Six currencies, with an estimated population of 184 million - the East African community exists around the Great Lakes Region. “The Cradle of Mankind” is what it is called. This region lies in the heart of Africa and is home to both flora and fauna as it may have existed in the primordial times, undisturbed – SMART.

Mobility has changed considerably in this region by the way the tyres here have found their way into this market. In 1998, Truck Tubeless Tyre Conversions began in Kenya and quickly spread out to the neighboring regions. Presently 95% of the tyres found in fleets are tubeless and there is 100% conversion rate on Passenger and 4x4 range of vehicles. It was the SMART thing to do. The millennium saw an influx of Fleet Management softwares, Tyre Management Contracts, with the help of Budini Tyre Management Software. Unprecedented tyre training, growing investments in tyre machinery, tools and accessories investments. Technology and processes peaked and the bubble burst.

On the tyre spectrum 12.00R20, which was the predominant tyre size, was replaced by the low profile 315/80R22.5 (not the 13R22.5) which continues to hog 60% of the truck tyre market. The 8.25R16 was replaced by the 265/70R19.5 and 295/80R22.5 (together with 12R22.5) replaced 11.00R20. On the tyre spectrum and front we were ahead of developed, space (nuclear) age countries like India and the Gulf where tubeless conversions were less and the predominant sizes remained to be 10.00R20 and 12.00R24 respectively.

Tubeless rims became the order of the day and even when Trilex Split rims (80 years technology) are still in use in the Gulf. For a market that churns out approximately 600,000 trucks tyre casings per year, tyre retreading is the environmentally SMART thing to do. The cold procured tread process replaced the hot casing damaging process.  East Africa has not been left  SMARTing in this field either.

What went wrong:

1.  Intelligent Organisations. Any intelligent system must be data-driven

The primary objective of any successful organisation is to analyse large pools of data accumulated over long periods of time in their areas of operations (This includes transporters, tyre importers and distributors and tyre manufacturers). Increasingly organisational decisions are NOT taken by managers’ intuition and common sense but algorithms and data derived electronically from recording of our interactions and experiences with customers. Selling tyres has ceased to be a contact sport it has degenerated in some quarters into a Nintendo like encounter.

Intelligent organisations normally SCALE (Sense, Comprehend, Act, Learn and Explain) their environment with managers/ owners / directors ceding authority over certain decisions while acquiring new capabilities and roles for themselves. As conjoined twins, SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, Timely) and SCALE goals must be matched.

Let me give illustration with a story. In Africa we love to do so. Reader’s discretion is advised!

A (SMART) priest arrived late at the foot of Mt. Kilimanjaro, Africa’s tallest mountain, for a climbing expedition the following day. Exhausted, he searched for a room in the nearest inn. Only one room was available which he was requested by the motel owner to share with a beautiful lady wearing a stunning fishy (SCALEy) dress who had arrived late for the same expedition. To make matters worse, there was only one mattress. The exhausted lady prepared and slept on one side of the mattress, while the honorable  priest laid the sheet and slept on the cold floor two meters away. The following morning at the breakfast table the priest formally introduced himself to the beautiful lady as asked her where she was from. She on the other hand enquired of the priest as to his mission at the Kilimanjaro. “ I have come to climb and conquer this greatest mountain in Mother Africa,” he said proudly trying to impress her. She paused and after a sigh said to  the priest in a low voice, “Tell me exactly how you intend to climb this mountain when you cannot SCALE up a six-inch mattress?!”  Moral of the story: No matter how good your SMART goals are, you must act on SCALE-ing the heights.

2. Smart Technologies portend a smart working force

Tony Nicolini – Founder of the Budini Tyre Software and Systems, puts it beautifully when he says “Technology is only as smart as the users want it to be.”  The exponential growth of data capturing capability has not been matched by its harnessing and channeling into useful avenues largely because investments are low in the field of tyre education and  tyre infrastructure. Having experience Tyre related trainings in different parts of the world, our region receives but a trickle of the much-needed skill laced training that would sharpen their senses in order to tyre SCALE better.

The three aspects related to Smart Tyre Technology are:

Smart transporters

Zul is a transporter who runs a successful bus company. Operating from the heart of Nairobi, to most parts of Kenya. He keeps meticulous records on all his tyre records. These records were the basis for decision making for a transport company that has had the least number of fatalities in the country. Zul represents about 5% of transporters in this region who have scrupulous, readily available  data that is open to scrutiny not only by his own company but can be used by suppliers.

In 2012 I had a chance to visit Tyre Heaven, a company in Sao Paulo. They invited Nicolini (Budini) and me to visit their premises. With over 700 trucks and trailers, there were there only three persons working in the tyre department. Cradle-to-Grave tyre data is maintained for all tyres. Once or twice a year, like a pilgrimage, representatives major tyre suppliers congregate in the transport premises to tender openly for 8,000 tyres.

Smart processes

Special Sales approaches to the market determine the success or failure or a sales person. Many transporters, tyre importers or dealers approach to own products with little comprehension on the conditions of use. Mismatch between tyres and vehicles, tyre and routes, have only added to the chagrin on the end-user. Professional ethics prohibit me from dwelling too much into these sales processes to end-users and dealers, but to say the least, these methodical approaches have no substitute. As a result of tyres being treated as a commodity, where price is the only point of discussion, SMART tyres with lipstick and high-heels have found their way into a hostile market that has unpaved roads, untrained staff and uncaring drivers in some instances.

The readers of this article may have had access to better tyre optimisation processes than the ones I will mention below. Yet I can say without a doubt now will match the dedication and follow-up that is offered by the Budini Tyre Management Systems.

• The Tyre Optimisation Process is a non-patented process that was arrived at by a team of tyre experts on casing (yet not tyre optimisation) in order to achieve the lowest cost per Kilometer in a particular fleet. Pocket Suit, Survey Web and TMS are worth a glance.

Feature Benefits and Evidence (FABEs) is the way tyres were sold, sadly price has over-shadowed all three since both  the purchaser nor the seller are reluctant to discuss the matters relating to performance. Benchmarking of tyre mileages across fleets is more often than not misleading.

Smart sales people

Ajay, Yves, Mick and Tony belong to a fading rare breed of people who were tyre  fleet problem solvers. These gate-keepers and well-trained mentors in process described above played and continued to give solutions and on-site training in the harsh environments. What is common about this people in how  SMART or wise they are. It is the extremely long span of attention they dedicate in their line of duty. It is therefore worrying that today when the tyre is being treated as a commodity and not a Safety Engineering piece of equipment, Africa and Africans without secure gate keepers and anti-dumping laws will fall prey to fast talking sales persons with tik-tok attention spans. If I were to be the Chief Tyre General –  Certain Tyres would only be sold on prescriptions.

In  South Africa, it was uncommon for representatives of different companies to meet at a major transporter and conduct a joint scrap and claim analysis. Just like doctors conducting a post-mortem, sample casings from each brand would be analysed and reported before they would rest back for a Friday  Brae and Beer. SMART. I know this may be happening in other parts of the word any it is the reason we now have the Radial Tyre Damage Book.

RFID, push alerts, Translogic tools, TPMS (Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems) are all example of Smart technologies that many sales persons, managers, owners and directors are aware of but are not capable of implementing just yet. However, training might be that essential key that unlocks the thirst for the much-needed necessities.

I end this article with the SMARTest thing I have heard this year and maybe for a long time. It comes from a great mind in Tyre Management “It does not matter how you record (label) tyres in whatever system you have….what matters is what you do with that tyre after that. A basic tyre system understood by all is the best way to involve others and come out with shining success. It beats even the tyre RFID systems - Marcio Olievera (Budini Systems – SMARTyre SCALER).

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MESNAC played a central role at the 2026 China Rubber Annual Conference, held in Qingdao from 24 to 27 March by the China Rubber Industry Association. On March 24, the Enlarged Meeting of the Rubber Machinery and Molds Branch took place, gathering key figures such as Deputy Secretary-General Zhu Hong, Branch Secretary-General Jiang Xin and Branch Chairman Guan Bingzheng, who also serves as MESNAC’s Chairman and President. Representatives from leading enterprises and governing units discussed the industry’s 2025 performance, ongoing difficulties and 2026 trends. The session was hosted by Zhou Chuanhai, General Manager of MESNAC Union Technology Co., Ltd.

Bingzheng pointed out that the rubber machinery and moulds industry managed to achieve positive overall growth in 2025 despite facing numerous difficulties. Rubber machinery exports rose notably even under adverse conditions, while the mould sector continued its gradual upward climb. He also noted that the industry has moved away from simply pursuing larger scale and is now prioritising higher quality and better performance.

With 2026 marking the start of the 15th Five Year Plan period, which is crucial for turning China from a large rubber producer into a powerful rubber nation, he laid out three main directions. One is embracing green practices, smart technology and global market expansion. Another is keeping pace with tyre manufacturers moving overseas to enable shared global growth. The third is focusing on new energy tire needs and artificial intelligence upgrades to push the industry towards high end transformation.

On March 26, at a forum themed Digital Empowerment and Green Development, MESNAC Vice President Yang Huili demonstrated how artificial intelligence is deeply applied in rubber tyre making. She described an intelligent system that forms a continuous loop from sensing in real time and learning on its own to making smart decisions and carrying out closed loop actions. It applies industrial vision for accurate measurement with very few missed defects, uses MCC software to merge process data and correct within milliseconds and employs large models for maintenance that quickly locate faults with high precision to enable predictive repairs. Through both strategic leadership and hands on technical demonstration, MESNAC showed its dedication to advancing the industry under changing conditions.

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The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company has officially launched its 2026 Goodyear Blimp Europe tour, returning the iconic airship to the skies above European motorsport events. This marks a highly anticipated comeback for one of aviation’s most famous aircraft, which will first appear during the opening FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) race of the season. Spectators at the track can expect a breathtaking sight as the blimp soars overhead, enhancing the atmosphere of race weekend.

For decades, the Goodyear Blimp has been closely linked with legendary sporting moments and stands as a proud emblem of Goodyear’s racing heritage. Its planned flights over FIA WEC races will allow both live attendees and global viewers to catch a glimpse of the airship capturing stunning aerial footage. This tour takes on added significance as Goodyear celebrates 75 years of operations in Luxembourg, a milestone year for the company in Europe. Beyond tyre production, Luxembourg hosts Goodyear’s only Innovation Centre outside United States, where cutting edge technologies and motorsport partnerships are developed.

Fans attending select FIA World Endurance Championship events across Europe throughout the 2026 season are encouraged to watch the skies for the blimp’s appearances. The tour not only highlights Goodyear’s deep roots in racing but also underscores its longstanding commitment to European innovation and manufacturing excellence.

Jan-Piet van Kesteren, Managing Director EMEA & Chief Sales Officer EMEA Consumer, said, “The Goodyear Blimp is one of the most iconic symbols in racing. Seeing it fly above in the skies of several main FIA WEC races is always a special moment for fans. We are excited to bring the Goodyear Blimp back to European skies and share that experience with racing audiences across the region.”

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Zeon Corporation has once again earned a Bronze Medal in the latest sustainability evaluation carried out by EcoVadis This recognition places the company within the top 35 percent of over 150,000 businesses evaluated globally by the rating agency. This marks the second year in a row that Zeon has received this distinction.

The assessment conducted by EcoVadis examines more than 150,000 entities operating across 185 countries, focusing on four key areas: environmental impact, labour practices and human rights, ethical conduct and sustainable procurement. In today’s business environment, firms are increasingly held accountable for social issues throughout their entire value chain, making strong sustainability performance a critical factor in commercial partnerships.

Driven by its corporate philosophy of contributing to planetary preservation and human prosperity, Zeon has advanced sustainability management as a means to grow in harmony with society. The company remains committed to addressing environmental and social challenges while continuing to meet the expectations placed on it by the wider community.

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The Association of Natural Rubber Producing Countries (ANRPC) recently welcomed Dr Satya Tripathi, Secretary General, Global Alliance for a Sustainable Planet (GASP), for a courtesy visit to its Secretariat. During this engagement, Dr Tripathi held discussions with ANRPC’s Secretary General, Dr Suttipong Angthong, as well as Secretariat members Dr Lekshmi Nair and Riska Pujiati. This initial dialogue marked the beginning of conversations aimed at fostering collaboration between ANRPC and GASP to advance sustainability within the natural rubber industry.

Both groups acknowledged systemic challenges facing rubber producing nations, including environmental harm, climate instability and economic volatility. They agreed the industry must embrace the global Green Transition, ensuring rubber enters markets through transparent, ethical, and sustainable supply chains.

The dialogue explored partnerships to strengthen sector resilience and ethical integrity, with special emphasis on supporting smallholders through transformative initiatives that deliver environmental and social impact. The meeting highlighted how high-impact collaboration drives climate adaptation, resilient ecosystems, sustainable livelihoods and inclusive prosperity. Dr Tripathi, a renowned development economist and former UN Assistant Secretary General, also participated in ANRPC’s COP30 side event promoting smallholder projects for net zero and beyond.

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