What may change and what may not

It is impossible to predict in advance which changes will stick, and how much and to what extent our lives will change, but it is safe to say that the changes that will persist are those that make our lives safer, healthier, and more efficient.

Mask wearing may be the most visible change that persists, and not just cheap surgical masks or bandanas. In many big, design-conscious cities the mask is already becoming more a fashion statement, a new feature of the personal decoration of city life that permeates these places. Masks may become walking billboards for commercial ads or political statements. Masks, visors and facial protection will be integrated into the uniforms of public workers, delivery people, police, firefighters, and security guards.

All public places – schools, theaters, shopping malls offices and mass transit will be reconfigured for physical distancing. Restaurants, cafes and gymnasiums, those that survive the pandemic, will have fewer patrons, as their tables and equipment will have been designed for physical distancing. Attendees of at large venues, such as sports venues, may continue to be subjected to have their temperatures checked.

The way we worked by going to the “office” has changed and many will continue working from home. This means reduced need for large office buildings. Still, growing urbanisation will continue. In the past, urbanisation has overcome the devastating Black Plagues, cholera and even the recent Spanish Flu which killed as many as 50 million people worldwide between 1918 and 1920. Each and every time, the economic power of cities — their ability to foster innovation and productivity by pulling together the talent of workers — has been more than enough to offset the destructive power of infectious disease. However, the current digital era may achieve similar outcomes without people clustered together in an urban setting.

On an individual consumer level, more shopping will move to online transactions with courier services delivering goods – so, brick-and-mortar shopping venues will see reduced business.

The pandemic has had a swift and severe impact on the globally integrated automotive industry and has placed intense pressure on an industry already coping with a downshift in global demand as well as the cost of shifting towards electrification. So, look for a changed industry with increased merger & acquisition activity.  

So, change is here to stay, and businesses need to pay special attention to signals being sent by consumers’ changing behavior. 

Anyway, when the pandemic and all its related crises finally ebb and we are on the road to recovery in a few months or a couple of years from now, we will have the opportunity to look back and see what has changed!

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TBC Corporation, one of North America’s largest marketers of automotive replacement tyres, has introduced the Doral Powerline portfolio, which includes the Rugged Path RT tyre along with updates to highway terrain, all-terrain and passenger tyres.

The company distributes these tyres across North America and has added sizes to the collection.

To assist customers, TBC’s wholesale marketing team developed a toolkit, which contains showroom tools and digital assets, such as posts and web banners, to help retailers with the brand.

The Doral Rugged Path RT features tread blocks, grooves, and siping technology. It features a compound used for performance in winter, off-road, and cold weather. The Doral Powerline catalogue includes tyres for CUVs, SUVs, pickup trucks and passenger vehicles, with 200 SKUs ranging from 15-inch to 20-inch.

TBC Corporation states that several product lines within the portfolio have been redesigned. The Elite Edge A/S Passenger Touring features a centre rib and water channels for handling, while the tread design manages road noise. The Journey HT Highway Terrain uses channels and sipes to evacuate water and a contour to distribute pressure. The Road Ranger AT All-Terrain uses a profile for contact and pressure distribution, with tread and lugs to protect sidewalls.

Bill Schafer, Chief Revenue Officer, TBC Wholesale, said, "TBC Wholesale customers depend on us to listen to their feedback and improve our offerings so we can deliver more robust product portfolios that increase their speed and ease of doing business. This portfolio enables us to provide customers with a broader range of tyre sizes and improved tire technology, all while maintaining the trusted products they've relied on us for, for the past 70 years.”

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TyreSafe, UK’s charity dedicated to raising tyre safety awareness, has entered a strategic partnership with the Road Haulage Association (RHA) to strengthen tyre safety standards within UK’s commercial vehicle industry. This collaboration unites TyreSafe’s educational expertise with the RHA’s membership of over 8,500 companies operating more than 250,000 commercial vehicles. The initiative also extends to coach and van operators, ensuring a broad range of professionals receives targeted maintenance guidance.

The joint effort tackles persistent tyre challenges among small and regional haulage firms by reinforcing compliance and efficiency across fleets and supply chains. Recent roadside checks at Lymm and Exeter revealed a clear divide: larger national fleets maintain high tyre standards, while smaller operators struggle with poor condition and practices. The partnership focuses on raising awareness of tyre safety, supporting legal obligations and promoting best practices in inspections.

Poor tyre maintenance can lead to roadside breakdowns, unsafe conditions, higher fuel costs, legal penalties up to GBP 20,000 and individual driver fines of GBP 200 per illegal tyre plus penalty points. Proper management reduces blowout risks, improves fuel economy and CO₂ emissions, lowers downtime and maintenance costs and ensures compliance. Tyres are essential for safe braking, handling, load stability and control.

TyreSafe and the RHA will collaborate on targeted communications and educational campaigns to elevate tyre safety standards across the commercial vehicle sector. The partnership supports all operation levels, from owner-drivers to major fleets, ensuring tyre safety is recognised as a fundamental pillar of safe and responsible fleet management across UK’s road transport network.

Stuart Lovatt, Chair of TyreSafe, said, “We’re delighted to welcome the Road Haulage Association as an official TyreSafe supporter. This partnership is about engaging with the haulage sector – from fleet operators to professional HGV, coach and van drivers. Heavy goods vehicles keep our economy moving, but they also operate in demanding conditions where tyre safety is essential. While many larger fleets are leading the way, we know there is more to be done to support smaller and regional operators with key information about tyre safety management. By working together with the RHA, we can bridge that gap – empowering operators, drivers and technicians with the knowledge they need to keep vehicles safe, compliant and efficient.”

Geraint Davies, UK Director of Partnerships at the Road Haulage Association, said, “We’re pleased to be joining TyreSafe as a supporter and to strengthen our focus on tyre safety across the sector. Our members operate in a highly regulated environment where safety, compliance and efficiency are paramount. Tyres play a critical role in all three. This partnership will help us provide practical guidance and support to operators of all sizes, ensuring they can meet their responsibilities while protecting their drivers, their businesses and other road users.”

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Tana Oy is expanding its waste processing portfolio with the launch of its Multi Waste Buckets MWB17 and MWB23, positioning the products as a lower-cost alternative to standalone pre-shredders.

The loader-mounted attachments integrate pre-shredding and bag opening at the point of loading, eliminating the need for separate shredding equipment. The approach is designed to streamline operations by reducing material size earlier in the process, improving feed consistency for downstream sorting, recycling and energy recovery systems.

The company said the integrated solution can lower operating costs by cutting the number of machines required on site, reducing fuel consumption and maintenance needs and minimising unplanned downtime. By removing additional handling steps, the buckets also aim to simplify internal logistics and improve site efficiency.

The MWB units are designed for plug-and-play installation across a range of wheel loaders and material handlers, enabling operators to process waste directly at the loading stage. The system delivers a particle size of roughly 300–400 millimetre and throughput of up to 90 cubic metres per hour, supporting higher recovery rates and reduced wear on secondary equipment.

Both models feature a three-axle design intended to optimise cutting performance and material flow, supported by higher torque on outer axles and a faster central axle. Additional design elements including protected bearings and self-cleaning structures are aimed at improving durability and reducing maintenance requirements.

The MWB17 targets 10–15-tonne loaders, while the MWB23 is designed for 13–20-tonne machines, allowing deployment across varying operational scales. The company said the products can either replace or complement conventional pre-shredders as part of efforts to improve cost efficiency and sustainability in waste processing.

“Pre-shredding is the critical first step in turning waste into value. With the TANA Multi Waste Buckets, we are bringing that step directly into the loading phase making the process simpler, more flexible and significantly more cost-efficient for our customers,” says Eetu Tuovinen, Product Marketing Manager, Shredders, Tana Oy.

Field experience has shown that integrating pre-shredding into the loading phase can streamline site operations. “Customers have seen immediate benefits in terms of reduced transport needs, smoother material flow and less downtime in downstream equipment. The ability to pre-process waste on the spot changes how efficiently the whole site can operate,” says Tuovinen.

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Finland-based Tana Oy has appointed Gerd Schreier as Vice President of Sales, Marketing and Channel Management, effective May 1, 2026, as the company sharpens its global growth strategy.

Schreier brings international experience in heavy equipment sales, aftersales and general management, having led global teams across direct and dealer networks. In the new role, he will oversee commercial operations with a mandate to expand market reach, strengthen channel alignment and drive consistent growth across regions.

Separately, the company named Olli Heinonen as Vice President of Product Marketing and Portfolio Strategy, also effective May 1. Heinonen, who has spent the past four years developing Tana’s distributor network across more than 50 countries, will now lead product and solutions strategy, with a focus on portfolio development and application coverage.

The leadership changes come as Tana seeks to scale its international footprint and reinforce its positioning in the waste management equipment market, with an emphasis on delivering measurable customer value and aligning product strategy with evolving global demand.

“Gerd brings exactly the kind of international commercial leadership and strategic mindset we need as we continue to grow our global presence,” said Jari Mennala. “His experience in building strong sales organizations and partner networks will be key as we sharpen our customer focus and accelerate growth.”

“I am passionate about building a more sustainable future through my work in the recycling industry. On a personal level, contributing to a circular economy is deeply rewarding and aligns with my values.

Professionally, I am motivated to be part of a leading organisation known for its strong customer reputation and commitment to excellence. I enjoy working in environments where innovation, responsibility and long-term impact come together to create meaningful change,” said Schreier.

“It has been a privilege to work closely with our global distributor network and to witness the strong commitment and collaboration that define Tana’s way of working. I am grateful for the partnerships we have built and the results we have achieved together. In this new role, I am excited to support the next phase of Tana’s product and solutions portfolio and strategic direction,” said Heinonen.

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