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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Pirelli is all set for the winter season with its winter tyre range that is renewed over the past two years. The newly launched Scorpion Winter 3 joins the P Zero Winter 2 for high-performance cars and the Cinturato Winter 3 for saloons and crossovers. The range is available with Pirelli Elect technology for electric vehicles. Independent tests by European organisations have placed Pirelli winter tyres at the front in safety-related areas, while the Cinturato All Season SF3 has recorded four victories and six additional podium finishes.

Winter tyres or suitable equipment are required from 15 November to 15 April. Most winter driving occurs on dry and wet roads. Below 7°C, winter compounds offer more grip than summer compounds, and the tread pattern helps counter aquaplaning and generate traction on snow. Sidewall markings indicate capability: M+S identifies a product for challenging surfaces, while 3PMSF certifies testing in harsh conditions. An appropriate winter driving style includes increased safety distance, avoiding sudden acceleration and reducing brake use in favour of engine braking.

The Cinturato Winter 3 took first place in the 2026 ADAC winter tyre test in size 225/50 R17 against 16 models, earning a highly recommended rating with the best wet score and the highest assessment for driving safety. It won the AvD test in size 225/45 R17 against 15 tyres with a very good rating. It also finished first in the Auto Bild comparison in size 205/55 R16 on a Volkswagen Golf against 14 tyres with an exemplary rating. Podium finishes followed in tests by Auto Express, Auto Bild Allrad and Tyre Reviews, giving six podium finishes in seven tests, including three victories.

The Scorpion Winter 3 debuted with a victory in the alVolante comparison in size 235/60 R18 on an Alfa Romeo Stelvio, ranking first among six winter tyres. Its wet performance, shortest braking distance, fastest lap time and progressive reactions set it apart. It was judged consistent and predictable on snow and balanced on dry roads.

In the annual Auto Bild super comparative test, the P Zero Winter 2 finished on the podium with an exemplary rating, thanks to precise driving behaviour in wet and dry conditions and braking performance on both surfaces. The Cinturato Winter 3, Scorpion Winter 3 and P Zero Winter 2 are available with Pirelli Elect technology on dedicated fitments for Europe's electric vehicle fleet. Elect addresses low rolling resistance for range, acoustic comfort, longer tyre life, grip for immediate torque and a reinforced structure for battery weight.

All-season tyres suit drivers mainly in urban areas covering up to 20,000 km per year without frequent heavy snowfall. Higher mileage, regular mountain travel or high-performance cars generally call for winter tyres. The Cinturato All Season SF3 carries the 3PMSF marking and has four victories in comparisons by Auto Zeitung, Reifentester, Auto Express and Que Choisir, plus six additional podium finishes. The new Scorpion All Season SF3 extends the approach to SUVs.

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Nokian Tyres will withdraw its sponsorship of the 2027 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship should Russia be permitted to compete, the company has confirmed. The decision follows a Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruling that cleared Russian national teams to return to international ice hockey. Nokian Tyres stated that continuing the sponsorship under such circumstances would conflict with its values. Tiina Frazer, SVP of Brand, Marketing and Communications, explained that while the 2026 tournament cooperation proved highly successful, the company felt compelled to act on its principles regarding Russian participation.

The tyre manufacturer had been named an Official Sponsor for both the 2026 and 2027 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championships in late 2025. Its 2026 involvement included the ‘Carve the Corners’ contest, running from 6 February to 20 March, which offered fans in the United States and Canada a chance to win a trip to the tournament. The 2026 event, held from 15 to 31 May, featured 64 games with 16 top national teams competing for the title and stands as the world’s largest annual winter sports event.

Frazer said, “Our sponsorship agreement with the IIHF covers the 2026 and 2027 World Championships, and our cooperation around the 2026 tournament was very successful. However, under the current circumstances, continuing the sponsorship if Russia participates would not be aligned with our values. We have therefore decided to end our sponsorship of the 2027 World Championship should Russia be allowed to take part.”

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Sri Trang Agro-Industry Public Company Limited (STA), the world's largest fully integrated natural rubber company, has been honoured at the Intelligent Industry Awards 2026, an accolade bestowed by the National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA). The award was formally received on 30 October 2026 at Bangkok's S31 Sukhumvit Hotel by Executive Director Vitchaphol Sincharoenkul, accompanied by Akarat Mattayangkul, Factory Manager of the Huai Nang Branch, and Poowanart Laoprasert, Factory Manager of the Loei Branch.

Three of the company's production sites earned recognition under the award. The Loei and Huai Nang branches in Trang Province were cited for their technically specified rubber (TSR) operations, while the Kanchanadit Branch in Surat Thani Province was acknowledged for latex production. Evaluators placed weight on technology deployments that yield demonstrable outcomes, alongside sustained organisational development spanning operational processes, personnel, energy and sustainability.

Research and development form a central pillar of STA's strategy, merging its natural rubber know-how with digital tools and artificial intelligence. Among its flagship efforts is the Sri Trang AI Machine (SAM), which harnesses AI to bolster analysis and decision-making in production. The company also runs an ‘AI Clinic’ that invites staff from every department to pitch ideas, exchange experiences and obtain expert advice on embedding AI in routine tasks, thereby streamlining workflows, aiding decisions and lifting operational efficiency while nurturing a culture of technological learning.

The accolade underscores STA's drive towards Industry 4.0 through digital adoption, automation, innovation, workforce development and prudent resource management. It represents a further milestone in Sri Trang Group's evolution, reinforcing its emphasis on technology, people and resource efficiency as it continues to champion the sustainable development of Thailand's rubber sector.

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Professor James Busfield of Queen Mary University of London has been awarded the prestigious IRCO Medal by the International Rubber Conference Organisation (IRCO) in recognition of his longstanding contribution to international rubber conferences. The honour was presented by IRCO Executive Chairman Michael Clayton at IRC 2026 in Aichi, Japan, immediately before Busfield delivered his plenary lecture. The IRCO Committee unanimously approved the award at its meeting in Bangkok on 2 December 2025.

His involvement with the organisation spans more than a decade, having represented the United Kingdom on the IRCO Committee since 2013. He chaired and organised IRC 2019 in London, attracting 550 delegates, and led the organisation of RubberCon events in Manchester in 2014 and Edinburgh in 2023, the latter welcoming over 310 participants from 26 countries. A frequent plenary and keynote speaker, he also regularly involves postgraduate students in these international gatherings, providing opportunities to showcase their research and build professional connections.

Left to right: Michael Clayton, Executive Chairman of IRCO; Professor James Busfield, Queen Mary University of London; and Professor Mikihito Takenaka, Congress Chair of IRC2026 AICHI and Professor at the Institute for Chemical Research, Kyoto University.

Beyond his international conference work, Busfield has headed the Elastomer Group at the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (IOM3) since 1995. Under his leadership, the group has delivered more than 100 meetings and conferences for the rubber sector while introducing hybrid events to expand global accessibility. At Queen Mary, he serves as Professor of Materials, National Teaching Fellow, Deputy Head of School and Head of the UK's largest soft matter research group. His career began in automotive suspension engineering before he completed his doctorate under Professor Alan Thomas.

Busfield's research encompasses rubber friction, fatigue, fracture, recycling and smart materials, supported by more than 190 peer-reviewed publications and industrial collaborations with Bridgestone, Continental, Aston Martin F1 and Schlumberger. Elected a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering in 2020, he has also received the Colwyn Medal (2009), the American Chemical Society Rubber Division's George Stafford Whitby Award (2021) and the IOM3 T B Marsden Medal (2024).

Michael Clayton, Executive Chairman of IRCO, said, “James never travels alone. At every conference he brings his students, and gives them the chance to present, to meet people and to begin their careers in our industry. He is incredibly generous with his time, and one of our industry's most engaging speakers. Professor Busfield is an incredibly worthy recipient of the IRCO Medal.”

Professor James Busfield said, “It is a great honour to receive the IRCO Medal. IRCO has coordinated the International Rubber Conference and RubberCon events for about 60 years, and I have been fortunate to have been a part of that community for about half of that time. I enjoy greatly participating in these conferences and value the opportunity to meet the global rubber experts, discuss with them new innovations and together help to move the discipline and our industry forward. My thanks are extended to all of those from the global rubber community who have worked to make our IRCO events so successful.”

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