The Plastics and Rubber Institute of Sri Lanka, and the Sri Lanka Association of Manufacturers and Exporters of Rubber Products, together with the assistance of the Export Development Board, conducted a two- day virtual workshop on Advanced Technology/Smart Manufacturing For The Rubber Product Industry In Sri Lanka, in December 2020. Despite the fact that the country was just raising its head from the deleterious aftermath of the first and second waves of Covid -19, the participation was beyond all expectations, thus indicating the weightage placed in keeping abreast of modern trends and moving with times by the industry community and the professionals and I presume that this is the current trend throughout the world.

As a member of the organising committee of the event and more as a hands-on person of the technologists of the not so modern generation, I realised that I was a curious and a rather passive observer of the currently fast unfolding industry scenario. The array of topics presented by local as well as overseas experts on their respective specialties was impressive. They covered Smart Energy Monitoring, IOT Built Industry Automation, Big Data Processing and applications, Conditioned based Monitoring for Maintenance, 3D/4D Printing, Virtual Product Design and Testing, Finite Element Analysis, and Product Failure Analysis.

It made me guessing with fascination, how much the information utilisation scenario in the manufacturing industry has metamorphosed during the past few decades since the times of two great discoveries/inventions, of Charles Babbage and Arthur. C. Clarke, that paved way for the evolution of the Information and Communications revolution. Charles Babbage (1791-1871) was an extraordinarily talented scientist, mathematician, economist and engineer. He is best known today - as he was in his lifetime - for inventing two types of cogwheel calculating machines, the forerunners of the modern computers. It was Arthur C. Clarke. after the crest of World War II, from his base in Stratford-On-Avon, England, as a young officer in the Royal Air Force, who dabbled in science fiction writing, floated the idea of global communications satellites in a 1945 letter to the publication Wireless World. It will be of interest to learn that the latter made Sri Lanka his second home and contributed in no small way to the development of ICT and astronomy in our country during the sixties and seventies.

As I gathered, with my rather limited knowledge of ICT, that the common features, of the modern-day innovations are generating a vast amount of real time data on all key aspects of the value chain, and interfacing between the value adding activities. Automation and reducing the dependability on the human factor has been another significant trend. Another key driver has been the necessity for reliability, agility and robustness in delivering products and services to the customer in the ever-changing customer preferences, which are again fueled willfully through product promotion and creation of new needs through massive adverting campaigns and mass communications. Companies are increasingly embracing the innovative technologies, to enable business growth, wealth accumulation, contribution to the national economies, which has helped in achieving improved quality of life, particularly in the traditionally termed developed countries.

Right through his anthropogenic evolution, Homo Sapiens or the “thinking man” has been characterised by the use of his brain to find easier and faster ways of doing things, which was an absolutely vital advantage for his survival in the primitive hostile environment. Commencing with use of stone tools, discovery of fire, and iron, this trend has continued throughout the history of mankind. During the more recent period of the last three centuries, which culminated in the Industry 4.0, some key landmarks, which reflect the quest of the mankind to better lives, through increased and efficient resource utilisation can be identified.

Revolutions

This process began in Britain in the 18th century and from there spread to other parts of the world. Although used earlier by French writers, the term Industrial Revolution was first popularised by the English economic historian Arnold Toynbee (1852–83) to describe Britain's economic development from 1760 to 1840. The first industrial revolution came with the advent of mechanisation, steam power and water power. This was followed by second industrial revolution which revolved around mass production and assembly lines using electricity. Henry Ford’s conveyor belt system was put into motion in December 1^st of 1913 in his Detroit manufacturing plant. Fully mechanised, or partially mechanised, assembly lines allowed Ford to offer a vehicle for a working family. One of his goals was to have a car that every family could own.

The car that every family would soon come to own was the Model T. His manufacturing plants would go on to produce over 15 million Model Ts and this is due almost entirely to his assembly line. In order to achieve a production of the Model T at such a high rate, he needed to break down the process of assembling the car to make it as efficient as possible to produce, while still being financially accessible.

The third industrial revolution came with electronics, IT systems and automation, which led to the fourth industrial revolution that is associated with cyber- physical systems. Some of the principles of which were the topics of the December Workshop. Generally speaking, Industry 4.0 describes the growing trend towards automation and data exchange in technology and processes within the manufacturing industry, including:

•  The internet of things (IoT)
• The industrial internet of things (IIoT)
• Cyber-physical systems (CPS)
• Smart manufacture
•  Smart factories
• Cloud computing
• Cognitive computing
• Artificial intelligence

This automation creates a manufacturing system whereby machines in factories are augmented with wireless connectivity and sensors to monitor and visualise an entire production process and make autonomous decisions. Wireless connectivity and the augmentation of machines will be greatly advanced with the full roll out of 5G

The fourth industrial revolution also relates to digital technologies that can create virtual versions of real-world installations, processes and applications. These can then be robustly tested to make cost-effective decentralised decisions. In short, this should allow for digital transformation and  for automated and autonomous manufacturing with joined-up systems that can cooperate with each other.

Black spots

It can thus be unanimously agreed that the emerging technologies have already resulted in tremendous benefits for mankind and that they have vast future potential in changing the entire human civilisation. While appreciating and accepting the usefulness of the technologies, I cannot refrain from contemplating on the black spots in the white cloth. The disadvantages of the digital technologies have been well documented throughout the world and some of these, include, data security, digital media manipulation, job insecurity, over reliance on gadgets, addiction, depersonalization, and social alienation, and stress related physical and mental illnesses and the list is not exhaustive. Diminishing of the human touch is considered by many, as a matter of grave concern, and its effect on the personal, ethical, family and social has already begun to reveal its dark side.

As an adaptive measure of the new normal mentality that followed the Covid-19 pandemic, “Social Distancing” intruded our day to day activates over the past one and half years. However, on thinking reflectively, it will be evident that Social Distancing actually had its beginnings in the first three industrial revolutions, while it got aggravated in the recent years. Dilemmas and debatable questions as to whether  dehumanisation is still progressing and what will be the outcome, if the current rate of rapid technology trend continues? These will become key challenges for the sociologists and sociopsychologists and the modern HR specialists. Prioritising automation and sub optimisation of the human resource, in the disguise of improving operational efficiency, as a business strategy of maintaining sustainability, could turn out to be short lived.

Over dependence on technology at the expense of losing the much-required human touch and interpersonal relationships, can be witnessed in many of the day-to-day activities, such as internet or online banking, bill payments, buying at super markets, home deliveries, and on-line webinars. I have personal experience of the short comings of on-line lecturing for students and on virtual workshops, which can only be utilised as a stop gap measure. As a person of the “old generation,” I find it an exhilarating experience to walk to the local bank, greet good morning to the staff, and having a friendly chat with the familiar cashier, while getting my transaction done. Some may equate such practices to lack of time management and productivity. Human interaction of this kind holds a special position in countries such as India and Sri Lanka, which has rich religious and cultural heritages, and adopting the new technologies as a panacea for improving all the aspects of efficiency and productivity in an effort be stay competitive can only be a short-term strategy.

It was Robert Frost, the American poet (1874-1963), who once philosophically remarked, “don’t ever take fence down, until you know why it was put up”

Obsolescence due to ineffective use or total non -use which we witness with machinery and equipment, may be applicable to the humans as well. It is said that the human body has about one hundred, vestigial organs, including the appendix, which have become nonfunctional, during the evolutionary process as a result on non-use and obsolescence. (TT)

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Prinx Chengshan took part in the SHACMAN Group Worldwide Partnership Conference in Xi'an on 15–16 October, where dealers, key accounts and industry partners from across the globe gathered. The company attended as a core strategic partner of SHACMAN and acted as exclusive tyre sponsor of the vehicle stunt show, joining domestic and international customers to examine fresh opportunities in the global commercial vehicle sector and help shape a new model of collaborative industry growth.

Cooperation between the two firms has deepened since 2024, centring on original equipment fitment for flagship high-end models including the Delong X5000 and X6000, with products offered domestically and overseas. Dependable product quality and supply chain assurance have enabled Prinx Chengshan to grow into a core tyre supplier to SHACMAN, consistently furnishing tyre solutions for its flagship ranges.

A dedicated stunt driving segment formed part of the conference, with Prinx Chengshan as sole tyre exhibitor backing the performance vehicles. Cars fitted with Chengshan XSTANCE PRO S10 and CDR621 tyres carried out sustained drifts, high-speed turns and other demanding manoeuvres, remaining stable even under extreme conditions such as tyre burnouts and showing strong wear resistance.

Li Wenli, a three-time national truck racing annual finals champion known as China's top heavy truck driver, rated the tyres highly for grip, durability and handling stability. Live demonstration in place of specification presentations made technical strengths tangible, letting partners observe stability under extreme friction and high-torque loads.

The conference allowed the company to strengthen mutual trust and communication with SHACMAN and to showcase its commercial vehicle tyre capabilities; at its 50th anniversary milestone, Prinx Chengshan reiterated its commitment to keep improving its global service network, advance alongside SHACMAN on a new globalisation journey and help build an industrial ecosystem defined by mutual benefit and collaborative development.

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Michelin has opened a 1,000 sq ft tyre and service store in Jammu in partnership with Maha Shakti Auto, expanding its retail presence in the northern Indian city.

The Michelin Tyres & Services (MTS) outlet is located in Main Bazar, Gumat, in Jammu’s commercial district. It will serve customers in the city and surrounding region, offering tyres for passenger cars, two-wheelers and commercial vehicles.

The store stocks Michelin’s Primacy, Pilot Sport, Latitude Sport and LTX Trail tyre ranges. Its facilities include wheel alignment and balancing systems, automotive accessories, and mechanical repair and maintenance services.

The outlet was inaugurated by Benjamin Coesnon, Marketing Director for India at Michelin, alongside the Maha Shakti Auto team.

Shantanu Deshpande, Managing Director of Michelin India, said “Jammu is an important market in Michelin's growth in North India. Its role as a regional trade and transit hub is creating steady demand for safe, reliable and high-performance mobility solutions. Our new Michelin Tyres & Services store brings Michelin's globally benchmarked products and services closer to customers in the region. Building on our recently launched Made-in-India Primacy 5, we will keep delivering mobility solutions tailored to the evolving needs of Indian consumers."

The company said the store was designed to address driving conditions in the region, where steep gradients, sharp curves and changing weather make tyre grip, braking stability and durability important considerations.

Maha Shakti Auto has 30 years of experience in Jammu’s automotive aftermarket, according to Michelin. The partnership combines the local business’s technical expertise and market knowledge with Michelin’s tyre technology and product range.

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The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd. has announced that the No. 77 BMW M4 GT3 EVO, fielded by Schubert Motorsport and fitted with the company's ADVAN global flagship tyres, secured the NLS Speed Trophy series championship. The award goes to the team accumulating the most points across all classes throughout Germany's Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie (NLS). As the series champion in the NLS premier SP9 Pro class, the No. 77 also claimed a KW Team Trophy, presented to the car and team with the highest points total in each class.

This season marked Yokohama Rubber's role as an official partner of BMW M Motorsport in the NLS, with the No. 77 BMW M4 GT3 EVO carrying ADVAN colouring. Across the 10-round campaign, the ADVAN-shod No. 77 produced consistently strong results, earning two overall victories and two second-place finishes. The ADVAN A005 for dry conditions and ADVAN A006 for wet conditions supplied the grip and durability needed to contend in fiercely competitive races across varying weather. ADVAN-equipped cars had previously taken the NLS Speed Trophy in 2020 and 2023.

Beyond the NLS, Yokohama Rubber partnered with BMW M Motorsport at May's ADAC RAVENOL 24h Nürburgring. The No. 77 ADVAN-coloured entry placed 8th overall and 7th in the SP9 class, while BMW M Motorsport's No. 81 BMW M3 Touring 24H, also on ADVAN tyres, took 4th overall and 1st in the SP-X class.

Under its three-year (2024–2026) medium-term management plan, Yokohama Transformation 2026 (YX2026), the company's consumer tyre strategy seeks to maximise sales ratios of high-value-added tyres by expanding the ADVAN and GEOLANDAR brands, winter tyres and 18-inch and larger products. Yokohama Rubber views motorsport participation as vital to strengthening ADVAN and GEOLANDAR, and continues to compete in a wide range of events worldwide, from top-category to grassroots racing.

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Prinx Chengshan presented its Chengshan brand at the 140th China Import and Export Fair, which opened in Guangzhou on 15 October. The Canton Fair, known as China's leading trade event, has a history of nearly seven decades and functions as an indicator of the country's foreign trade while offering Chinese brands a platform to demonstrate innovation and meet international buyers.

At the fair, the company highlighted products including the ET16 wide-body dump truck tyre, whose wide and deep transverse tread grooves provide strong traction for smooth starts on soft, uneven mining terrain and help lower risks such as wheel slip and vehicles becoming stuck. The ELD12 loader tyre was also featured for its wear resistance and load-bearing capacity across demanding conditions, with resistance to excessive deformation under heavy loads supporting stable and safe equipment operation.

The participation coincides with Chengshan Group's 50th anniversary and Prinx Chengshan's accelerating global expansion. Founded in Rongcheng, Shandong Province, in 1976, the company now operates three production bases, two R&D centres, three sales centres and four technical centres worldwide. On 9 October, its Malaysia plant produced its first tyre less than 11 months after construction began, marking progress in overseas production and supply chain resilience.

Prinx Chengshan has also increased investment in the off-the-road tyre segment, operating a green and smart OTR tyre factory in Shandong and achieving mass production of giant tyres in sizes including 27.00R49, 30.00R51 and 33.00R51, while rolling out its first 57-inch giant tyre, size 46/90R57. Its OTR products serve mining, construction, ports, airports, agriculture and industrial operations, offering system solutions for global agricultural mechanisation, engineering projects and resource development.

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