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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Bridgestone has unveiled a new generation of aircraft tyres designed for the Boeing 737, delivering improved wear performance through optimised design. The tyres were first introduced on aircraft flown by partner airlines, helping to enhance their operational efficiency, and the company now intends to extend their availability to carriers worldwide. From 2027, tyres incorporating the advanced technology are scheduled to be fitted to a broad range of aircraft.

The launch comes as aviation continues to recover rapidly from the Covid-19 pandemic, a rebound that has brought labour shortages and made operational efficiency more critical than ever. At the same time, the sector is stepping up sustainability efforts in support of the International Civil Aviation Organization's target of net-zero CO2 emissions by 2050. Bridgestone refined the technology using extensive flight data supplied by partner airlines together with its own simulation tools, carrying out thorough evaluations and verification across a wide range of conditions.

The new tyres preserve the high durability of the company's existing Revolutionarily Reinforced Radial (RRR) technology while markedly improving wear resistance and curbing uneven wear through a new tread compound and an optimised contact profile. Casing durability has also been strengthened via an optimised sidewall design. Combined with advanced tyre wear prediction solutions developed alongside airlines and with retreading, the tyres support greater operational efficiency and lower CO2 emissions without compromising safety or reliability.

The new compound, which improves carbon black reinforcement and dispersion through Bridgestone's proprietary NanoPro-Tech molecular control technology, delivers better wear balance during landing and taxiing. Compared with the previous product, the tyre achieves more than 20 percent additional landings per tyre, reducing replacement downtime and maximising aircraft utilisation for high-frequency operators such as domestic carriers, while helping to lower operating costs.

Separately, the combination of flight data and simulation enabled Bridgestone to optimise contact conditions for aircraft-specific surfaces, including runways and taxiways, producing more uniform contact and cutting irregular wear seen on certain routes by more than 20 percent. This lowers the risk of unplanned replacements and flight delays, supporting on-time performance and easing the burden on maintenance teams. Further optimisation of the sidewall design based on RRR technology has extended tyre durability, and because roughly 80 percent of the materials in a retreaded tyre can be reused from the original, retreading reduces CO2 emissions at the manufacturing stage.

Bridgestone's aircraft tyres hold the leading installation share among airlines ranked in the top 10 of the SKYTRAX World Airline Awards 2025, underpinning safe and reliable operations. The company aims to maximise the productivity and economic value of airline operations, in line with the ‘Extension’ and ‘Economy’ commitments set out in the Bridgestone E8 Commitment, while enabling longer tyre life with lower resource consumption and emissions.

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Continental has introduced the ContiTrailAttack 4, the successor to its highly successful ContiTrailAttack 3 adventure tyre. The new 90/10 tyre retains the strengths of its predecessor while pushing performance further, aimed at riders who spend most of their time on asphalt but want readiness for occasional detours onto unpaved roads.

A full-silica compound delivers fast warm-up along with enhanced grip in both wet and dry conditions. The tyre offers intuitive and predictable handling wherever the journey leads, while state-of-the-art carcass materials and construction ensure reliable stability in every riding situation, even when fully loaded. Continental's MultiZoneBelt technology provides outstanding agility on winding roads and confidence on fast straights.

A newly developed cross-ply carcass construction for models with a 21-inch front wheel in size 90/90-21 stands out as a key highlight. The latest materials create a more flexible carcass, a better feel for the surface and calmer, more balanced handling. A revised apex design supports the sidewall and improves stability, while a new innerliner makes all sizes tubeless-compatible. The tyre also achieves a new level of steering precision for adventure motorcycles with 21-inch front wheels.

Positioned as a 90/10 tyre for 90 percent road use and 10 percent unpaved paths, the ContiTrailAttack 4 suits adventure riders who mostly choose paved roads but remain ready for spontaneous gravel detours. Confidence, stability and fun in twisty sections take centre stage, whether on the daily commute or a motorcycle vacation. It fits a wide range of modern adventure and travel enduro motorcycles, including the BMW R 1300 GS and F 900 GS, Honda CRF1100L Africa Twin, KTM 1390 Super Adventure S EVO, Triumph Tiger 1200 Rallye Pro, Ducati Multistrada V4 S, CFMoto MT 800 X and Voge DS 900X.

Raphael Michels, Product Manager – Motorcycle Tires, Continental, said, “Our full-silica compound inspires confidence at all times – from a cool morning start to a demanding mountain pass in the afternoon. The MultiZoneBelt technology, in turn, uses its specifically tuned stiffness zones in the steel belt to deliver outstanding agility on winding roads – and composure on fast straights.”

Rafael Kascha, Product Developer – Motorcycle Tires, Continental, said, “With the ContiTrailAttack 4, we are achieving a new level of steering precision for adventure motorcycles with a 21-inch front wheel. We accomplish this through advanced materials and a newly developed, cross-ply carcass construction. For riders, this means noticeably more direct and confidence-inspiring handling, whether in changing conditions on country roads or on occasional excursions onto gravel.”

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Zeon Corporation has formed a business alliance with QunaSys Inc. to extend mathematical model-based development, a novel R&D methodology, across manufacturing industries. The partnership merges Zeon's long-established expertise in polymer and materials development with QunaSys's mathematical modelling capabilities, creating an approach that deepens researchers' understanding of phenomena and strengthens decision-making.

Zeon has cultivated practical methodologies in this field through internal materials projects and employee training. The alliance will now pursue joint research, proof-of-concept (PoC) initiatives and tailored solutions to bring the scheme to external companies on a full-scale basis. The collaboration builds on a capital and business tie-up established in March 2022 aimed at creating a data management platform for machine learning, automated experimentation and quantum computing in materials development. The platform and the new scheme complement each other by enabling efficient validation of models against data and generation of high-quality hypotheses.

Unlike conventional approaches, the methodology treats mathematical models as foundations for researcher thinking rather than mere predictive tools. Models are built through objective definition, factor decomposition, hypothesis organisation, model creation and iterative verification. This lets researchers identify the essence of phenomena, narrow hypotheses requiring testing and rationally choose next steps – linking understanding to concrete actions that enhance business value and extending support beyond R&D into value creation.

Applying the approach requires both modelling technology and materials development expertise. Under its STAGE 30 medium-term plan, Zeon is reshaping its portfolio and positioning its data business as a next growth driver, intending to develop the scheme into a service within that business. The companies will accumulate methodologies and practical examples, broaden application across materials fields and promote manufacturer adoption through joint research, PoC projects and enterprise solutions, contributing to more advanced and efficient R&D.

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The U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association (USTMA) has welcomed the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA) announcement of a negotiated rulemaking aimed at modernising federal tyre testing standards. The association has long pushed for this update, arguing that current rules are outdated.

According to USTMA President and CEO Anne Forristall Luke, modern standards lead to safer roads, and the group praised Administrator Morrison for advancing the effort. Luke noted that testing designed for 1960s-era tyres reveals little about today's products and blocks Americans from accessing advanced technology available elsewhere. Aligning standards with modern tyre technology would give drivers access to the highest-performing tyres, and USTMA members are ready to contribute their engineering expertise to the process.

​“Modern standards make for safer roads. USTMA applauds Administrator Morrison for taking on work the tyre industry has urged for years: bringing federal tyre standards in line with the tyres Americans drive on today. Outdated tyre testing standards designed for the tyres of the 1960s tell us nothing about whether today’s tyres are safe. In fact, those outdated standards prevent American drivers from accessing the latest technology currently available in much of the rest of the world. Bringing our standards into line with modern tyre technology will ensure Americans have access to the highest performing tyres made today. USTMA’s members look forward to contributing their engineering expertise to the process,” ​said the USTMA President and CEO.

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