It was in 1993, the first edition of the K.M. Philip Gold Medal was instituted to recognise and honour contribution of individuals that have made a mark in the Indian rubber industry. The biennial award is presented under the aegis of the All India Rubber Industries Association (AIRIA). Since 1993 and till 2019, AIRIA has given this award to 13 distinguished individuals for their contribution towards the growth of the Indian rubber industry.

Philip had played a key role in establishing the Indian Rubber Manufacturer Research Association (IRMRA), helping it grow into a leading research laboratory associated with the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR). Under his vision, IRMRA became a critical institution for tyre testing for both Indian and foreign manufacturers.

The K.M, Philip family feels that the award has served its purpose. Hence as a gracious closure and a finale event, the foundation has decided to honour three individuals/institutions/bodies with the  distribution of the final K.M. Philip Gold Medal in the following three categories –

K.M. Philip Gold Medal Research and Development Award

This award recognises individuals or institutions for their contributions to research and development in the rubber industry, with a particular emphasis on innovations that promote environmental sustainability.

K.M. Philip Gold Medal Entrepreneur/Businessman for the MSME Industry Development Award

The award recognises entrepreneurs who have achieved notable success in building a business from the ground up (greenfield projects) or elevating a first-generation enterprise to a global standard. The recipient should have led their industry to a prominent position in its product segment, with a preference given to those who have reduced their business's carbon footprint.

K.M. Philip Gold Medal for Institution and Rubber Industry Brand Builder Award

The award acknowledges individuals or institutions that have significantly contributed to the growth, recognition, and brand value of the Indian rubber industry and its institutions. The recipient must have initiated and executed initiatives that enhanced the industry’s overall reputation, including infrastructural institutions.

Philip is often referred to as pioneer in the rubber industry. From founding AIRIA to receiving a National Award, his legacy continues to inspire the next generation of leaders.

The past winners of the K.M. Philip Gold Medal include –

1. Late Manu M Patel (1993): Rendering services through development work, introduction of usage of synthetic rubber, technical service and training etc.
2. Late W G Desai (1995): Rendering services through pioneering work in reclaim rubber, technical services and training, standardisation, assistance in growth of SSI etc.
3. Late Shri S V Lathia (1997): Successful research work carried out to manufacture products, previously imported, thus saving in foreign exchange and for outstanding work in social and rural development work.
4. Late R K Jain (1999): pioneering efforts and developing work in promotion of exports, import substitution, technical upgradation and setting high standards in growth of SSI etc.
5. Prof Anil K Bhowmick (2001): pioneering research into the chemistry of polymers and incorporation of these new developments into technologies and outstanding contribution to imparting education to Indian rubber technologists.
6. Dr Raghupati Singhania (2003): Pioneering efforts to usher in radial tyre technology to India, his foresightedness in setting up state-of-art R&D center HASETRI, his commitment to industrial growth through his leadership in numerous group companies etc.
7. Dr R K Matthan (2005): pioneering efforts in technology transfer, establishment and commissioning of TSR factories, his continued association with technical development and usage of new forms of natural rubber, development of ultra safe\catheters, his continued association with IRI, IRMRA, Cochin university etc.
8. Late Anil Sampat (2007): For his pioneering work in conceiving and successfully organising IRE and providing a platform to the rubber industry to expose its latest technology and to facilitate two way technical exchange and trade, his entrepreneurial qualities in rubber, footwear and textile industries etc.
9. Late R K Raman (2011); His pioneering efforts in establishing world class facility MIL Industries for manufacture of rubber lining coupled with using cold bond process for first time in India, developing advanced technology applications of rubber products in Aerospace industries etc.
10. R V Gandhi (2013): pioneering efforts in developing wide range of reclaim rubbers made from natural and synthetic elastomers, establishing GRP as the largest and most respected manufacturer of reclaim rubber in the world and putting India at the forefront of export of reclaim rubber, his initiative in developing global specifications for reclaim rubber under the aegis of ISO TC 45, his contribution to the cause of education, empowerment of women and training in ethical values etc.
11. Late M F Vohra (2015): For pioneering efforts in developing Zenith Rubber into a global scale manufacturer and supplier of quality rubber sheeting and allied rubber products and exporting 80% to developed markets, for his pioneering his leadership efforts at CAPEXIL in removing impediments to exports of rubber products thereby enabling double digit annual growth of rubber products exports, etc.
12. P K Mohamed (2017): For his pioneering efforts and contribution to high technology in core processes in tyre manufacturing, his pivotal role in standardising tyre dimensions, his passionate commitment to IRI and other technical bodies etc.
13. Arvind Poddar (2019): For his pioneering efforts in evolving BKT from a family enterprise into one of the largest technologically sophisticated companies in the Off-Highway Tyre segment, for his commitment to use green technology, for being recipient of several Government of India Awards for R&D etc.

MarketsandMarkets has said in its latest report that the tyre recycling market is expected to grow from USD 7.44 billion in 2024 to USD 8.92 billion by 2029 at a CAGR of 3.7 percent.

The report titled ‘Tire Recycling Market by Product (Rubber, TDF, TDA, Carbon Black), Process (Mechanical Shredding, Ambient Grinding, Pyrolysis), Type (Service, Material), End-use Industry (Automotive, Construction, Manufacturing) and Region – Global Forecast to 2029’ attributes the growth in this market to increasing environmental awareness and the implementation of stringent government regulations in different countries in reducing waste and pollution in the environment. Key players in the tyre recycling market, according to the report, are Liberty Tire Recycling (US), GENAN HOLDING A/S (Denmark), ResourceCo (Australia), GRP LTD (India), Lehigh Technologies, Inc. (US), Entech Inc (US), Emanuel Tire LLC (US), BDS Tire Recycling (US), Contec (Poland) and CRM (US).

According to the report, the Asia Pacific region is expected to be the fastest growing market for tyre recycling during the forecast period because of rapid industrialisation, urbanisation and economic growth in the region. Apart from this, government regulations in the Asia Pacific region are also playing a big role in shaping the tyre recycling market.

The report explains that govt incentives and regulatory benefits created by policies around sustainability and carbon reduction are significantly boosting opportunities in this sector. The report cites the Extended Producer Responsibility or EPR programme, which makes it mandatory for the producers of tyres to collect and recycle the tyres at their end-of-life. Additionally, the availability of government incentives and grants for the tyre recycling plants plays a favourable role for the sector.

The report further highlights that construction is the fast-growing end-use industry segment in the market for recycling tyres, explaining that the demand is partly driven by the growing use of recycled tyre products in infrastructure and building projects. These tyre-derived products are used in road construction and as building foundations, insulation and roofing materials. The demand for shock-absorbent, low-maintenance and durable materials in public space and recreational facilities, as well as sports fields, also plays and important role, says the report.

A new survey by OnePoll for Apollo Tyres has revealed that all-season tyres are preferred by a majority of drivers across Europe.

The findings, which took into account 1,000 respondents in each market, point to a constant increase in the popularity of tyres designed to perform throughout the year, including in dry, wet and snow conditions. Spain took the lead among the European countries with 82 percent respondents voting in favour of all-season tyres, followed by France (78 percent), the Netherlands (74 percent), Poland (72 percent) and the UK (65 percent).

For the customers of Apollo Tyres, its Vredestein brand’s Quatrac portfolio offers a lineup of tyres designed for a range of vehicles in a wide choice of sizes. The lineup includes the Quatrac, the Quatrac Pro and Pro+ for muscle cars and SUVs and the Quatrac Pro EV all-season tyre specifically designed for electric vehicles (EVs). All Quatrac tyres come with the ‘Three-Peak Mountain Snowflake’ mark and are fit for year-round use.

Yves Pouliquen, Vice President – Commercial, Europe, Apollo Tyres, said, “All-season tyres are becoming increasingly popular among motorists who want the reassurance of being able to safely tackle fast-changing weather conditions, year-round. With over three decades of expertise in all-season products, drivers can trust the Vredestein brand.”

Vaculug Limited, a leading commercial tyre retreading specialist based in Grantham, UK, has reshuffled its senior management team with the appointment of three new roles. The reshuffle is done with an aim to enhance the organisational structure and drive sustainable growth while prioritising employee development.

As part of the reorganisation, Philip West, Vaculug's Commercial Director, will now be responsible for managing all sales and RTM activities in addition to operations, marketing and customer service. West has been in the business for more than 42 years, and his leadership and depth of expertise make him a great fit for this position.

In his new role as Sales Director, Craig Rudkin will oversee the team responsible for sales and national accounts. Rudkin began working for Vaculug in a position located in a factory and has been with the firm for more than 33 years. Jason Humphries is now the Director of IT and Logistics. Humphries has over 20 years of experience in operations, logistics and IT and has played a key role in putting strategic plans into action since joining Vaculug in 2001.

Professor Joseph Adelegan, Secretary-General of the International Rubber Study Group (IRSG), has been confirmed as a featured speaker at the 2nd Edition of the Global Labour Market Conference (GLMC), which is slated to be held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on 29-30 January 2025.

The theme of this year's edition is ‘Inspiring Innovative Global Solutions to Labour Market Challenges’, which will further delve into six important topics related to the complex issue. The main points slated to be discussed in the conference include upskilling and reskilling of the workforce, bridging the gap between young workers’ aspirations and expectations, formulating smart policies to help identify and signal in demand skills, rolling out drivers of productivity universally to create a more level field, improving the supply of green skills through enhanced demand forecasting and training to create more green jobs and the role of SMEs in generating more meaningful and productive jobs.

The GLMC is a leading platform bringing together policymakers, employee representatives, business leaders, researchers and youth to tackle critical labour market challenges. This collaborative approach is essential for establishing a more equitable and advantageous environment for everyone, since the workforce is being impacted by rapid worldwide developments. Professor Adelegan's experience will be important in addressing the intricate problems that the global workforce faces.