Being a global supplier of tyre oil, Nynas supplies its products to major tyre companies worldwide. However, the Covid-19 pandemic brought unforeseen challenges in transporting goods through all three modes of transportations, and Nynas is no exception! In an interview with Sharad Matade of Tyre Trends, Rogier van Hoof, Head of Secondary Distribution Naphthenics at Nynas, says enhanced communication and exchange of information digitally will help the company handle the new challenges. He also added that the container availability is expected to be normalised in 2022 but road transportation will remain a challenge.

Ever since Covid-19 engulfed the world, the job of Rogier van Hoof, Head of Secondary Distribution Naphthenics at Nynas, has become more challenging. Though tyre production is coming back on track speedily, the challenges at the logistic front are still demanding. Recollecting the initial impact of Covid, van Hoof says, "For Nynas, it all started in early 2020, when the lockdowns in China forced factories to close down manufacturing activities. However, the initial shock was largely seen in truck movements. As part of the measures, drivers had to go into quarantine after a long haul drive. They could pick up a container, but they had to go into quarantine when they were back at the delivery point. So we saw an immediate effect on the truck availability. The cascading impact, I don't think anybody could have predicted. We are on a steep learning curve since the beginning of 2020."

van Hoof and his team swung into action and immediately enhanced the communication with its customers, forwarders and logistic partners to evaluate options to tackle the unprecedented challenges. "I don't think anyone was prepared for what had happened afterwards. Before Covid, people used to take logistics for granted that you order something and it's there when you want it. But with the Covid situation, people have realised to approach things differently, not only on the factory levels but also on the logistics sides on a day to day basis. There are still many limitations we have to deal with," says van Hoof.

According to van Hoof, in the last one and a half years, the just-in-time concept is out of the window and long-term planning has become the priority. "In the past, we knew there was a vessel going every week, and we had substantial free times in getting the containers in, getting them loaded and bringing them to the quay. Even if we would miss a vessel, we always could ship it next week, so the delay was manageable – but that has gone completely out of the window today. It is clear that if you miss a vessel, the next vessel with space will be there maybe in a month. This means everyone needs to plan much further ahead," says van Hoof.

Most countries are now recovering from the Covid impact; however, many major export destinations are still grappling with severe restrictions. Many main ports are congested and containers are either stacking up at cargo ports or in inland depots. This imbalance results in waiting time for space on vessels, according to reports, between three to eight weeks. The logistics supply chain is struggling to get back in balance resulting in extreme price spikes and unpredictable delays. "This is a situation which is unprecedented; we have never seen it before," adds van Hoof.

van Hoof says loyalty and predictability are helping the company sail through the rough time. "We have been working with our logistic partners for a long time and, therefore, they know that what we promise them, we deliver. Predictability towards the stakeholders like transporters, shipping lines, forwarders has become key. In desperation, many companies are making overbooking of containers but failing to utilise the booking fully. In our relationship with our forwarders and the shipping lines, we have been able to show loyalty and keep our promise. If we tell the shipping line that we will ship 50 containers this week, we will make sure that these 50 containers are there. Our loyalty is rewarded by the fact that they will treat us as a preferential client. Price is no longer the highest priority, and this is something people need to realise. There's always somebody who is prepared to pay more,” explains van Hoof.

van Hoof feels the container availability situation will be normalised by 2022, but the driver availability issue will remain a more significant issue.

Currently, the company has 23 depots worldwide, of which Antwerp, Houston and Singapore are central storage facilities and blending stations. Last year, the company transported around 700,000 tonnes of oil by sea. There were also 30,000 deliveries by road tanker, 10.000 container transports and 250,000 drums delivered to customers worldwide.

However, opening more depots to tackle the logistic challenges is not viable, thinks van Hoof. Around 2018-19, shipping costs for containers were at the lowest level ever; companies always preferred shipping over setting up depots. "Now our shipping costs have not only increased substantially, but the reliability of the shipping has gone down to the lowest ever. I think that less than 60 percent of the vessels arrive at the bars on time. So we are continuously looking at what is now the best solution. But you also have to consider that opening a depot in a country is not a temporary thing. It is something you do for the long run," explains van Hoof.

van Hoof also sees a possibility of working with its clients to manage container utilisation. "There are customers who are logistically shipping more than we do. So can we use the strength of both companies to find a solution? For instance, let's say we ship 100 containers to India and our customer ships 200 containers from India, so we are seeing if we can help each other, can we use their containers? We see more and more openness among the stakeholders in tackling logistic challenges," says van Hoof.

Nynas is currently implementing a transport management system within the company, which will allow it to digitalise the information. The transport management system allows exchanging data between stakeholders, including Nynas' depots, transporters, forwarders, inspectors and customs agents. "Today, everybody's under stress, and people need real information in real time," adds van Hoof.

The company plans to go into the second phase to integrate all that information with other stakeholders.

The Nynas executive advises the youngsters in the transporting job to be agile and eager to learn to tackle unusual situations. "You need to deal with much information and make sense of that information and use it correctly. So if you are somebody who gets up in the morning and goes to work, and has no idea what will happen during the day, then you're a suitable candidate for the job. For me, I make a little list of two or three things to do every day, and at the end of the day, I'm always happy that I've done two or three jobs, because, during the day, there are so many other things that need attention or immediate attention," concludes van Hoof. (TT)

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Continental Tire is launching a philanthropic initiative with ROUSH Performance and automotive influencer Supercar Ron to deliver hope to children with critical illnesses. The collaborative effort centres on raising funds for Make-A-Wish, the global leader in granting transformative wishes for children facing serious health challenges. At the campaign’s core is the ‘Full Throttle for Wishes Giveaway’. This sweepstakes offers a grand prize of a fully equipped ROUSH-supercharged F-150 Nitemare, outfitted with Continental ExtremeContact DWS-06 Plus tyres, with all proceeds directly benefiting the charity.

Since 1980, Make-A-Wish has fulfilled over 615,000 wishes worldwide, providing hope and joy during immensely difficult times. The organisation believes a wish can serve as a pivotal moment, fostering resilience and optimism that positively impacts a child’s journey. With a child becoming eligible for a wish approximately every 25 seconds, the mission is urgent. By uniting high-performance automotive passion with philanthropy, this initiative aims to create life-changing experiences and deliver moments of joy to as many children as possible.

Brian Beierwaltes, Head of Marketing US PLT, Continental Tire, said, “Together, we have the power to create something extraordinary. By joining forces with ROUSH and Supercar Ron, we’re turning passion into action and making a huge difference for kids who need hope the most.”

Supercar Ron said, “Cars have always been my passion, but helping kids is my purpose. This initiative is about more than horsepower; it’s about giving these incredible kids the strength to keep fighting. I’m thrilled to team up with Continental and ROUSH to make this happen.”

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Apollo Tyres has achieved an A- rating from the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) in both Climate Change and Water Security for 2025. This recognition places the company among the foremost international leaders in transparency and tangible environmental action, as evaluated by this prominent disclosure platform. Apollo Tyres began its formal CDP reporting journey in 2020, demonstrating its dedication to accountability through alignment with major frameworks including the Taskforce on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) and the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi).

The company’s performance trajectory illustrates a consistent and marked improvement, rising from an initial Climate Change score of D in 2020 to achieving leadership status just five years later. This progression was bolstered in 2023 when Apollo Tyres expanded its disclosures to encompass water security, immediately securing a B- rating. The subsequent elevation to a dual A- rating underscores robust advancements in corporate governance, risk management, and comprehensive emissions reduction initiatives.

Central to this progress is Apollo Tyres’ commitment to achieving net zero emissions across its value chain by 2050. In support of this ambitious long-term vision, the company is developing a detailed decarbonisation roadmap and will shortly announce specific, absolute near-term emission targets. This systematic approach reinforces ongoing efforts to deepen stakeholder engagement and implement science-based environmental strategies, solidifying the company’s strengthened standing within the competitive global sustainability landscape.

Rajeev Kumar Sinha, Chief Manufacturing Officer, Apollo Tyres Ltd, said “Reaching an A- rating underscores our dedication to environmental stewardship and our progress towards a low-carbon, water-secure future. We remain committed to driving meaningful action and transparency across our operations.”

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Michelin is accelerating its retail expansion in North India through strategic new partnerships. The global tyre manufacturer has inaugurated two new Michelin Tyres & Services stores in Delhi NCR region. In Noida, Michelin has collaborated with Tyre Shoppe India, an established retailer with over 25 years of industry presence and a substantial facility renowned for its technical proficiency and customer service. A separate flagship outlet has also opened in Delhi’s Model Town in partnership with Liberty Tyres, a trusted automotive specialist operating for more than two decades.

These new stores provide customers with full access to Michelin’s premium tyre portfolio alongside comprehensive automotive care. Both facilities are equipped with advanced diagnostic tools, high-precision alignment and balancing equipment and offer a complete suite of vehicle services to ensure efficient and accurate maintenance. This expansion is part of Michelin’s focused strategy to strengthen its footprint across Northern India, enhancing convenience and reliable access for motorists.

Shantanu Deshpande, Managing Director, Michelin India, said, “Delhi–NCR plays an important role in Michelin’s growth strategy for India, with its strong base of premium and performance vehicle owners. The addition of these two new Michelin Tyres & Services Stores strengthens our retail presence in the region and brings us closer to our customers. As we prepare to introduce our Made-in-India passenger car tyre range next year, expanding our network remains central to ensuring accessibility and providing consumers with world-class mobility solutions.”

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Bridgestone Retail Operations, the service and retail arm of Bridgestone Americas, has named Zachary Borden as its 2025 Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) Master Technician of the Year, recognising his performance across technical skills, productivity and customer service.

Borden received the award at a ceremony hosted by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence, which oversees certification standards for vehicle repair and maintenance technicians in the US.

Borden joined the company’s Firestone Complete Auto Care network in Virginia Beach, Virginia, in 2016 after completing an associate degree in automotive technology at Tidewater Community College. He holds nine ASE certifications and has exceeded his service productivity rate by nearly 300 per cent for the past two years, according to the company.

Marko Ibrahim, president of Bridgestone Retail Operations, said: “Zach exemplifies the spirit of this award through his commitment to efficiency, clear and productive communication, and fostering a collaborative work environment. He is a standout technician and a trusted advisor for our customers, and it is an honour to recognise his servant leadership.”

Borden said: “Being named ASE Master Technician of the Year is truly an honour, and I’m grateful to be recognised for the quality of my work. What means the most to me is the opportunity to grow alongside a team that supports, challenges, and learns from one another every day.”

ASE Technician of the Year nominations are determined by employers based on test scores, on-the-job performance and community involvement. Bridgestone Retail Operations selects candidates from its network of more than 2,200 outlets across the US operating under the Firestone Complete Auto Care, Tires Plus, Hibdon Tires Plus and Wheel Works brands.

The award follows the accreditation of Bridgestone Retail Operations’ technician-training curriculum by ASE in October. Accreditation is granted to institutions that meet established standards for technical education and is intended to support technicians in gaining ASE certifications throughout their careers.

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