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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JK Tyre & Industries Ltd has inaugurated the Phase III expansion of its passenger car radial tyre manufacturing facility at Banmore in Madhya Pradesh, increasing production capacity as it steps up domestic manufacturing investment.

The expansion lifts the plant’s output to 30,000 passenger car radial tyres a day, equivalent to about 10.5 million tyres a year. The development forms part of a multi-phase investment of more than INR 10 billion at the Banmore site.

The new facility was inaugurated by Hisashi Takeuchi, in the presence of Raghupati Singhania and Anshuman Singhania, alongside senior representatives from Maruti Suzuki India Limited.

JK Tyre said the expansion supports its strategy to serve India’s aftermarket, original equipment manufacturers and export markets, as passenger vehicle demand continues to grow. With the commissioning of Phase III, the Banmore plant has become a key hub for high-performance passenger car radial tyre manufacturing.

Speaking at the inauguration, Dr Raghupati Singhania said: “The inauguration of Phase III expansion by Hisashi Takeuchi San at our Banmore plant reflects JK Tyre’s unwavering commitment to strengthening India’s manufacturing ecosystem and supporting the country’s mobility growth story. As passenger vehicle demand continues to rise, our focus remains on incessant capacity enhancement, modernisation, and technology-led innovation. Banmore has been a cornerstone of our passenger car radial journey, and this expansion further reinforces our ability to serve OEMs and consumers with high-quality, sustainable, and future-ready products, while contributing to industrial growth and employment generation in Madhya Pradesh.”

The company said the Banmore facility continues to contribute to regional industrial development through direct and indirect employment, sustainability-focused manufacturing practices and community initiatives, including programmes in healthcare, education, livelihood development and sports.

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Caterham Motorsport has entered a new multi-year partnership with Nova Motorsport, appointing them as the Official Tyre Partner. This agreement effectively continues the successful, long-term relationship previously held with Avon Motorsport, as Nova Motorsport now manufactures the same championship-winning tyre products under licence.

The partnership ensures a supply of high-performance tyres across four official Caterham championships: the Roadsport and 270R Championships will utilise the Nova ZZS; the 310R Championship will use the Nova ZZR and ZZS and the flagship UK Championship will be equipped with Nova Motorsport Slicks and Wets. These tyres, rebranded from the former Avon line, are specifically engineered for the unique demands of the Caterham Seven.

Freed from the constraints of road tyre labelling regulations, the new Nova ZZR and ZZS products are dedicated entirely to track performance, offering enhanced capabilities. This transition to the Nova brand and the secure, long-term nature of the alliance underscore Caterham Motorsport's strategic confidence in Nova Motorsport to deliver proven, ultra-high-quality products for its driver-focused racing series.

Daniel Stanton, Head of Sales & Marketing, Nova Motorsport, said, “We are immensely proud to solidify our relationship with Caterham Motorsport as the brand’s official tyre partner. This builds on a working relationship that has lasted many successful years under the Avon Motorsport banner. Nova Motorsport and Caterham share key synergies as businesses; we are both focused on the specialist, niche and high-performance segments of the automotive and motorsport world. This multi-year partnership is a major strategic pillar for Nova Motorsport. It underscores our unwavering commitment to reliably supplying Caterham competitors around the world with the tyres they need to compete and win at the highest level.”

Alex Read, Head of Motorsport, Caterham, said, “Nova Motorsport is the perfect fit for Caterham Motorsport. Our products demand specialist tyres, and the Nova team, with its heritage rooted in Avon Motorsport, understands this implicitly. The tyres supplied are uniquely designed for our Sevens, meaning our competitors will directly benefit from Nova Motorsport’s renewed dedicated focus on the Caterham product. We are fully confident in the quality and service our drivers will receive and are looking forward to getting the 2026 Caterham Motorsport racing season underway with our new partners.”

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A pivotal strategic collaboration agreement between Norwegian innovator reTyre and global high-performance bicycle tyre leader Vittoria anchors a new EUR 7 million investment round. This financing, led by Hatch Blue’s Blue Revolution Fund with Fundracer and existing investors, fuels reTyre’s mission to transform the bicycle tyre industry. The capital will scale production, fulfil a substantial order book and accelerate the path to profitability.

The foundation of this venture is reTyre’s patented injection moulding technology, the result of over a decade of research. This process enables fully automated, decentralized production near OEM assembly lines, slashing transport costs and emissions. It achieves an 80 percent reduction in CO₂, allows for 100 percent recyclability and operates dust-free.

The investment will immediately establish a fully automated production cell in Norway, with a second Asian facility planned for 2026. While already serving a broad customer base, reTyre’s partnership with Vittoria specifically targets the performance utility tyre segment. Together, they will co-develop and commercialise a new generation of high-performance tyres leveraging reTyre’s sustainable technology.

This confluence of strategic collaboration, substantial funding and deep-tech innovation marks a definitive turning point. It unites sustainable production, market-leading performance and strategic investment to reshape the future of the global bicycle tyre industry.

Paul Magne Amundsen, CEO and Founder, reTyre, said, “After a decade of focused R&D, we’re proud to disrupt the industry with a technology that delivers a new level of performance while enabling true circularity and a sustainable solution in tyre manufacturing. Support from Hatch Blue, Fundracer and our co-development partnership with Vittoria, reflects deep confidence in both our vision and the breakthrough potential of our platform as we continue to scale.”

René Wiertz, Managing Partner, Fundracer, said, “We are proud to support reTyre and to work alongside their team in scaling this groundbreaking technology. reTyre’s deep-tech platform enables clean, local and automated production of all types of tyres. It aligns perfectly with Fundracer’s mission to back sustainable, high-performance innovations that will redefine the future of mobility.”

Georg Baunach, Managing Partner, Hatch Blue, said, “I’m excited to work with Paul and the rest of the reTyre team over the next few years. It is rare to come across truly disruptive innovation, and we are convinced that reTyre can completely change the way the multi-billion-dollar tyre market is structured. As reTyre scales, incorporating side and waste streams from regenerative aquaculture could meaningfully improve the economics and sustainability of aquaculture production.”

Stijn Vriends, Chairman & CEO, Vittoria, said, “We’ve followed reTyre for many years and are convinced that their unique production method can successfully be applied to utility bicycle tyres. Vittoria stands for performance and sustainability, and reTyre’s technology delivers both. We’re excited to collaborate and bring this next generation of sustainable performance tyres to market.”

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The second round of ABB FIA Formula E World Championship's Season 12 concluded with the Hankook Mexico City E-Prix, a vibrant festival of motorsport held at the iconic Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez. Hankook Tire's iON Race tyres were integral to the spectacle and strategy at the celebrated venue, where intense racing met a uniquely challenging environment. The high-altitude circuit, located over 2,200 metres above sea level, placed a premium on thermal management and consistent grip, demands met by the predictable performance of the iON Race compound throughout the evolving conditions.

Across this demanding circuit, all teams competed on Hankook's race-proven iON Race tyres. These tyres provided a stable and reliable platform, crucial for managing the unique energy and heat constraints of the high-altitude event. The iON Race tyres delivered predictable warm-up and consistent grip, allowing drivers to push with confidence through both high-speed and technical sections of the lap. Their ability to maintain a steady contact patch and effective thermal control supported strategic flexibility and vehicle balance as track conditions evolved throughout the race distance.

The event, which also marked Formula E's 150th race, was ultimately won by Nick Cassidy, securing a maiden victory for Citroën. He finished ahead of Edoardo Mortara for Mahindra Racing and Oliver Rowland for Nissan. With the Hankook Mexico City E-Prix complete, the championship now looks ahead to Round 3, the Miami E-Prix, scheduled for 31 January 2026 at the Miami International Autodrome.

Manfred Sandbichler, Senior Director of Hankook Motorsport, said, “Mexico City once again proved how decisive stable tyre behaviour is at high altitude. Across a race that demanded constant adaptation, the iON Race delivered the confidence and consistency teams needed to manage energy, temperature and balance under challenging conditions.”

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