As per Govt. of India’s Automotive Mission Plan, by 2026, India will be the third largest automobile manufacturer globally, 12% of GDP will be from automobile sector and will generate around 65 million employment. As per Rubber Skill Development Council (RSDC), in the next decade, 1 million trained and skilled manpower will be required in the Indian Rubber MSME sector including organized Tyre & non tyre sectors. This translates to 1 lakh people have to be trained every year. This is a gigantic task and it requires to create significant infrastructure for skill development & training in the country for rubber sector.

Centre of Excellence

Encouraged by our Hon’ble. Prime Minister’s Skill India Mission and Atmanirbhar Bharat and continuous effort for Skill development & to enhance indigenous technology development capability, we the members of Indian Rubber Institute (IRI) took initiative to establish Centre of Excellence for Rubber Technology Education, Training, Research, Testing and Skill Development at JSS Science & Technology Campus, Mysuru. The JSS Mahavidyapeetha Management were kind enough to provide 10,000 sq.ft land area on long lease for establishment of this centre. In this regard, IRI has signed an MoU with JSS MVP on 18th March 2021. IRI decided to dedicate this Centre of Excellence under the name of late Dr D. Banerjee, who is known as Father of Indian Rubber Industry. This Centre is aimed to be empanelled with RSDC / NSDC, Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, Govt. Of India as a premier institute for Skill Development for rubber sector in India. We envisage that this center would not only generate employment but also produce a large number of entrepreneurs, who in turn would generate further employment and contribute to MSME segments. Apart from producing skilled manpower, this Centre is also planned to provide Rubber product development, consulting and testing services to the rubber industry in order to become self-sustainable Centre in future.

The construction of the 32,000 sq. ft. building for proposed Centre of Excellence already completed. This building consists of one auditorium (seating capacity 225 people), two training halls, one library-cum-documentation centre, one workshop, rubber processing lab and various testing laboratories (Physical, Analytical, Chemical & characterization) including data analytic lab for training, skill development and hands on training on equipment & machineries for rubber & allied industries including tyre testing and auto rubber component testing facility. These testing facilities will cater the needs of meeting skill requirement of Emerging Legislations & Regulations in automobile and tyre industries like Fuel Efficiency, Safety, etc.

The estimated cost of this establishment is around Rs 60 Crores for Building, Furniture/fixtures and equipment/machinery in three phases. National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), under Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship and Rubber Skill Development Council (RSDC) are helping IRI to establish the centre.

Activities of Dr. D Banerjee Centre of Excellence

• To fulfil the objective of Indian Rubber Institute

• To provide sustainable employment and improved quality of life to more than 20,000 people through implementation of this project in next seven years in association with RSDC/NSDC.

• Entrepreneurship Development - To upgrade skill of workers in rubber & allied industry (MSME Sector) and to encourage entrepreneurship through appropriate skill & technology interventions as to enable them to produce quality rubber products at a competitive price.

• Providing training to increase the productivity & efficiency of MSME Sector in Rubber & Allied industry.

• Testing, Benchmarking, Reverse Engineering, Failure Analysis, Compound Development, Product Development, Simulation & Modeling, Data Analytics and Certification for tyre & non tyre sector (Tyre Testing and Auto Rubber Component Testing facility)

• Technology Development for Rubber MSME sector for creating new avenues for sustenance of MSMEs in rubber industry - To create Design Studio for development of new products / designs and prototypes to cope with diversification and changes in use of rubber in the industry

• To create Centre of excellence with well integrated forward and backward linkages.

• To impart with latest information regarding technology, process, marketing and the changing needs of customers.

• To coordinate with all associations (AIRIA, ATMA, ACMA, SIAM, SAE, IITs & Other Universities for promoting Rubber Technology Education, Training, Skill Development, Testing and R&D for Rubber and allied industries.

• Continue to offer Diploma & Post Graduate Diploma in Rubber Technology in association with RTC, IIT Kharagpur and expanding to neighbouring countries (Sri Lanka, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam etc.)

• Starting of B.Voc. Course in Rubber Technology in association with JSS Science & Technology University, Mysore and Rubber Skill Development Council (RSDC).

• Jointly conducting short term courses, workshops, seminars & conferences with Department of Polymer Science & Technology, JSS S&T University, Mysore and other Universities/institute of national importance.

• This centre will act as a Nodal Centre for Skill Development and Training in Rubber Sector in Southern Region in particular in the State of Karnataka. (TT)

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Goodyear Racing Eagle tyres emerged as the central strategic battleground in the LMGT3 class during the FIA World Endurance Championship’s season-opening 6 Hours of Imola. The Italian circuit’s notably smooth asphalt led to unexpectedly low tyre degradation across the six-hour race, which allowed teams to experiment with varied tactical plans rather than following a single, predictable approach. Under this season’s increased tyre allocation rules, teams enjoyed greater flexibility, although not every squad chose to use its full supply.

The performance and consistency of the Goodyear Racing Eagle Medium compound proved decisive, with most teams minimising pit lane time by double- or triple-stinting their tyres. However, a minority of competitors opted for a contrasting strategy, fitting fresher Goodyear Racing Eagle tyres more frequently. Crucially, the durability of the Medium compound ensured that both approaches remained competitive, resulting in a wide array of live strategies unfolding simultaneously across the LMGT3 field.

The FIA World Endurance Championship resumes with the TotalEnergies 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps from 7 to 9 May 2026. Over the same weekend, Goodyear Racing Eagle tyres have also been in action at Kansas Speedway in the NASCAR Cup Series and NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, as well as at Donington Park for the British Touring Car Championship season opener.

Stephen Bickley, Goodyear Endurance Programme Manager, said, “In the first half of the race, we saw several teams double stinting the unloaded left-hand side, but changing their right-hand side tyres at every stop. But as the race progressed, some teams began to double-stint both sides. This meant that teams that had only changed the right-hand side at the previous stop were onto their third stint with the left-hand tyres. Across the field, we saw some teams stop as little as five times during the race, and some as many as eight, emphasising the range of different strategies teams employed.”

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Bridgestone has reaffirmed its partnership with the Sporting Bears Motor Club by sponsoring the Golden Dream Rides competition for another year, with proceeds benefiting multiple children’s charities. The initiative builds on a collaboration first established in 2023 and underscores the company’s dedication to community-focused causes. Through this sponsorship, Bridgestone covers competition costs while also contributing directly to charitable funds.

The Sporting Bears Dream Rides offer passengers an exceptional opportunity to ride in classic or supercars in exchange for a donation, with every penny going to chosen children’s charities. Club members generously donate their vehicles, volunteer their time and cover personal expenses, ensuring that 100 percent of each donation supports those in need. To date, the club has provided more than 85,000 Dream Rides and raised over GBP 4 million, benefiting more than 400 children’s charities across the UK since its formation in 1989.

The Golden Dream Ride competition invites anyone who has engaged with Sporting Bears to share a photograph of their favourite moment with the club via official social media channels. Each month, one winner receives a Golden Dream Ride voucher redeemable for any available dream ride car at any Sporting Bears event nationwide. Beyond the contest, Bridgestone and Sporting Bears are promoting road safety as part of Bridgestone’s ‘Be a Road Safety Hero’ campaign, with volunteers conducting public tyre‑safety checks.

Sporting Bears recently announced its historic fundraising milestone at the Practical Classics Restoration Show in Birmingham. While the club is known for its presence at major events such as the two NEC classic car shows, Carfest and the British Motor Show, it also participates in more than 60 other events throughout the season. Bridgestone’s ongoing support helps sustain these activities and the broader mission of safer roads for all.

Clare Stephens, PR and Social Media Lead for Sporting Bears, said, “Our Dream Rides are all about creating unforgettable experiences while raising vital funds for children’s charities. Bridgestone’s support covers the cost of the competition, which ensures that even more money goes directly to the charities we support.”

Helen Roe, Senior Marketing Manager from Bridgestone, said, “We’re incredibly proud to support Sporting Bears and their Golden Dream Rides concept. It’s a fantastic initiative that brings together a passion for cars with a genuine opportunity to make a difference in local communities, whilst sharing vital tyre safety advice.”

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Apollo Tyres Ltd and Italdesign are set to mark over 25 years of collaborative tyre design at Milan Design Week, running from 20 to 26 April 2026. The partnership will display key co-creations, including the Vredestein Ultrac Sessenta and the latest Vredestein Quatrac Pro 2 all season tyre, which is scheduled for a summer release.

The collaboration between the Italian design house and the Vredestein brand has now reached 27 years, beginning with the 1999 debut of the Vredestein Sportrac. Designed by renowned automobile stylist Giorgetto Giugiaro, the Sportrac introduced an asymmetric pattern that boosted its sporty appearance, setting the stage for future projects blending aesthetics with high-performance engineering.

Launched in 2006, the Ultrac Sessenta was created by Italdesign to celebrate six decades of the Vredestein brand in Enschede, the Netherlands. The tyre’s name is Italian for the number 60, a tribute to its designers. It features a distinctive tread pattern that enhances performance and handling as an ultra-high-performance summer tyre.

The latest joint effort, the Vredestein Quatrac Pro 2, goes on sale in June. This ultra-high-performance all-season tyre incorporates a sidewall design that portrays the seasons through a seamless mix of solid and void elements, with flowing graphics hinting at leaves, snow and rain. Its overarching Passage theme reflects seasonal cycles and travel through varied conditions, while visual references to water ripples, wind and motion underscore the tyre’s advanced all-season capability.

Udyan Ghai, Head of Marking, Apollo Tyres Ltd, said, “The partnership with Italdesign has endured because we share the same ethos regarding the union of performance and aesthetics in modern product design. Both the Ultrac Sessenta and Quatrac Pro 2 demonstrate how tyre design can enhance not only function, but also visual identity.”

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DUNLOP (company name: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.) has achieved a major milestone as its BLUE RESPONSE TG tyre secured first place in the overall ranking of a tyre test conducted by Auto Motor und Sport, a premier German automotive publication. This marks the first major test victory for the summer tyre since its market introduction.

The BLUE RESPONSE TG represents the inaugural Dunlop brand summer tyre developed by Sumitomo Rubber Industries specifically for the European market following the company’s acquisition of the Dunlop brand trademark in Europe, United States and Australia. Auto Motor und Sport is widely recognised for its rigorous evaluation standards regarding vehicle performance and safety, making it a highly influential medium in European tyre assessments. The publication’s circulation and technical expertise command deep trust from both automotive experts and enthusiasts.

Securing the top overall ranking in this test demonstrates the advanced technology and high level of refinement embedded in the BLUE RESPONSE TG. For safety-conscious consumers and those prioritising driving performance in the European market, the assessment results are expected to serve as a crucial reference for purchase decisions.

During the test, the BLUE RESPONSE TG in size 195/55R16 was fitted to vehicles including the Hyundai i20 and INSTER. The tyre earned high marks for delivering balanced wet and dry road performance. On wet surfaces, it stood out for grip and braking distance, while on dry roads, it excelled in handling and braking. These combined strengths led to the tyre’s overall victory. The BLUE RESPONSE TG is engineered to achieve both high-level safety and dynamic traveling performance.

Markus Bögner, President of DUNLOP Tyre Europe GmbH, said, “I am really delighted that the first DUNLOP tyre we designed for the European market received the highest rating in the assessment by a trusted magazine with a long history. The assessment results we obtained this time will provide a tailwind for the DUNLOP tyre business in Europe, which started on a full scale in January. We will continue to provide ‘Experiences that exceed expectations’, which is one of the brand value propositions of DUNLOP, for more customers.”

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