Banner image caption: Europäische Fachpressekonferenz, v.l.n.r.: Dr. Ralf Deckers (Bereichsleiter Research Experts, IFH Köln GmbH), Ingo Riedeberger (Director THE TIRE COLOGNE), Maximiliane Sarwas (Moderatorin), Gerald Böse (Vorsitzender der Geschäftsführung Koelnmesse GmbH), Stephan Helm (Vorsitzender BRV), Motorworld Köln

The German Tyre Retail and Vulcanisation Trade Association (BRV) and Koelnmesse has announced that the Tire Cologne 2021 will be a hybrid trade fair. It will be held in the classic trade format as well as in the digital format called the ‘TTC@home’. According to Koelnmesse, a global leader for Digital Media, Entertainment and Mobility segments, the two parallel formats would ensure that the industry participants from around the world, whether exhibitors or trade visitors, can exchange ideas live in Cologne or digitally via a platform developed specifically for this purpose.

Desperate conditions demand discerning measures
The event organisers have revealed that the trade fairs will be carried out safely and successfully while keeping all the safety measures in place. The stand
areas are limited to a maximum of 150 sq.m. Additional capacities are offered by the ‘Lead Café’ – consultation rooms that can be used flexibly. Koelnmesse has developed a host of measures under the ‘#BSAFE4BUSINESS’ in accordance with the provisions of the corona protection ordinance of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia and in close coordination with the authorities in Cologne. These measures work together seamlessly and regulate interaction at the trade fair.

The digital platform developed by Koelnmesse, on which the TTC@home digital trade fair components are realised, is already currently being used successfully at DMEXCO, the largest trade fair for digital marketing & advertising in Europe that concluded today. ‘Digital’ exhibitors can present their products as photo and text information within the exhibitor showrooms and increase the attention their company attracts by embedding video content. Content on products and companies can be presented in digital panels or conferences to a circle of interested parties and in greater depth via special networking functions in chats or digital meetings. In addition to a large number of additional tools, TTC@home also supports new visitor target groups and is at the same time the basis for a sustainable community platform that will continue to exist beyond The Tire Cologne 2021. All the exhibitors will receive a digital basic package at no charge. TTC@home thus also makes an important contribution to the digitalisation of the tyre industry.

Oliver Frese, Chief Operating Officer of Koelnmesse, (pictured above) said, "One thing is certain; trade fairs will remain indispensable. Only here can direct personal encounters for the maintenance of existing contacts and the initiation of new business opportunities be assured with precision and certainty. We are more than prepared to carry out trade fairs safely and successfully for all participants, and to thus provide the so urgently needed impulses for the further development of the industries.”

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Dara Jehangir Bharucha, a respected stalwart of India’s rubber and polymer industry with a career spanning more than six decades, has passed away today. He was 90.

Born on January 12, 1936, in Mumbai, Bharucha graduated from St. Xavier’s College in 1955 before embarking on a distinguished professional journey in the technical side of the rubber sector. He began his career with Firestone Tyre Company in Bombay, working in its technical department during a formative phase for India’s tyre industry.

He later joined Philips Carbon Black Ltd in West Bengal, where he was associated with testing the first lot of carbon black produced in India — a milestone in the domestic rubber value chain. In 1972, Bharucha moved to Bayer, rising to become Regional Technical Manager and subsequently Technical and Development Manager at the company’s Thane headquarters.

Following his retirement, he continued contributing to the industry by joining the Bhimrajka Group in 1996, a leading distributor of performance polymers and chemicals in India. Even in his later years, Bharucha remained actively engaged with the All India Rubber Industries Association (AIRIA), participating in technical forums, seminars and industry deliberations.

Colleagues remember him as a technically rigorous professional with an unwavering commitment to industry development. His career mirrored the evolution of India’s rubber and polymer ecosystem — from import dependence to domestic capability.

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Sanjay Sharma, Head of Corporate Communication and Motorsport at JK Tyre & Industries Ltd, passed away on Wednesday at the age of 61. A central architect of organised racing in India, Sharma, widely known in Indian motorsport circles as “Hardy”, leaves behind a legacy that reshaped the country’s motorsport ecosystem over three decades.

Sharma joined JK Tyre & Industries Ltd in 1994 with a mandate to professionalise its fledgling motorsport division. At a time when structured racing pathways in India were limited, he built a formal competitive framework that would become the backbone of the sport domestically.

In 1997, he spearheaded the launch of the JK Tyre National Racing Championship, creating a sustained talent pipeline for aspiring drivers. The championship went on to nurture several Indian racers who would make their mark internationally, including Narain Karthikeyan, Karun Chandhok, Aditya Patel and Armaan Ebrahim.

Beyond circuit racing, Sharma broadened JK Tyre’s footprint across rallying, karting and grassroots motorsport development. In 2000, he was instrumental in introducing organised karting championships in India — a decisive step in creating an entry-level ladder for young drivers. His long-term vision emphasised early talent identification and structured progression to international competition.

Under his stewardship, JK Tyre also strengthened its presence in rallying, supporting prominent drivers such as Gaurav Gill, while expanding competitive platforms across formats. Colleagues and competitors alike credit Sharma with institutionalising professionalism in an industry that had previously operated in fragmented pockets.

Tributes from across the Indian motorsport fraternity poured in on Thursday, describing him as a mentor, strategist and relentless advocate for the sport. Many credited his administrative foresight and corporate stewardship for laying the foundation upon which India’s contemporary racing structure stands.

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

At a recent European dealer conference held in Thailand, Prinx Chengshan introduced its strategic direction for the coming years under the theme ‘PRINX REVEAL 2026 THE FUTURE UNVEILED’. The company marked the occasion by launching a new brand slogan for the European market - FUTURE READY TIRES -underscoring its ambition to co-create a shared trajectory with its regional partners amidst an evolving industry landscape.

A central component of the event was a tour of the company’s Thailand Smart Factory, where delegates observed advanced manufacturing systems in action. Led by General Manager Xu Jiangang, the visit highlighted the facility’s intelligent production lines, digital oversight tools and commitment to corporate social responsibility. Li Chongbing from the R&D Centre elaborated on the technological foundations underpinning Prinx Chengshan’s tyre quality, while Wang Hongdian of the Marketing Centre outlined a five-year product roadmap for both commercial vehicle and passenger car tyres tailored to European customers. Meanwhile, Wu Longfeng, Manager of Customer Service Department at Quality Management Centre, introduced an updated 2026 Claim Policy designed to respond more effectively to market expectations and reinforce the company’s integrated ‘Product + Service’ approach.

Strategic vision took centre stage as Li Xinming, Deputy Director of the Europe & Americas Sales Centre, discussed the company’s ongoing evolution from a traditional tyre producer into a globally competitive industrial group. He credited much of this progress to the enduring trust of European partners and conveyed optimism that the Prinx brand – rooted in innovation, craftsmanship and forward-thinking design – would continue to gain momentum through these collaborations. Thomas Wohlgemuth, General Manager for Europe, elaborated on the new brand identity and confirmed Prinx’s official entry into the European commercial vehicle tyre sector in 2026, with sustainability embedded across research, operations and partnerships.

Adding a dynamic dimension to the proceedings, British racing driver Luke Garrett made a guest appearance. As a sponsored athlete in the 2025 FIA European Truck Racing Championship, Garrett shared his experiences competing on Prinx Chengshan tyres, offering attendees a tangible connection to the brand’s values of determination, aspiration and performance.

Beyond the formal agenda, the company curated an immersive cultural programme that enabled participants to experience Thailand’s natural beauty and build stronger interpersonal connections in a relaxed setting. Looking forward, Prinx Chengshan intends to deepen its investment in research and development while capitalising on its smart manufacturing footprint across China, Thailand and Malaysia. The company envisions a future defined by sustainable growth, longer product life cycles and green innovation – bringing Chinese intelligent manufacturing to an ever-widening global stage through close collaboration with its European allies.

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

TVS Srichakra reported higher standalone and consolidated profits for the quarter to December 2025, supported by revenue growth and grant income, despite exceptional charges linked to labour reforms and voluntary retirement costs.

Quarterly performance

Standalone revenue from operations rose to INR 8.50 billion in the December quarter, from INR 7.47 billion a year earlier. Total income stood at INR 8.52 billion.

Standalone profit before tax, after exceptional items, was INR 1.90 billion, compared with a loss of INR 0.36 billion in the same quarter last year. Net profit after tax was INR 1.42 billion, against a loss of INR 0.31 billion a year earlier.

Standalone earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation were INR 6.05 billion, representing a margin of 22.5 percent.

On a consolidated basis, revenue from operations rose to INR 9.17 billion, from INR 8.03 billion a year earlier. Profit before tax, after exceptional items, was INR 1.71 billion, compared with a loss of INR 0.56 billion. Net profit attributable to owners of the group was INR 1.12 billion, against a loss of INR 0.60 billion.

Nine-month performance

For the nine months, standalone revenue from operations increased to INR 24.77 billion, from INR 22.71 billion a year earlier. Net profit after tax was INR 4.81 billion, up from INR 2.64 billion.

Consolidated revenue from operations for the nine months rose to INR 26.62 billion, from INR 24.35 billion. Net profit attributable to owners of the group was  INR 3.51 billion, compared with INR 1.10 billion in the previous year.

Exceptional items and regulatory impact

Exceptional items included recognition of grant income of INR 1.88 billion under an investment promotion capital subsidy sanctioned by the Government of Tamil Nadu in November 2021. The grant is to be received over 12 years in equal annual instalments, subject to conditions, and has been accounted for under Ind AS 20 using the income approach.

The company also recognised incremental estimated obligations of INR 1.17 billion on a standalone basis and INR 1.21 billion on a consolidated basis under the new labour codes, mainly on account of employees past services. The codes became effective from November 21 2025, though supporting rules are yet to be notified.

Under a voluntary retirement scheme, the company spent INR 0.13 billion in the quarter and INR 0.51 billion in the nine months.

During the nine-month period, subsidiary Super Grip Corporation incurred severance expenses of INR 0.04 billion.

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!