The Tire and Rubber Association of Canada has recognised outstanding individuals and businesses for their dedication and commitment to excellence in the tyre and rubber industry including end-of-life tyre management businesses and other businesses focused on sustainability. 

The association said in a statement that the TRAC Awards Ceremony took place immediately following its Annual General Meeting on 14 June 2022, at the Alt Hotel Toronto Airport in Mississauga. 

The inaugural Industry Leadership Awards recognised leadership in the following categories: Leader of the Year, Lifetime Achievement, Sustainability, and Young Leader. 

Carol Hochu, President and CEO, TRAC, said, “To our delight, we received submissions from many highly qualified industry professionals and companies; and picking any one single winner in most categories proved itself a challenge. That is why we chose to recognise multiple winners in several categories. This year, we are pleased to celebrate 11 individuals and companies who have demonstrated leadership and excellence, and whose contribution to the tyre and rubber industry in the areas of business, innovation, and sustainability had been simply outstanding.” 

Emmie Leung, Founder and CEO of TRAC member firm Emterra Group, has been named Leader of the Year, the release said. For over 45 years, Emmie has led Emterra from a one-woman start-up to one of the largest integrated resource management companies. Emmie’s ability to envision business growth and development in the circular economy has led to Emterra’s expansion into several divisions. Emmie created Emterra Tire Recycling (ETR) in 2005 and has continued to make significant contributions to tyres’ circular economy and became a leading supplier of crumb rubber in Canada. 

The Lifetime Achievement Award went to Don Blythe, Don Campbell, Jim Henderson, and Glenn Maidment in recognition of their outstanding achievements and enduring legacies to the Canadian tyre and rubber industry and to the community at large. 

Don Blythe had over 60 years of experience in the industry. He began his career with Goodyear Saskatoon in 1957. He joined OK Tire in 1972 and was instrumental in forming an OK Tire Franchised Dealer Committee to explore the possibility of the Canadian dealers (49) purchasing OK Tire Stores Canada Ltd. from Ashland Oil (Kentucky). In 1973, a 100 per cent OK franchised dealer-owned marketing group OK Tire Stores Inc. was formed. He was named President of OK Tire in 1983. Don was elected to the Board of the Western Canada Tire Dealers and Retreaders Association (today WCTD) in 1982. After retiring from OK Tire in 2003, he became Executive Director for WCTD until 2009. Don was instrumental in establishing Tire Stewardship BC (TSBC) and several end-of-life tire programs in Canada and remained at the helm of TSBC until his passing in 2018. 

The Canadian tyre industry owes Don Campbell a debt of gratitude for his vision and dedication to the industry under Industry Canada and as past president of TRAC (1997–2001). Within the framework of NAFTA negotiations in 1980s, Don championed development of a duty remission programme which allowed rubber companies to claim return of duties in return for new investment in Canada. This duty remission accrued approximately USD 250 million, and the industry invested close to a USD 1 billion in new tyre plants and equipment in Canada. 

Jim has been involved in tire industry, tyre production, and manufacturing for 56 years. He started his life-long tyre industry career with Michelin plants in England and Ireland. 

Glenn Maidment’s tyre and rubber industry career spanned 51 years with 30 years working for the Tire and Rubber Association of Canada (formerly Rubber Association of Canada, RAC), and nearly 20 years as the Association’s President. Under his vision, the tyre industry and governments developed sustainable and self-sufficient non-profit enterprises that meet their financial and recycling obligations. He was instrumental in the development and implementation of tyre stewardship regulations and establishment of stewardship organisations responsible for tyre recycling in British Columbia, Manitoba, and Ontario. 

In the area of Sustainability, TRAC honoured Kal Tire, Maureen Kline, and Tyromer Inc. for their environmental, economic, and social contributions. 

The Young Leader award recognises inspirational and dedicated young leaders who demonstrate industry leadership in management, innovation, technology and/or sustainability within their organisation or community. This year, TRAC recognised Charley Kriksic, Mark Lin, and James O’Reilly, the release said. 

Charley is a motivated and dedicated industry professional. He is Director of Sales and Marketing with Consumers Tire. In 2021, he was elected to the position of President of the Ontario Tire Dealers Association (OTDA) where he oversees the Association’s activities and continues to encourage the growth and prosperity for the sector. 

As OE Account Manager at TRAC member firm MAXXIS, Mark always seeks ways to bring value to the organisation, team members, and customers. He creates strategies to improve partnerships, business processes, products, and marketing activities. 

James O’Reilly, Vice President of the Trail Tire Group, is a second-generation tyre business professional. He is currently overseeing the Distribution Arm (Trail Tire Supply) as well as the Associate Store Program (Trail Tire Auto Centers) at Trail Tire Group, the release added. (TT)

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On 18 June, the prestigious 22nd ‘World Brand Conference and Release Ceremony of China's 500 Most Valuable Brands’ was held in Beijing, organised by the World Brand Lab. Demonstrating its industry leadership, Doublestar achieved an impressive brand valuation of CNY 116.208 billion (approximately USD 16.21 billion), securing the 93rd position overall and maintaining its position as the highest-ranked Chinese tyre brand for yet another year.

This recognition underscores Doublestar's strong market presence and consumer trust, built on decades of innovation and quality craftsmanship. Moving forward, the company has committed to strengthening its brand influence through continuous technological advancement and sustainable development. By focusing on research and production of safer, smarter and more environmentally friendly tyre solutions, Doublestar aims to not only meet evolving market demands but also drive the high-quality growth of China's tyre industry.

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Continental Tires has achieved a major sustainability milestone with all its European tyre production facilities now certified under the International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC) PLUS standard. The certification extends to plants in Lousado (Portugal), Puchov (Slovakia), Korbach (Germany), Sarreguemines (France), Otrokovice (Czech Republic) and Timișoara (Romania), along with the supporting Industria Textil do Ave textile plant in Portugal. The company's Hefei facility in China has also earned this recognition, expanding Continental's sustainable manufacturing network globally.

The ISCC PLUS certification verifies Continental's compliance with rigorous traceability and documentation requirements for renewable and recycled materials used in tyre production. This system enables the company to track sustainable inputs throughout the manufacturing process using the mass balance approach, which allows gradual incorporation of eco-friendly materials while maintaining existing production systems. Continental is currently increasing its use of certified materials, including bio-based synthetic rubbers and circular-process carbon black, as part of its strategy to include over 40 percent sustainable materials in tyres by 2030.

As a globally recognised standard established in 2010, ISCC certification promotes climate-friendly, deforestation-free supply chains across multiple industries. It covers sustainable biomass, recycled materials and renewable resources, providing a framework for transparent, responsible sourcing. For Continental, this achievement represents both a validation of current sustainability efforts and a foundation for future innovations in eco-conscious tyre manufacturing. The company's growing network of certified facilities demonstrates its commitment to reducing environmental impact while maintaining product quality and performance standards across its global operations.

Jorge Almeida, head of Sustainability for Continental Tires, said, “The ISCC PLUS certification of all our European tyre plants is an important milestone and a strong signal for a more sustainable industry in Europe. But we're not stopping there. Our plants in other regions will follow step by step, like our Hefei plant, which is already certified. We have a strong ambition to make our tyre production more sustainable worldwide across our entire supply chain.”

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Bandvulc has expanded its Wastemaster 5 tyre range with a new 315/70 size, enhancing options for urban waste collection and recycling vehicles. Originally launched in 2021, this robust tyre boasts a high load rating and is manufactured at ContiLifeCycle’s Ivybridge facility in Devon, which produces Bandvulc and ContiRe retread tyres.

The Wastemaster 5 incorporates ARMORBAND technology, featuring a reinforced rubber layer along the sidewall to resist scrubbing damage and prolong tyre life. Its advanced tread design includes wide zig-zag grooves for mud and water clearance, stone ejection features, stepped blocks and deep sipes for superior traction in tough conditions. This upgrade reinforces Bandvulc’s commitment to durability and performance in demanding waste management operations.

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Eurogrip Tyres, India’s top 2 & 3-wheeler tyre brand under TVS Srichakra Ltd, today launched two exclusive retail stores in Chennai – at Selaiyur and Villivakkam. These outlets will stock a full range of two-wheeler tyres, tubes and biking accessories like helmets, alongside offering tyre care, puncture repair, fitment services and engine oil changes.

Catering to scooters, commuter bikes, performance bikes and superbikes, the stores provide diverse tyre patterns and sizes. They will also handle warranty claims for customers. The Selaiyur store is located at J C Group, Plot no 3, Agaram Main Road, Chennai - 600 073, while the Villivakkam outlet is at ST Enterprises, Old no 39E/New no 103, MTH Road, Chennai - 600 049. These expansions reinforce Eurogrip’s commitment to premium service and accessibility.

T K Ravi, COO, Eurogrip Tyres, said, “We are happy to reach out to more customers through our new branded retail stores. In a city that has a bustling two-wheeler vehicle population, there is a need to have more outlets to expand our network. Chennai is an important market for us, and we had opened our first branded retail store in Velachery last May. The response from customers and riders has been encouraging and we are happy to be launching 2 more stores in the city – this will help bolster our brand strength here. We plan to have more such signature stores in different cities to make our products and services easily accessible to customers.”

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