Rubber, Chemical & Petrochemical Skill Development Council (RCPSDC) celebrated its Annual Awards on 16 December, 2022 in New Delhi, India. The award ceremony was held to facilitate the best performers in the rubber, chemical and petrochemical skilling ecosystem.

RCPSDC claims that the yearly awards ceremony drew active participation from government departments, the rubber, chemical and petrochemical industries, training partners and assessment agencies and important stakeholders from across the country.

KK Dwivedi, IAS, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Government of India, was the Chief Guest at the event. Dwivedi recounted his first-hand experience of working closely with the rubber sector in Assam in his earlier innings as Principal Secretary of the state. According to RCPSDC, Dwivedi stated that there was an urgent need to equip the fast-growing rubber sector with skilled workforce, both in tapping and processing. “The rubber and chemical sector is expected to grow at eight to ten percent in the next few years and will require a continuous supply of a large skilled workforce. By upskilling one of the largest segments of the economy comprising the rubber, chemical and petrochemical sectors, RCPSDC is best placed to be a driver of India's economic growth. For that, all the stakeholders need to come in support of the sector skill council. The government is taking rubber, chemical and petrochemical as a priority sector and is committed to creating an empowering ecosystem,” said Dwivedi.

Furthermore, at the event, Vinod Patkotwar, Chairman, RCPSDC, emphasised in his welcoming speech the necessity to expand the skilling programmes in the country in order to meet the demand for a trained workforce, both domestically and internationally.

Hena Usman, IPoS, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Government of India, also honoured the occasion as the guest of honour. RCPSDC states that Lt Col Gunjan Chowdhary, Director, National Corporation for Vocational Education & Training (NCVET), Dr Maneesh Mishra, Executive Vice President, National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), Dr Deepak Paliwal, Joint Director, Pandit Sunderlal Sharma Central Institute of Vocational Education (PSSCIVE), Bhopal and Dr Vinay Swarup Mehrotra, Professor, National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) were also the guests of honour.

Besides celebrating excellence, RCPSDC claims that it exchanged three MoUs at the awards ceremony, with Government Tool Room & Training Centre (GTTC), Karnataka for the execution of dual certification programmes and with Rabindranath Tagore University (RNTU), Bhopal for B Voc, and dual certification programmes. A further significant MoU was inked with the Bahadurgarh Chamber of Commerce and Industries (BCCI), Haryana for the implementation of re-skilling and upskilling programmes under various state/central government schemes.

RCPSDC further states that it launched the project ‘Utthaan’ at last year’s Annual Awards in 2021. ‘Utthaan’ is one of the ambitious projects aimed at the upskilling of workforce (unorganised or organised) in plastic waste segregation, processing and recycling job roles and to help them perform their jobs more effectively and enhance their productivity. Through an audio-visual presentation this year at the Annual Awards 2022, the participants were updated on the achievements of the project ‘Utthaan’ and how the same is transforming the lives of neglected strata of the society, according to RCPSDC. In the first phase, 205 sanitation workers have been trained under the project. On the occasion, special recognition was conferred on Dr Pradeep Mehta, State Head, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) for the Utthaan project, the training being imparted by Lok Bharti Group (an affiliated training partner of RCPSDC) and Rajiv Pandey, Assistant Director, Urban Development Directorate, State Urban Development Agency (SUDA), Government of Uttarakhand, as per RCPSDC.

Amongst industry partners, special awards were presented to JK Tyre & Industries (Best Industry Partner – Rubber), Varroc Polymers (Best Industry Partner – CPC) and Bridgestone India (Best CSR Project). Training partners across different training methodologies were recognised as well, claims RCPSDC. Prerna Group (Best Training Partner – RPL BICE), Yashaswi Group (Best Training Partner – NAPS), Wayline Management Consultants (Best Training Partner – RPL) and VDA Technologies (Best Training Partner – STT) were adjudged the winners. Mercer Mettl (Best Assessment Agency – First Prize) and Trendsetters Skill Assessors Private Limited (Best Assessment Agency – Second Prize) received awards as best assessment agencies, according to RCPSDC.

The best trainers and assessor’s awards were bestowed on Abhinav Swami (Best Trainer – CPC), Abdul Raoof A (Best Trainer – Rubber), Pushpendra Singh Arya (Best Assessor – Rubber) and Manash Jyoti (Best Assessor – CPC). RCPSDC states that the best trainees were chosen from a large number of entries – Sunita Devi (Best Trainee – Plastic Waste Management and Segregator, First Prize), Shobha (Best Trainee – Plastic Waste Management and Segregator Second Prize), Sandeep Prajapati (Best Trainee – CPC, First Prize), Azad Mansuri (Best Trainee – CPC, Second Prize), Dipali Das (Best Trainee – NR Plantation, First Prize), Sudip Sarkar (Best Trainee – NR Plantation, Second Prize), Kanchan Dashrath More (Best Trainee – Rubber Manufacturing, First Prize), Akash (Best Trainee – Rubber Manufacturing, Second Prize).

Sharing his views, Saif Mohammad, CEO, RCPSDC, said, “I congratulate all of the awardees and give my best wishes to RCPSDC for completing a successful decade of hard work in the skilling ecosystem. We are committed to continuing our efforts to boost the efficiency of the rubber, chemical and petrochemical sector through skill training, and unlock the sector's growth prospects. RCPSDC is actively pursuing excellence in the rubber, chemical and petrochemical sectors, and we look forward to acknowledging and celebrating the achievements of our stakeholders in the coming years.”

Apollo Tyres Ltd has secured a one-season shirt-sleeve sponsorship agreement with AS Monaco, one of French football's most successful clubs, to increase awareness for its premium Vredestein brand.

This partnership will leverage Ligue 1's ranking as the fifth most watched football league in the world to raise awareness of Vredestein's award-winning products among a large audience in France and abroad. On November 22, AS Monaco's home league game against Brest will have the new sleeve branding for the first time. The Vredestein brand will be heavily promoted at Stade Louis-II for the 2024–2025 season, including on player sleeves and LED screens around the field. Exclusive social media initiatives will further help make the brand prominent, reaching a large and interested audience.

Yves Pouliquen, Vice President – Commercial, Europe, Apollo Tyres, said, “This partnership is an exciting opportunity to strengthen Vredestein’s presence in one of our key markets. AS Monaco’s rich history and commitment to excellence mirror our focus on performance and innovation. We look forward to building a successful relationship with the club and celebrating its achievements this season.”

Thibaut Chatelard, Marketing and Revenue Director, AS Monaco, said: “We are delighted to welcome Apollo Tyres and its Vredestein brand to the family of AS Monaco partners. This collaboration makes sense in view of the values we share, such as the constant pursuit of performance and excellence. There’s no doubt that this new support will be precious for the rest of our season, which promises to be thrilling.”

Nexen Tire, a leading global tyre manufacturer, has launched the Nexen N´Blue S tyre, adding to its range of summer tyres and providing drivers with advanced safety, energy efficiency and superior driving stability in wet and dry conditions.

Developed using highly dispersed silica and equipped with an optimised structural design, the Nexen N´Blue S tyre provides reduced road noise and improved driving stability. The tyre features an innovative tread compound, formulated with hydrophilic fillers and microstructure-controlled polymers, and provides lower rolling resistance and exceptional dry and wet grip. The tyre also excelled in test results by demonstrating an 11 percent improvement in wet braking distance compared to its predecessor.

Apart from providing excellent performance, the Nexen  N´Blue S also scores high on the sustainability index. The tyre provides an eco-friendly solution for environmentally conscious drivers by minimising fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. The Nexen N´Blue S summer tyre is available in 58 sizes, which makes it compatible with different types of vehicles.

Kumho Tire Vietnam Co., Ltd. is all set to expand its investment project in Binh Duong province of Vietnam, with the phase 3 of expansion commencing in early 2025. This was discussed at a recent meeting between Vo Van Minh, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee (PPC), and Kim Hyun Ho, General Director of Kumho Tire Vietnam Co., Ltd.

The meeting was held on 13 November at the Administrative Centre of Binh Duong province, as per an official statement. Apart from the company’s investment till date and the planned investment for phase 3, the two also discussed about the challenges and obstacles regarding procedures and processes to have more land funds to expand the manufacturing plant, along with taking measures to tackle the obstacles. Kim Hyun Ho also conveyed to the PPC Chairman that Kumho Tire Vietnam Co., Ltd. belongs to South Korea's Kumho Tire Group and is currently ranked 10th in the car tyre manufacturing industry.

The company had invested in a tyre manufacturing plant in My Phuoc 3 Industrial Park in 2007 with a total initial investment of USD 308 million, which was supplemented by another USD 300 million in 2021. This extended the factory scale to six hectares and increased the production capacity to 12.5 million tyres annually. With the expansion in early 2025, the company will raise its total investment to USD 908 million and increase the factory's production capacity to 17 million tyres annually. The expanded capacity is expected to be operational by early 2026.

Yokohama-ATG, a leading manufacturer of all-terrain and off-the-road tyres, has expanded its Galaxy MFS 101 SDS range of forklift tyres with the launch of white, non-marking tyres.

The Galaxy MFS 101 SDS range consists of puncture-proof SDS tyres with extended wear limits designed for high-intensity working shifts and long durability. These are premium, solid rubber tyres developed for tough demands, a long service life and high driving comfort. The addition of white, non-marking tyres is specifically aimed at clean working environments.

Marked by a 3-stage construction process, the forklift tyres feature reduced heat build-up, effective shock absorption and minimised vibrations. The pattern design guarantees a smooth ride and good steerability thanks to its continuous centre lug and circumferential grooves. Furthermore, the flat walls and wide flat profile offer excellent stability when using a forklift for vertical stacking. The tyres are also equipped with anti-slip steel beads for improved rim fitment

In a case study on a CAT 2.5-tonne forklift that was used for handling heavy pallets on asphalt, the Galaxy MFS 101 SDS outshone the competitors with impressive performance. The tyre delivered an approximate 900 working hours before replacement against competitors’ 500 working hours.