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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Dunlop has announced that its new Geomax EN92 tyre delivered convincing performance in dry, dusty and sandy conditions at the 100th edition of the FIM 6DAYS Enduro of Nations, held last week around Grandola, Portugal. Teams competing in both the World Trophy and Club Team classifications selected Dunlop’s latest enduro tyres and mousses to provide the traction required across six tough days of off-road racing at the world’s most prestigious enduro event.

Because of the dust and sand, many teams favoured the new scoop tyre, which offered excellent traction and braking on softer surfaces through Dunlop’s Reinforced Scoop Technology, designed to dig in and enhance terrain penetration. This mirrors the ongoing success of the Dunlop Geomax MX14 scoop tyre in international motocross, which has been raced by recent World Champions including MX2 champion Guillem Farres. The new and improved Geomax EN92 and EN92 SOFT tyres are engineered for off-road capability across a wide variety of terrain, from Portugal’s dry conditions to grass, mud and wet ground.

Dunlop also continued supporting club riders through the Dunlop Geomax Challenge, won this year by Italian EnduroGP Youth standout Simone Cagnoni ahead of Australia’s Dylan McDonald and the USA’s Jaden Dahners. The initiative backs Club Team Award riders racing on Geomax EN92 tyres with an official Dunlop rider kit and prizes for top performers, plus prize-giving during the official podium ceremony. More than 30 entrants representing nine nations took part this year. Dunlop further celebrated success in the FIM Women’s World Trophy, where Dunlop rider Korie Steede contributed to the winning Team USA effort and Danielle McDonald raced for second-placed Team Australia.

Roberto Finetti, Marketing Manager, Dunlop Motorcycle Europe, said, “The conditions at this year's 6DAYS provided an excellent opportunity to demonstrate the performance of our new Geomax EN92. With so much dust and sand throughout the week, riders needed confidence in their tyres, particularly under acceleration and braking. The new scoop tread pattern proved particularly effective in these conditions, while the combination of our tyres and mousses performed convincingly throughout the event. We are also pleased with the continuing popularity of the Dunlop Geomax Challenge, which brought together riders from around the world. Supporting riders at every level of racing is hugely important to us, and events like 6DAYS allow us to demonstrate that commitment.”

Fabio Muner, Marketing and Digital Director, FIM, said, “Dunlop has been a valued partner of the FIM for many years, sharing our passion for enduro and our commitment to the sport. Its presence at the FIM 6DAYS Enduro of Nations, together with the activities organised through the Dunlop Geomax Challenge, demonstrates its dedication to riders, teams and the entire enduro community. This partnership goes far beyond competition: it is about creating opportunities, engaging riders and strengthening the spirit that makes enduro so special. We are proud to continue this journey together and look forward to building on our longstanding relationship in the years to come.”

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TyreSafe, UK’s leading tyre safety charity, has entered a new partnership with the Gloucestershire Road Safety Partnership (GRSP), uniting two organisations dedicated to cutting road casualties and improving safety across the county. The collaboration will focus on raising awareness of tyre safety among road users in Gloucestershire through shared expertise, resources and opportunities that support broader road safety campaigns and initiatives.

The announcement comes as around 1,000 personal injury road traffic collisions are recorded on Gloucestershire's roads annually. The GRSP aims to halve the number of people killed and seriously injured on county roads between 2022 and 2032. Its recent Road Safety Needs Assessment identified speeding, distraction and impaired driving as key preventable factors in serious collisions, stressing the need for targeted action on high-risk routes and among vulnerable road users.

Gloucestershire's network includes many rural and semi-rural routes alongside busy residential and urban areas. Targeted measures are already underway at collision hotspots, including average speed cameras and lower speed limits on higher-risk routes. Tyre safety is a vital component of this wider approach, as tyres are the only part of a vehicle in direct contact with the road and are critical to braking, steering and control. Correct inflation, sufficient tread and freedom from damage help road users maintain control and reduce avoidable risks.

The partnership will create opportunities for joint campaigns, communications, community engagement and educational activity, ensuring drivers across the county receive clear, practical tyre safety information. It will complement existing education, awareness and enforcement work involving communities, schools, young drivers and other at-risk road users. TyreSafe continues to expand its UK network of road safety partnerships, recognising that reducing deaths and serious injuries requires collaboration across education, enforcement, engineering and safer vehicle use.

Stuart Lovatt, Chairman, TyreSafe, said, “Gloucestershire has a clear ambition to significantly reduce the number of people killed and seriously injured on its roads, and the work of the Road Safety Partnership demonstrates the importance of bringing organisations together to achieve that. We’re delighted to be partnering with the Gloucestershire Road Safety Partnership and to bring tyre safety into that wider road safety conversation. Tyres are fundamental to vehicle safety, but they can sometimes be overlooked when road users are thinking about the factors that contribute to collisions.

“Making sure tyres are legal, correctly inflated and in good condition is one of the simple things every driver can do to reduce risk. By working alongside established road safety partnerships, we can help make that advice more visible and give drivers practical information they can act on. This partnership is another important step in TyreSafe’s work with road safety organisations across the UK. By sharing expertise, audiences and resources, we can reach more people and make a greater contribution to preventing avoidable deaths and serious injuries.”

Nick Evans, Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner and Chair of the Road Safety Partnership for Gloucestershire, said, “Road safety is a shared responsibility, and our ambition to halve the number of people killed and seriously injured on Gloucestershire’s roads requires strong collaboration across our partner organisations. Our recent Road Safety Needs Assessment has given us a clearer understanding of where the risks are and the behaviours that contribute to serious collisions. While speed, distraction and impairment remain important areas of focus, vehicle condition is also an essential part of keeping people safe.

“We are pleased to welcome TyreSafe as a partner and look forward to working together to raise awareness of tyre safety and provide practical information that road users can use. By combining our local knowledge and reach with TyreSafe’s specialist expertise, we have an opportunity to engage more people and support our shared ambition for safer roads across Gloucestershire.”

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Sailun Group secured dual honours at the 2026 Forbes China Best Employers rankings, announced on 20 October, earning recognition as both China Best Employer of the Year and China Best Employer of the Year for Best ESG Practices. The accolades, selected from hundreds of participating enterprises, highlight the tyre maker’s achievements in talent strategy, organisational culture and social responsibility.

The Forbes China Best Employers selection, now in its sixth consecutive year, serves as a key gauge of workplace and employment trends in China. This year’s four-month evaluation assessed organisational effectiveness, digital intelligence and innovation, employee development and corporate social responsibility, reinforcing the ranking’s authority and professionalism.

Sailun has long treated talent as the foundation of sustained innovation and long-term growth, investing systematically in organisational effectiveness and employee development. The company draws talent through its mission to make great tyres, unites staff around trust and respect and enables growth via dual management and professional career pathways, mentoring and hands-on projects. A people-centric governance belief that employees are its greatest concern underpins a comprehensive, multi-tiered support system spanning the entire employee lifecycle, strengthening belonging and fulfilment.

Sustainability sits at the top of Sailun’s governance framework. Guided by its ‘eco+’ strategy and aligned with 14 sustainability goals, the Group is accelerating environmental, social and governance transformation – embedding green and low-carbon principles from research and development through manufacturing and supply chain management, integrating fair employment and talent development across human resources and extending social responsibility to industry partners and local communities. The 2026 selection added an AI practices dimension; Sailun’s ‘AI+’ strategy has moved the tyre industry from isolated pilots to organisation-wide AI enablement, with an intelligent system covering product development, manufacturing, quality control, marketing and customer service.

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Hankook Tire will serve as the official sponsor of the Ballon d'Or for the third consecutive year, continuing its partnership with the prestigious award that honours the best individual performance of the past professional football season and stands as the sport's highest individual accolade. The premium tyre manufacturer's renewed commitment was confirmed ahead of the 2026 ceremony.

The 2026 ceremony, marking the award's 70th anniversary, will be held in London for the first time on 26 October. The event is set to take place at the London Palladium Theatre, where the successors to Aitana Bonmatí and Ousmane Dembélé will be revealed. London's selection as the anniversary venue also honours the first winner, England international Stanley Matthews, who received the award in 1956.

As part of its involvement, Hankook is running a competition offering football fans the chance to win a ticket to attend the ceremony. Participation details and competition conditions are available on a dedicated page of the company's website. The Ballon d'Or was established in 1956 by France Football and has been presented by the publication, part of the L'Équipe Group, in conjunction with UEFA since 2024.

Hankook's sponsorship reflects an internationally oriented strategy of selected partnerships at global, European and national levels, concentrating on motorsport and football platforms with wide reach and strong visibility in key markets. The company aims to expand its brand presence through prestigious sporting events with a global audience while creating touchpoints with fans, customers and business partners worldwide.

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