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.”

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The European Commission published a regulation on 7 July 2026 establishing definitive anti-dumping duties on passenger-car and light-lorry tyre imports originating from China. The duties, which range between 4.3 percent and 45.3 percent, follow an investigation confirming that these products were being sold in the EU at dumped prices.

The probe, which covered a broad range of pneumatic rubber tyres with a load index below 121, found that the dumped imports had inflicted damage upon the Union’s tyre sector, which provides employment for over 80,000 workers across 14 member states. In 2024, total EU consumption in this market exceeded 330 million units, valued at more than EUR 18 billion.

Chinese imports that year reached nearly 93 million units, worth over EUR 2.5 billion and accounting for a 28 percent market share. A separate anti-subsidy investigation concerning the same products remains active, with its conclusion scheduled for December of this year.

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Sri Trang Group has formally inaugurated its annual internal sports tournament, the Somwang Cup 2026, reinforcing its dedication to employee welfare and organisational cohesion. The event is designed to enhance both physical and mental health among staff while simultaneously fostering a robust sense of unity and team spirit. This initiative is a core component of the group’s broader sustainability strategy, which prioritises the continuous improvement of its employees’ quality of life.

The official opening ceremony took place on 1 August 2026 at the Kickoff Arena in Hat Yai, Songkhla, featuring competitions in men’s football and women’s volleyball. The tournament has drawn significant participation, with over 800 employees from 11 different companies within the Sri Trang Group across Thailand. The men’s football competition, now in its fourth year, includes 44 teams, while the women’s volleyball event, in its second consecutive year, features 26 teams.

The competitive structure will see the leading squads from both disciplines progress to the final rounds scheduled for December. These culminating matches will determine the championship titleholders, with a combined total of more than THB 200,000 in prize money at stake.

Beyond the athletic contests, the Somwang Cup places a premium on positive sportsmanship, with Fair Play and Outstanding Athlete Awards recognising exemplary conduct. Having evolved into a cornerstone of the group’s corporate culture, the event is instrumental in building strong internal relationships and a resilient foundation for sustainable business growth.

Veerasith Sinchareonkul, Group CEO of Sri Trang Group, said, “At the heart of Somwang Cup 2026 is our commitment to creating a space where Sri Trang Group employees and members of the surrounding communities, particularly local young people who attend and support the competitions, can build meaningful relationships and strengthen their physical and mental well-being through sport. The event also provides an opportunity for younger generations to learn the value of teamwork. I believe that an organisation’s success should not be measured solely by its business performance or the results of a competition but also by the quality of life and well-being of its employees.”

Pirat Fuengfha, Sourcing Division Manager, and Veerin Auengteerasuwan, Human Resource Division Manager of Sri Trang Agro-Industry Public Company Limited (STA), together with Phuriwatt Seesuk, Community Engagement Manager of Sri Trang Gloves (Thailand) Public Company Limited (STGT), jointly commented, “Employees are one of the organisation’s most valuable resources. We are therefore committed to enhancing their quality of life and supporting both their physical and mental well-being. Organising football and volleyball competitions encourages employees to exercise regularly while also providing an opportunity for colleagues from different teams and locations to connect and participate in activities together through sport. We firmly believe that healthy, happy and engaged employees are a vital force in driving Sri Trang Group towards sustainable growth.”

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Triangle Tyre was honoured with the ‘2026 Green Development Model Enterprise Award’ at the 5th International Green Zero-Carbon Festival & ESG Leadership Summit in Shanghai on 29 July. The accolade recognises the manufacturer's sustained environmental commitment, operational sustainability framework and mature governance capabilities, aligned with the summit's theme of advancing green development.

The summit convened hundreds of leading enterprises for discussions on zero-carbon factories, low-carbon transitions, ESG deployment and circular economies. The award evaluates performance across strategic planning, technological innovation, clean energy adoption, supply chain management and social responsibility.

Triangle Tyre has integrated carbon neutrality into corporate strategy, establishing emission reduction targets for 2030 and a roadmap to carbon neutrality by 2050. The company holds energy efficiency ‘Leader’ status from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and national ‘Green Factory’ recognition. Manufacturing initiatives have reduced carbon intensity per product unit, while a biomass boiler retrofit increased renewable energy share.

In R&D, the company expands sustainable materials like recycled rubber and bio-based feedstocks. Supply chain efforts include green supplier evaluations, raw material traceability and a ‘zero deforestation’ pledge, with ESG metrics integrated into supplier management. The company also supports occupational health systems and public welfare initiatives. This award reflects Triangle Tyre's enduring sustainability commitment and plans to deepen ESG implementation for industry-wide green transformation.

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Maxion has released its inaugural global Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), marking a unified evaluation of environmental performance across its major product categories and two dozen manufacturing sites worldwide. This comprehensive study shifts the company from fragmented individual assessments to a cohesive global framework that covers both aluminium and steel wheel production.

The assessment, adhering to ISO standards and the Environmental Footprint 3.1 methodology, analysed 16 impact categories based on 2024 operational data. A substantial reliance on primary information from essential production phases has bolstered the study's credibility and precision. The results emphasise that raw materials, especially aluminium and steel, are the primary drivers of the product carbon footprint, pointing to material sourcing and supplier collaboration as crucial areas for future mitigation strategies.

By establishing this consistent global benchmark, Maxion enhances transparency and facilitates more informed customer discussions. The standardised data not only improves comparability across its wheel portfolio but also aids in pinpointing new opportunities for environmental reduction, supporting the sustainability requirements of clients and stakeholders alike.

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