Valebridge Media Services (VMS) has announced the shortlist of nominees for the 2023 edition of the Recircle Awards, the event organised to promote and recognise sustainable innovation, production processes, management and services in the tyre retreading and recycling sector.

The shortlist, chosen from a preliminary list of candidates nominated by the public, has once again been compiled by the Recircle Awards Nominations Committee, made up of 14 experts, including respected tyre industry journalists, industry association heads and independent consultants from around the world.

The shortlisted nominees for the 15 award categories open to public vote are as follows:

Best Tread Rubber Supplier

- Dobermann

- Marangoni

- Pre-Q Galgo

- Silvercap

- Vipal Rubber

Best Retreading Equipment Supplier

- Central Marketing

- Italmatic

- Matteuzzi

- TRM

- Vipal Machinery

Best Tyre Recycling Industry Supplier

- Eco Green Equipment

- Eldan Recycling

- Fornnax

- Rubberjet Valley

- Tallants Navarro

Best Tyre Derived Recycled Product

- Ceyes: City Green Panels

- Michelin: Tyres containing rCB

- Rubtec SpA: Rubtec Rubber Bumpers

- Shredded Tire: Miami Echo Construction Blocks

- XTyre Global: Evaporation Inhibitor Floating Panel

Employee of the Year

- Ankita Saikia (Tyromer)

- Bernardita Diaz (SustrendLab)

- Camilla Raffaelli (VM Rubber)

- Fabricio Nedeff (Vipal)

- Ron Elliott (Pre-Q Galgo)

Best Passenger Retreader

- Black Star

- Fedima

- Insa Turbo

- Malatesta Pneumatici

- Radburg

Best OTR Retreader

- Community Tire

- FM Pneus

- Marangoni SpA

- Reifen Wagner

- Renova Peru

Best Truck & Bus Retreader

- Continental

- Insa Turbo

- Marangoni SpA

- Unigoma

- Vaculug

Mechanical Tyre Recycling Award

- Duramos SAS

- E-Cova

- Genan

- Murfitts

- Rembre Tyres

Tyre Devulcanization Award

- DRI Rubber

- EFG Polymers

- GRP Ltd

- Rubber Matters

- Tyromer Inc.

Tyre Pyrolysis Award

- Contec SA

- Ecolomondo Corp

- Kal Tire Chile

- Pyrum Innovations

- Scandinavian Enviro Systems

Best Retreading Accessory and Consumables Supplier

- Italmatic

- Marangoni

- Tech Europe

- Vipal Rubber

- VM Rubber

Best EPR Scheme     

- Circol ELT

- SDAB

- Seginus

- Signus Ecovalor

- Valorpneu

Best Tyre Recycling Research Project

- Blackcycle: The Blackcycle Project

- GEC Compounds: Research into the creation of Genesis Evolution Compounds

- María Esther Fernandez: The Application of Textile Waste from End-of-Use Tyres in the Production of Fibre Cement

- Patricio Muñoz / SustrendLab: The Recovery and Re-use of tyre sawdust in the manufacture of solid tyres for forklifts

- SustrendLab: Research into the extraction of T-Phite from tyres

Best Company Director

- Alexey Gryshchenko (Yashina)

- Hernan Diez Vargas (ANRE)

- Jorge Crespo (Vaculug)

- Matthias Leppert (Marangoni)

- Thomas Sorensson (Scandinavian Enviro Systems)

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In line with previous editions of the Recircle Awards, the winner of the Lifetime Achievement Award in the Tyre Recycling Sector will be decided by the Recircle Awards Nominations Committee and announced during the ceremony in Bologna in November. 

David Wilson, the Chairman of the Recircle Awards Nominations Committee and Publisher of Retreading Business y Tyre & Rubber Recycling, wanted to highlight the notable increase in nominations with the 2022 edition, “Since we launch the Recircle Awards, we have delighted with the reception it has received year after year. But this edition has once again, exceeded our expectations. We have received more than 1,100 individual nominations, which is 250 more than last year,” commented Wilson. “It is very satisfying to see the Recircle Awards continuing to establish itself further at an international level in each edition. We will continue to be committed to recognising the efforts of people, institutions and companies who promote the values of the circular economy in our sector. We wish good luck to all the nominees in the final vote,” concluded the Chairman of the Recircle Awards Nominations Committee.

Valebridge Media Services also announced that the voting window is now open for the 2023 edition of the Recircle Awards. The public can now vote for their candidates after registering themselves on the website of the 2023 Recircle Awards: https://recircleawards.com/categories-2023/. The voting system allows for only one vote per person per category. Registered voters from the 2022 edition are encouraged to use their credentials from the previous year to log in and vote. 

Voting in the 2023 Recircle Awards is open until 23:59 GMT on Friday, September the 8th, 2023, with the 2023 Recircle Awards being announced on Thursday the 16th of November 2023 in an awards ceremony which is due to take part within the framework of Futurmotive – Expo and Talks organised by the trade fair Autopromotec in Bologna, Italy.

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Dara Jehangir Bharucha, a respected stalwart of India’s rubber and polymer industry with a career spanning more than six decades, has passed away today. He was 90.

Born on January 12, 1936, in Mumbai, Bharucha graduated from St. Xavier’s College in 1955 before embarking on a distinguished professional journey in the technical side of the rubber sector. He began his career with Firestone Tyre Company in Bombay, working in its technical department during a formative phase for India’s tyre industry.

He later joined Philips Carbon Black Ltd in West Bengal, where he was associated with testing the first lot of carbon black produced in India — a milestone in the domestic rubber value chain. In 1972, Bharucha moved to Bayer, rising to become Regional Technical Manager and subsequently Technical and Development Manager at the company’s Thane headquarters.

Following his retirement, he continued contributing to the industry by joining the Bhimrajka Group in 1996, a leading distributor of performance polymers and chemicals in India. Even in his later years, Bharucha remained actively engaged with the All India Rubber Industries Association (AIRIA), participating in technical forums, seminars and industry deliberations.

Colleagues remember him as a technically rigorous professional with an unwavering commitment to industry development. His career mirrored the evolution of India’s rubber and polymer ecosystem — from import dependence to domestic capability.

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Sanjay Sharma, Head of Corporate Communication and Motorsport at JK Tyre & Industries Ltd, passed away on Wednesday at the age of 61. A central architect of organised racing in India, Sharma, widely known in Indian motorsport circles as “Hardy”, leaves behind a legacy that reshaped the country’s motorsport ecosystem over three decades.

Sharma joined JK Tyre & Industries Ltd in 1994 with a mandate to professionalise its fledgling motorsport division. At a time when structured racing pathways in India were limited, he built a formal competitive framework that would become the backbone of the sport domestically.

In 1997, he spearheaded the launch of the JK Tyre National Racing Championship, creating a sustained talent pipeline for aspiring drivers. The championship went on to nurture several Indian racers who would make their mark internationally, including Narain Karthikeyan, Karun Chandhok, Aditya Patel and Armaan Ebrahim.

Beyond circuit racing, Sharma broadened JK Tyre’s footprint across rallying, karting and grassroots motorsport development. In 2000, he was instrumental in introducing organised karting championships in India — a decisive step in creating an entry-level ladder for young drivers. His long-term vision emphasised early talent identification and structured progression to international competition.

Under his stewardship, JK Tyre also strengthened its presence in rallying, supporting prominent drivers such as Gaurav Gill, while expanding competitive platforms across formats. Colleagues and competitors alike credit Sharma with institutionalising professionalism in an industry that had previously operated in fragmented pockets.

Tributes from across the Indian motorsport fraternity poured in on Thursday, describing him as a mentor, strategist and relentless advocate for the sport. Many credited his administrative foresight and corporate stewardship for laying the foundation upon which India’s contemporary racing structure stands.

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At a recent European dealer conference held in Thailand, Prinx Chengshan introduced its strategic direction for the coming years under the theme ‘PRINX REVEAL 2026 THE FUTURE UNVEILED’. The company marked the occasion by launching a new brand slogan for the European market - FUTURE READY TIRES -underscoring its ambition to co-create a shared trajectory with its regional partners amidst an evolving industry landscape.

A central component of the event was a tour of the company’s Thailand Smart Factory, where delegates observed advanced manufacturing systems in action. Led by General Manager Xu Jiangang, the visit highlighted the facility’s intelligent production lines, digital oversight tools and commitment to corporate social responsibility. Li Chongbing from the R&D Centre elaborated on the technological foundations underpinning Prinx Chengshan’s tyre quality, while Wang Hongdian of the Marketing Centre outlined a five-year product roadmap for both commercial vehicle and passenger car tyres tailored to European customers. Meanwhile, Wu Longfeng, Manager of Customer Service Department at Quality Management Centre, introduced an updated 2026 Claim Policy designed to respond more effectively to market expectations and reinforce the company’s integrated ‘Product + Service’ approach.

Strategic vision took centre stage as Li Xinming, Deputy Director of the Europe & Americas Sales Centre, discussed the company’s ongoing evolution from a traditional tyre producer into a globally competitive industrial group. He credited much of this progress to the enduring trust of European partners and conveyed optimism that the Prinx brand – rooted in innovation, craftsmanship and forward-thinking design – would continue to gain momentum through these collaborations. Thomas Wohlgemuth, General Manager for Europe, elaborated on the new brand identity and confirmed Prinx’s official entry into the European commercial vehicle tyre sector in 2026, with sustainability embedded across research, operations and partnerships.

Adding a dynamic dimension to the proceedings, British racing driver Luke Garrett made a guest appearance. As a sponsored athlete in the 2025 FIA European Truck Racing Championship, Garrett shared his experiences competing on Prinx Chengshan tyres, offering attendees a tangible connection to the brand’s values of determination, aspiration and performance.

Beyond the formal agenda, the company curated an immersive cultural programme that enabled participants to experience Thailand’s natural beauty and build stronger interpersonal connections in a relaxed setting. Looking forward, Prinx Chengshan intends to deepen its investment in research and development while capitalising on its smart manufacturing footprint across China, Thailand and Malaysia. The company envisions a future defined by sustainable growth, longer product life cycles and green innovation – bringing Chinese intelligent manufacturing to an ever-widening global stage through close collaboration with its European allies.

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TVS Srichakra reported higher standalone and consolidated profits for the quarter to December 2025, supported by revenue growth and grant income, despite exceptional charges linked to labour reforms and voluntary retirement costs.

Quarterly performance

Standalone revenue from operations rose to INR 8.50 billion in the December quarter, from INR 7.47 billion a year earlier. Total income stood at INR 8.52 billion.

Standalone profit before tax, after exceptional items, was INR 1.90 billion, compared with a loss of INR 0.36 billion in the same quarter last year. Net profit after tax was INR 1.42 billion, against a loss of INR 0.31 billion a year earlier.

Standalone earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation were INR 6.05 billion, representing a margin of 22.5 percent.

On a consolidated basis, revenue from operations rose to INR 9.17 billion, from INR 8.03 billion a year earlier. Profit before tax, after exceptional items, was INR 1.71 billion, compared with a loss of INR 0.56 billion. Net profit attributable to owners of the group was INR 1.12 billion, against a loss of INR 0.60 billion.

Nine-month performance

For the nine months, standalone revenue from operations increased to INR 24.77 billion, from INR 22.71 billion a year earlier. Net profit after tax was INR 4.81 billion, up from INR 2.64 billion.

Consolidated revenue from operations for the nine months rose to INR 26.62 billion, from INR 24.35 billion. Net profit attributable to owners of the group was  INR 3.51 billion, compared with INR 1.10 billion in the previous year.

Exceptional items and regulatory impact

Exceptional items included recognition of grant income of INR 1.88 billion under an investment promotion capital subsidy sanctioned by the Government of Tamil Nadu in November 2021. The grant is to be received over 12 years in equal annual instalments, subject to conditions, and has been accounted for under Ind AS 20 using the income approach.

The company also recognised incremental estimated obligations of INR 1.17 billion on a standalone basis and INR 1.21 billion on a consolidated basis under the new labour codes, mainly on account of employees past services. The codes became effective from November 21 2025, though supporting rules are yet to be notified.

Under a voluntary retirement scheme, the company spent INR 0.13 billion in the quarter and INR 0.51 billion in the nine months.

During the nine-month period, subsidiary Super Grip Corporation incurred severance expenses of INR 0.04 billion.

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