Nokian Tyres has started delivering tyres from its new factory in Oradea, Romania. Winter and all-season tyres are the first to be delivered to clients and consumers in Central Europe via Nokian Tyres distribution centres.

Strategically located close to Central and South European consumers and customers, the factory will focus on passenger car tyres for these markets. The groundbreaking ceremony was held in May 2023 and the first tyre was manufactured in July 2024. The plant uses the most up-to-date technology to manufacture tyres and is the first full-scale, carbon-free tyre factory in the world. All of its energy is produced without the use of fossil fuels. The factory has already received three prestigious awards, namely the 2025 Award for Environmental Achievement of the Year – Industry Contribution at the Tyre Technology International Awards for Innovation and Excellence, Business Review’s Award for The Most Impactful Investment of the Year 2025 in Romania and the Sustainable Manufacturing Award 2025 in Romania – Industry Tomorrow.

The first passenger car tyre line made at the Romanian facility, the Nokian Tyres Seasonproof 2, was just introduced by the firm. By the fall of 2025, customers in Central and South Europe will be able to purchase the all-season tyre line in sizes suitable for contemporary passenger cars, SUVs, and CUVs. In addition to offering outstanding performance and a comfortable driving experience in the summer, the tyre offers outstanding grip on snow and slush. Up to 38 percent of the materials used in Nokian Tyres Seasonproof 2 are recycled, renewable, and ISCC PLUS certified. It is the first tyre produced commercially by the firm that has such a large percentage of recycled and renewable materials. The firm plans to provide additional Romanian-made products for drivers throughout Central and South Europe in the upcoming months and years.

Along with plants in Dayton, US, and Nokia, Finland, the Romanian plant is the company's third production facility. To draw in competent workers, the company is actively recruiting in Romania, particularly in Bihor County. The factory currently employs around 300 workers and expects the workforce to be over 500 when the factory is at full capacity.

Paolo Pompei, President and CEO, Nokian Tyres, said, “This week marks the start of the tyre deliveries from our factory in Oradea, Romania. The first truck loaded with Oradea made tyres left from the factory taking the tyres to our distribution centres and later to our customer and consumers in Central and South Europe. The factory, which is the world’s first full-scale zero CO2 emission tyre factory, will strengthen our ability to serve our consumers and customers in Central and South Europe and beyond and support our growth. Reaching this milestone in less than two years from the Groundbreaking of the factory is a significant achievement for us and I am very proud of the Nokian Tyres team who has worked hard to make this possible. I also want to thank all partners and Romanian officials who have helped us along the way.”

Goodyear has earned the prestigious ‘Master’ supplier rating by DAF for the fourth consecutive year.

Goodyear's excellence in crucial areas including product development, operational support and alignment with DAF's business objectives is highlighted by this recognition, which is a component of DAF's Supplier excellence Management (SPM) programme. Three performance categories – Achiever, Leader and Master – are used by the programme to assess vendors. The highest honour, the ‘Master’ rating, is given to suppliers that continuously exhibit exceptional performance and cultivate a close working relationship with DAF. By retaining the ‘Master’ rating for the fourth year, Goodyear underlines its position as a reliable industry partner committed to enhancing customer performance and efficiency.

Xavier Fraipont, Vice President Commercial PBU EMEA at Goodyear, said, “We are honoured to receive the ‘Master’ rating from DAF for the fourth consecutive year. This achievement reflects the dedication of our teams in delivering high-performing products and reliable support to DAF. It also underscores the strength of our long-standing partnership, built on a foundation of premium quality, innovations and collaboration.”

Apollo Tyres NL BV plans to close its Enschede manufacturing facility in the Netherlands by mid-2026, citing unsustainable production costs and declining demand for its speciality tyres.

The Dutch tyre manufacturer, a subsidiary of India-based Apollo Tyres Ltd, has formally submitted a Request for Advice to the Works Council regarding the intended closure, the company said in a statement Friday. The decision follows "thorough investigation and careful consideration" after cost-cutting initiatives failed to offset rising inflation.

"Submitting the Request for Advice to the Work's Council on the intended decision to discontinue production has been enormously difficult," said Benoit Rivallant, President of Apollo Tyres NL. "In the last few years, we have implemented several initiatives to reduce costs at Enschede. These initiatives resulted in some savings, but most were completely negated due to the ever-increasing inflation."

According to the statement, the Enschede plant, which produces pneumatic tyres for cars and agricultural vehicles, has struggled with "macro-economic disruptions, steep increases in energy and labour costs, and a decline in demand for Spacemaster and Agri tyres. " Pressure from low-cost competitors has further squeezed margins.

The company said it would continue normal operations while consulting with the Works Council and that the final decision remains subject to supervisory board approval. Management has committed to maintaining communication with employees, customers and suppliers throughout the process.

Apollo Tyres Ltd, headquartered in Gurugram, India, ranks among the leading tyre manufacturers. The company did not specify how many jobs would be affected by the closure.
    
 

The Rubber Research Institute of India (RRII), a research organisation working as part of Rubber Board, has announced its proposal to appoint a ‘Research Associate (statistician)’ to work in the Botany Division on temporary basis. The selection will be based on a written test cum walk-in interview.

Candidates must hold a Master’s degree in Agricultural Statistics or equivalent qualification to be eligible for the position. As per the criteria, the age of candidates applying for the position should not exceed 35 years as of 31 January 2025.  Interested candidates are advised to meet the Director of Research, Rubber Research Institute of India, Rubber Board, Kottayam–9 on 6 May 2025 at 9.30 am along with the original documents their age, educational qualifications, experience etc. Those interested can contact on 0481-2353311 or visit www.rubberboard.gov.in for further details.

Vaculug Ltd has officially launched its new mobile application, V-Torque, to support fleet managers and commercial vehicle technicians across the UK.

V-Torque is intended to improve the effectiveness and safety of vehicle maintenance by giving commercial vehicles weighing more than 7.5 tonnes operating in the UK instant access to wheel nut torque requirements and re-torque settings. Thanks to the app's sophisticated capabilities, users can oversee and control re-torquing procedures with unparalleled precision, guaranteeing the highest level of wheel security compliance. V-Torque lowers maintenance costs and advances fleet operations' sustainability objectives by optimising these procedures. After successful field tests with a few chosen service providers, the app is now accessible on the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store.

Glenn Sherwood, Chief Growth Officer of Vaculug Ltd, said, “We are thrilled to introduce V-Torque, a product born from our unwavering commitment to sustainability and innovation. The app amplifies our dedication to driving positive change in the industry.”