The Skill Meet organised by Rubber, Chemical and Petrochemical Skill Development Council (RCPSDC) elicited keen interest from the participating industries in fulfilling the requirements of skilled individuals across all three verticals. 

RCPSDC said in a statement that it has conceived the Skill Meet as a platform to sensitise the industry on the benefits of several schemes including the government schemes available for skill training of the existing workforce and for accessing skilled individuals. More than 30 top managers of industries from Delhi, NCR, attended the Skill Meet at Faridabad. 

Dr Ashrita Tripathi, Head Training & QA at RCPSDC provided an overview of the role of RCPSDC as a sector skill council in terms of skilling and upskilling. She apprised the attending delegates on projects involving Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS) and CSR projects where the industry has benefitted to a large extent. 

Deepmala Moorjani, who leads the Industry Engagements at RCPSDC, said, "So far over 7,000 apprentices have been enrolled in nearly 600 rubber establishments in the country. Gujarat, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Haryana and Karnataka are the five leading states where rubber manufacturing units have hired the maximum number of apprentices. Some of the key job roles for which apprentices have been engaged by the rubber industry include Rubber Compression Moulding Operator, Rubber Mill Operator, Rubber Internal Mixer Operator and Material Handling & Storage Operator.” 

Moorjani encouraged the industries to engage with RCPSDC for Industry paid RPL programs and CSR projects. She also described the flagship programmes of RCPSDC. Firstly, the RPL project ‘Saamarth’ which has been a trailblazer of sorts. Over one lakh people have been reskilled under the Saamarth project in the job role of “Tyre Service and Maintenance” leading to unique outcomes. Another flagship programme, ‘Utthaan’, which aims at upskilling the workforce in plastic waste segregation, processing and recycling job roles through Mobile Skill Vans. This training programme will help the unorganised trainees working as rag pickers to perform their jobs more effectively, enhance their productivity and raise their dignity in the society. 

Jan Ebben, Apprenticeship Advisor, NSDC, advocated strongly in favour of apprenticeship as an effective employment pathway for employers and employees alike. According to him, apprenticeship establishes an internal pool of skilled candidates, reduces the cost of external recruitment and results in high productivity and high retention. Moreover, apprenticeship training offers the flexibility advantage since apprenticeships can be structured according to company and industry needs known as optional trades. Since the cost of an apprenticeship is covered under CSR, it offers a huge cost advantage too, he said. 

So far five lakh apprentices have been engaged across different sectors. MSDE is targeting one million new contracts under Mission 1 Million. 

Dr A K Mathur, Vice Chairman at Indian Rubber Institute and a veteran of the rubber industry, said, “Shortage of technically skilled manpower is being faced in the industry. Provision of skills at various levels is required to increase the productivity of this workforce. RCPSDC is playing an important role by helping the candidates to get trained and certified in the appropriate skills, leading to employment opportunities in the rubber or allied industry. Also, the placement portal launched by RCPSDC is a much required tool at this hour which will benefit the entire Rubber & Plastic ecosystem.” 

The Skill Meet at Faridabad was done in association with the Prerna Group. During the meet, RCPSDC also exchanged an MoU with Prerna Engineering Education Group Pvt Ltd for the training of candidates under RPL Paid programs for various job roles of the Rubber & Plastic sector across the country. 

This Skill Meet offered a better understanding to the Rubber and plastic industries on various skilling initiatives of RCPSDC and how industries can be benefitted from the association of RCPSDC, the release added. (TT)

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Pirelli has expanded its premium Cross Country mountain bike tyre line with the introduction of the SCORPION XC RH. This new model, entirely manufactured in Italy at the company's Milan-Bollate facility using FSC-certified natural rubber, is engineered for the highest levels of competitive racing where minimizing rolling resistance is the paramount concern.

Designed for hardpack and compact terrain, the SCORPION XC RH aims to deliver record-level rolling efficiency without sacrificing control. Its performance stems from a synergistic combination of a specialised tread design and a bespoke RACE XC compound. The tread pattern features a wide, continuous central band with low-profile, tightly spaced knobs to maximize speed and smoothness. For confident cornering, a key weakness in many fast-rolling tyres, the RH incorporates aggressive shoulder knobs directly derived from the SCORPION XC RC model. This differentiated profile ensures stability on straightaways and provides exceptional traction through technical turns.

The custom-formulated RACE XC compound is the product of Pirelli’s technical expertise, bridging motorsport and cycling. Developed specifically for the RH model, this compound is calibrated to offer ultra-fast rolling performance coupled with essential chemical grip, which is critical for maintaining control on mixed surfaces and when riding at the limit. Internal laboratory testing confirms that the SCORPION XC RH is the fastest model in Pirelli's entire Made-in-Italy cross-country range, demonstrating a more than forty percent improvement in rolling speed over the previous RC model.

This new Racing Hardpack tyre has already been proven under race conditions by Pirelli’s partner teams, including Alpecin-Deceuninck and Trek Factory Racing, in events such as the Les Gets World Cup and the World Championships. Notably, Samuele Porro of the Klimatiza Orbea team rode the SCORPION XC RH to a Vice World Champion title at the 2025 Marathon World Championships.

The SCORPION XC RH is available to consumers in a 29x2.4 size, offering a choice between the standard LITE casing and the redesigned ProWALL casing, which features reinforced sidewalls for enhanced protection and stability. The tyres are now available at leading bicycle retailers and online, complete with graphics in both standard and Team Edition versions.

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Nokian Tyres has been named an Official Sponsor for the 2026 and 2027 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championships, connecting its brand with a premier winter sports spectacle. The sponsorship covers the upcoming tournaments in Switzerland and Germany, which captivate a global audience of millions.

According to Tiina Frazer, VP of Brand, Marketing and Communications at Nokian Tyres, the partnership is a natural alignment. She notes that ice hockey is a sport defined by extreme conditions, where success hinges on control, precision, and grip. This directly parallels the core mission of Nokian Tyres, which is to engineer products that provide drivers with reliable safety and confident performance on the road, regardless of the weather. The collaboration reinforces the company's dedication to excellence in demanding environments.

Frazer said, “We’re proud to support an event that brings together millions of passionate hockey fans – whether they’re cheering at the ice rink or following the excitement from their screens. It’s a privilege to be part of the special moments viewers enjoy around the globe, especially as awareness of our heritage as inventor of the winter tyre is growing globally. We are looking forward to our partnership and wish all the teams and players success for the upcoming tournament.”

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The World Brand Lab unveiled its ‘Asia's 500 Most Influential Brands’ list at the Asia Brand Congress in Hong Kong on 24 September 2025, featuring both Kumho Tires and Doublestar Tires for their significant brand impact.

Kumho Tires achieved a comprehensive ranking of 209th, rising six places from the previous year and positioning it as the second-highest ranked tyre brand. Meanwhile, Doublestar Tires climbed five spots to 305th overall, earning the distinction of being the top-ranked brand within China's domestic tyre industry.

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Michelin North America, Inc. is enhancing retailer access to its bicycle tyres through a new distribution partnership with J&B Importers, effective 1 October 2025. With this development, retailers will be able to order Michelin products directly through J&B Importers, starting with an initial selection of popular models.

A major expansion of the tyre lineup is scheduled for 1 January 2026, which will introduce a comprehensive portfolio. This collaboration is designed for a seamless integration, providing efficient access to Michelin's premium range. The 2026 expansion will include a wide array of new SKUs, encompassing tyres for road, mountain, gravel and city cycling to meet diverse market demands.

Justin Brock, Vice President – Sales, Recreational Products, Michelin North America, Inc., said, “Partnering with J&B Importers, Inc. allows us to better serve independent bike dealers with faster access to Michelin’s trusted tyre technologies. This is a key step in expanding our footprint and supporting the cycling community with products that deliver performance and durability.”

Phil Sweet, General Manager, J&B Importers, Inc., said, “We’re proud to welcome Michelin to our distribution portfolio. Michelin is a globally respected brand known for innovation and performance. This partnership allows us to offer our dealers access to premium bicycle tyres backed by a legacy of excellence, and we’re excited to grow the assortment in the months ahead.”

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