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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Pirelli has confirmed it will bring the same tyre allocation used last year to the Singapore Grand Prix, as Formula 1 remains in Asia for a weekend that also hosts the season's final Sprint and concludes a long triple-header that started in Baku. The Marina Bay circuit, one of the most physically demanding venues for drivers, will again feature the C3 as Hard, the C4 as Medium and the C5 as Soft.

The 4.940-kilometre street circuit is characterised by barriers close to the racing line and limited overtaking opportunities. Changes made to the third sector in 2023 increased the number of high-speed sections, making the lap smoother and faster than before. Although some straights are present, the track remains defined by numerous braking and traction phases across its 19 corners, allowing modern power units to recover energy throughout the lap.

Marina Bay has a medium-to-high level of surface roughness for a street circuit. Since no resurfacing has taken place, values are expected to be broadly in line with last season, if not slightly higher. Track evolution will be significant over the weekend, while intermittent rainfall typical of the equatorial climate can influence grip levels and alter conditions from one session to the next.

The race is held at night, with track temperatures between 30 and 35 °C. Under these conditions, tyres tend to operate within their working window without particular overheating concerns. Mechanical stress is not especially high, and expected degradation will mainly be linked to the normal performance drop-off of the rear axle during traction phases. Graining and wear are also not expected to become limiting factors in race management.

Strategically, Singapore remains one of the races where a one-stop strategy is the preferred option, also considering time lost in the pit lane and the frequent likelihood of neutralisations. While Hard and Medium are again expected to be the reference compounds for the race, the Soft could receive greater consideration on Sunday from more than one team. The softest compound has shown at Budapest, Monza and Baku that it allows drivers to maintain a strong pace thanks to limited degradation, while offering an advantage in grip and confidence. These characteristics could prove even more valuable at a circuit known for significant track evolution.

Latest-generation cars also appear to make better use of softer compounds, allowing the softer end of the range to be used for longer and more competitive stints than in the past. It would therefore come as no surprise to see the red-sidewalled tyre used in Saturday's Sprint or more extensive C5 use throughout the weekend. Medium and Soft were chosen for the opening part of the race, with 14 drivers starting on the C4 and the remainder on the C5, while the Hard was ruled out because the track was still damp after earlier rain. The C3 then became the preferred compound for the second stint, and almost the entire grid completed a one-stop race, with only three drivers opting for two stops.

This will be the seventeenth edition of the Singapore Grand Prix, held continuously since 2008 with the only interruption caused by the pandemic in 2020 and 2021. Sebastian Vettel leads drivers with five victories and Lewis Hamilton has four, while Mercedes leads constructors with five wins. The podium cap will feature an orchid-inspired design, celebrated in Singapore for thriving in heat, humidity and heavy rainfall. The special edition Pirelli Podium Cap is produced by Pirelli Design and signed by designer Denis Dekovic.

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Tyres Europe has released a position paper urging the European Union to deploy trade defence instruments more strategically and responsively. The paper argues that measures must remain effective after adoption and tackle distortions that shift across countries, companies and value chains.

The bloc's tyre sector relies heavily on capital investment and specialised know-how, supporting more than 70 manufacturing sites, retreading operations included, plus roughly 20 R&D hubs. Of the approximately 398 million tyres fitted across the EU during 2024, close to 40 percent came from outside the Union. Meanwhile, nine European plant closures have been announced over the last two years, putting over 4,400 jobs at risk.

Two recent episodes underscore the gaps. In the passenger car and light truck tyre case involving China, Brussels launched its probe in May 2025, yet definitive duties did not land until 8 July 2026, by which time sourcing had already migrated elsewhere. For truck and bus tyres, the pressure surfaced only after the 2018 measures took hold. China's share of EU27 and UK imports tumbled from 73 percent in 2017 to under 21 percent by 2019, but Thailand and Vietnam together surged from below 3 percent in 2017 to almost 61 percent in the first five months of 2026. Both cases show trade patterns moving faster than Europe's response, whether before or after duties.

The paper presses the European Commission to move sooner, keep measures potent post-adoption and act as one coordinated system. That entails wiring monitoring, industry insight, investigations and enforcement together from the earliest signal, running systematic post-measure tracking and industry dialogue and aligning trade defence with the Foreign Subsidies Regulation, investment screening and procurement. It further recommends starting work now on a supplementary, WTO-compatible answer to systemic distortions.

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Kenda Tires has introduced the KENDA K-SERIES RIPPER, a new tyre aimed at modern trail and all-mountain riders seeking speed, control and confidence across varied terrain. The model combines an aggressive yet fast-rolling tread design with dual-layer compound technology and a durable Trail Casing, positioning it as a versatile option from hardpack trails to technical descents.

The RIPPER is intended to fill the space between lightweight cross-country and downcountry tyres and heavier enduro offerings. According to Kenda, it addresses demand for a tyre that climbs efficiently, corners predictably and remains reassuring when trails become difficult, giving riders a single do-it-all solution.

Its neutral-void tread pattern is designed to balance rolling efficiency with traction. Large, broad-based knobs support braking performance and cornering stability, while the layout aims to deliver predictable handling as conditions change. A dual-layer compound pairs a high-traction trail compound with a fast-rolling base layer, enhancing grip on loose or technical ground while preserving efficiency and durability.

A robust Trail Casing is said to balance protection, durability and ride quality for aggressive trail riding and modern e-MTB use. An optimised 62 mm casing and tread width, a stable casing profile and optimised mould design contribute to confidence at the limit. Kenda describes the result as a long-lasting, high-mileage tyre combining speed, grip and durability for riders unwilling to choose between efficiency and capability.

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The Tire Industry Project (TIP) has appointed Dr Willie Peijnenburg to its external Assurance Group (AG), an independent advisory committee that guides the organisation's research programs.

Dr Peijnenburg serves as Professor of Environmental Toxicology and Biodiversity at Leiden University in the Netherlands and works as a Senior Researcher at the Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM).

His academic work covers environmental risk assessment, ecotoxicology, predictive modelling and the behaviour of emerging contaminants in ecosystems. He joins five other independent members on the committee.

"Questions around environmental emissions, chemical safety and the sustainability of mobility systems are becoming increasingly important. I was drawn to TIP’s Assurance Group by the opportunity to contribute to conversations that have real-world relevance. I look forward to working with fellow Assurance Group members to support robust, transparent science and evidence-based decision-making." said Dr Peijnenburg.

The organisation also announced the departure of committee members Dr John Spengler of the Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health and Dr Iseult Lynch of the University of Birmingham, noting their contributions to the research oversight body.

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