways towards long-term resilience and growth.

The global natural rubber industry stands at a critical juncture, with rising temperatures, shifting rainfall patterns, flooding and climate-related diseases increasingly pressuring production and productivity. Geopolitical tensions, including the ongoing Middle East conflict, rising operating costs, narrowing margins and evolving sustainability requirements are adding further strain across the value chain, said the association.

As a renewable resource, natural rubber supports industrial development and sustainable value chains, yet it faces supply constraints, price volatility, declining productivity, tree diseases, rising costs and stringent ESG requirements. These challenges also present opportunities to strengthen competitiveness, enhance value addition, diversify markets and accelerate sustainable practices. With decarbonisation efforts advancing towards 2030 and regulations such as the EUDR reshaping market access, stakeholders must collaborate to build responsible, inclusive, transparent and viable supply chains. Innovation, investment, and sustainable finance will be vital for smallholders and SMEs, the association further added.

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Max Verstappen completed a flawless weekend at the Marina Bay street circuit by winning the Singapore Grand Prix, adding Sunday’s race to his earlier Sprint victory and both pole positions. The Red Bull driver managed his Pirelli Soft and Medium compounds across a one-stop strategy while the tyre supplier’s rubber proved central to the race’s varying tactics.

Charles Leclerc finished second for Ferrari, with Kimi Antonelli third for Mercedes. The top three all began on Softs before switching to Mediums, but Leclerc and Antonelli exploited a Virtual Safety Car (VSC) period on lap 39 to fit fresh Softs for a second stop.

Verstappen, by contrast, ignored the VSC window, completing 32 laps on his starting Softs before moving to Mediums and running them to the flag. Only Soft and Medium compounds featured throughout the race.

Antonelli extended his championship lead to 340 points, helped by teammate George Russell’s ninth-place finish. Russell sits second on 238, with Lewis Hamilton third on 229. Russell also recorded the longest Medium stint at 39 laps, while Hamilton, sixth, ran 44 laps on a single set of Softs.

Dario Marrafuschi, Pirelli Motorsport Director, said, “As widely expected, regardless of the neutralisations, the one-stop strategy proved to be the most competitive, with the Soft-Medium combination emerging as the most effective option. The C5 was the star of the race, as it delivered very long stints while maintaining a strong level of performance and offering the advantage of greater grip than the other compounds available. Drivers who used it for around half the race only experienced a performance drop-off in the closing stages.

“The Hard tyre was not a strategically attractive option for the teams, as it offered less grip than the C4 which, despite being the softer compound, exhibited virtually no degradation, without providing any tangible advantages in a race already firmly geared towards a one-stop strategy. As a result, although the C3 has proven effective at other circuits, it was not selected by any driver in Singapore. Tyre degradation was in line with what we had already observed during free practice, and the visual condition of the tyres at the end of the stints was also very encouraging, even over the longest runs. Wear was manageable, although it required a degree of attention, particularly on the rear-right.”

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The DUNLOP Group has systematically organised its sustainable natural rubber procurement initiatives for the first time, centring on the previously announced group-wide Sustainable Natural Rubber Subcommittee. The company will promote these initiatives and accelerate related activities. Natural rubber remains a key raw material for the group, and its production depends heavily on smallholder farmers, meaning challenges tied to productivity, income and environmental and social issues directly affect stable and sustainable procurement.

A second phase of the Sustainable Natural Rubber project, supporting smallholder farmers in Indonesia, began in April 2026. The project was originally launched in 2022 by Sumitomo Rubber Singapore Pte. Ltd., the group's natural rubber procurement subsidiary, together with PT. Hok Tong, a processing company owned by Halcyon Agri Corporation Ltd. In the first phase, improved productivity and earnings were confirmed for participating farmers. Phase 2 will continue support in Sumatra's Jambi region while extending coverage to Rantau Prapat in North Sumatra, aiming to assist roughly 1,740 farms cumulatively each year, with targets rising annually through April 2029.

During Phase 1, which ran from 2022 to 2025, more than 1,000 smallholder farmers in Jambi received support. Yields increased by up to about 19 percent, and both productivity and profitability improved in the project areas. In Phase 2, lessons from that experience will inform expansion into Rantau Prapat, where similar supply chain risks exist. Follow-up training will also continue in Jambi, with technical guidance and agricultural supplies provided so that improved techniques are fully adopted and yields rise further.

The group has identified and assessed its business activities' dependence on and impact upon natural capital, along with related risks and opportunities, following the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures recommendations and the LEAP Approach, and has disclosed information accordingly. The newly established subcommittee has systematically categorized natural rubber risk mitigation measures using the Action Framework proposed by the Science Based Targets Network, linking identified risks and opportunities to business activities.

That framework organizes corporate actions addressing nature-related impacts into avoidance, reduction, restoration or regeneration and transformation. Through this structure, the group will clarify the roles of initiatives previously pursued separately, including risk assessment, farmer support and research and development, as well as measures needed going forward. The Farmer Support Project falls under the framework's reduction objective, with the aim of improving farmer productivity and profitability and thereby lowering risks in the natural rubber supply chain.

Phase 2 is scheduled to run from April 2026 to April 2029, covering Jambi and Rantau Prapat in Sumatra, Indonesia. Support targets 870 households in Jambi and 870 households in Rantau Prapat annually, delivered mainly through technical guidance and agricultural supply support. Indonesia ranks among the world's leading natural rubber producers, and Sumatra is one of its major production areas.

Dwi Sutrisno, Sustainability Manager, PT. Hok Tong Indonesia, said, “This Project is a valuable initiative that strengthens the knowledge, skills and capabilities of smallholder farmers while supporting higher productivity and more sustainable farming practices. As the implementing partner, PT. Hok Tong Indonesia is proud to contribute to this effort and to see the positive impact it brings to farmers and their communities.”

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Maxxis concluded the 2026 Championship Off-Road season with a dominant display at Glen Helen, where its sponsored drivers captured four class titles. The company’s tyre range proved decisive across the field, with competitors relying on RAZR AT, RAZR AT-S, SC-1 and Bravo AT-771 rubber. Jimmy Henderson, Connor Barry, Nick Byng and Jeb Bootle each secured 2026 championships in Pro 4, Pro Lite, Super Stock Truck and Pro SxS, respectively.

Henderson’s consistent weekend sealed the Pro 4 crown with 729 points on RAZR AT tyres. Mickey Thomas claimed third overall in the class, while Adrian ‘Wildman’ Cenni finished fourth. Thomas added second-place finishes in both Friday’s and Saturday’s races, with Cenni third on Friday and Henderson third on Saturday.

Barry enjoyed a flawless weekend in Pro Lite, winning both races on RAZR AT-S tyres to lock down the title with 777 points. Bootle, in his first season as a Maxxis athlete, took the Pro SxS championship with 733 points on SC-1 tyres, delivering the brand’s first-ever Pro SxS title in the series. He also won Saturday’s Pro SxS race and placed third in Friday’s Pro Stock event.

Byng secured his second consecutive Super Stock Truck championship and third career title, accumulating 604 points on Bravo AT-771 tyres. In Friday’s Pro Buggy race, Zac Drapkin won and Chaden Minder finished third, both running RAZR AT-S tyres.

Rossy De La Cruz, Maxxis’ sponsorship and sales specialist, said, “Closing out the season with multiple wins and championships is an incredible accomplishment for our Maxxis athletes. I’m extremely proud of their hard work, dedication and trust in Maxxis throughout the season. A huge thank you to Champ Off Road for another outstanding season and for providing an incredible platform for our athletes to compete at the highest level. We’re excited for what’s ahead in 2027.”

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