TechnoMarketing Group, led by Ralph Dubbeldam, has quietly become a trailblazer in the mobile tyre service sector. From humble beginnings in manual truck tyre changing to pioneering compact, efficient mobile workshops, Dubbeldam’s vision has reshaped tyre service models globally. With the advent of mobile servicing solutions tailored to modern vehicle needs, TechnoMarketing’s products have empowered companies like Rivian and Mercedes-Benz to meet customer demands on the go. Yet, Dubbeldam’s journey isn’t just about innovation – it’s about adapting to the complexities of global markets, space constraints and evolving automotive trends, positioning the company at the forefront of the industry’s transformation.

In an unassuming Dutch town near the port of Antwerp, a quiet revolution in tyre service is underway. Roosendaal may not be the first place one associates with automotive innovation, but it’s the operational base of a company shaping how tyres are serviced globally. Ralph Dubbeldam, the founder and owner of TechnoMarketing Group, has spent the past two decades not just selling tools but reimagining the future of mobile vehicle servicing.

“I always tell people we develop, build, create and trade,” says Dubbeldam. “It’s still the best summary of what I do.”

Today, TechnoMarketing Group supplies purpose-built mobile tyre service equipment to everyone from start-ups in Seoul to automotive giants like Mercedes-Benz and Rivian. But the journey began with a chance encounter at Europe’s largest truck show and a pair of American-made tyre tools.  

Dubbeldam’s entrepreneurial journey began over two decades ago, when a neighbour invited him to the IAA Commercial Vehicles Show in Hannover. Wandering the exhibition, he struck up a conversation with American manufacturers of tools for changing tubeless truck tyres. That serendipitous moment set him on a new path.

“I became their European partner, which I still am today,” he recalled. “That meant in the early years I was mainly changing truck tyres myself manually,” he added.

The hands-on experience wasn’t glamorous, but it grounded Dubbeldam in the practical needs of tyre service professionals. It also gave him a deep understanding of the mechanical challenges that define the industry. He soon began developing and distributing ergonomic wheel handling tools, jacks and battery service equipment, laying the foundation for TechnoMarketing Group.

In 2002, he launched the in-house Winntec brand. Two years later, he became the official distributor for CTEK, the Swedish smart battery charging company. Since then, he’s sold over one million battery chargers, anchoring the company’s reputation for innovation and reliability.

THE MOBILE SHIFT

While wheel lifts and chargers kept the company growing, Dubbeldam had his sights on a much larger transformation – mobile tyre service.

He noticed cultural shifts around car ownership, particularly among younger generations. A pivotal moment came in 2016 at the Automechanika show in Frankfurt, when a major German online tyre reseller approached him with a challenge, which was to create compact, climate-proof mobile service vans that operators could work inside year-round.

“Winter in Munich isn’t kind to tyre installers. The equipment they needed didn’t exist, so I sat down with my engineers and we built it ourselves,” he noted.

The result was ecube, a battery-driven, lightweight, emission-free power unit designed specifically for mobile service vans. That pilot project marked the start of TechnoMarketing Group’s mobile era and the brand’s global acceleration.

The company’s equipment is now used in mobile fleets across South Korea, Japan, Germany, the United States and the Middle East. Its reach expanded rapidly following a deal with Rivian in 2021, when the electric vehicle manufacturer began equipping its mobile service vans with TechnoMarketing Group’s technology.

“Rivian didn’t have a dealership network. So mobile service was their only option. They now have over 350 vehicles on the road using our equipment,” Dubbeldam explains.

Another turning point came in 2023 when Mercedes-Benz, after years of internal resistance, committed to rolling out a global fleet of mobile service vans. Its initial focus is on light services like inspections and battery maintenance but tyre service is next.

“It’s a strong signal that if a brand like Mercedes goes mobile, the rest of the market will follow,” Dubbeldam explains.

TechnoMarketing Group is also working with Pirelli Driver, Euromaster and Vergölst, a Continental-owned tyre service provider, in Germany. In Japan, it has partnered with Nitta Tire, and in the US, it sells thousands of air bottle jacks to fleets service providers through its distribution partner Gaither Tool in Illinois.

ENGINEERING FOR THE REAL WORLD

Mobile tyre service isn’t just about putting workshop equipment in the back of a van. It requires purpose-built solutions that can withstand extreme conditions, whether it’s subzero winters in Seoul or 90 percent humidity in Singapore.

“Traditional balancers weren’t designed to sit in a van baking at 40 degrees Celsius or rattling over cobblestones. “Metal shafts expand and contract. Rust is inevitable. Accuracy degrades,” Dubbeldam points out.

In Singapore, one TechnoMarketing customer services luxury sedans in underground parking lots. In Dubai, operators work night shifts to avoid the heat. And in North America, trailers are often used to reduce costs.

“These are not ideal conditions. You have to respect the local context. That’s what drives our design philosophy,” he said.

THE WEIGHT PROBLEM

One of the biggest constraints in designing mobile service vans is weight. In Europe, commercial vehicles are limited to 3,500 kilogrammes. A fully equipped van with a driver and tools leaves just 800–1,000 kilogrammes for equipment, barely enough for traditional changers and balancers.

Electric vans add another layer of complexity. For instance, the electric Renault Master offers 600 kg less payload than its internal combustion version due to the heavy battery pack.

“That’s why we focus so much on lightweight, compact systems. You don’t have the luxury of space or surplus weight,” says Dubbeldam.

The company’s integrated mobile solution featuring a tyre changer, balancer, compressor and battery box occupies just 1.1 square metres and weighs only 450 kilogrammes.

MARKET GROWTH

According to industry estimates cited by Dubbeldam, the global mobile tyre installation market reached USD 500 million in 2024 and is expected to exceed USD 1.3 billion by 2032, growing at a 10 percent annual rate.

And that’s just tyres. Broader mobile car servicing, from battery replacement to diagnostics, is expected to grow even faster as automakers seek leaner service networks and consumers demand convenience.

“Tesla was the first to really embrace it. But now you see Lucid, Rivian, even newcomers like NIO following the same model,” said Dubbeldam.

Dubbeldam’s success is as much about cultural awareness as it is about engineering. His customers span the globe and he’s quick to note that no two markets behave the same.

“In the UK, I sell thousands of air bottle jacks. In Germany, zero,” he says with a grin. “Why? It’s culture. And you have to respect that.”

He also thrives on the variety. “What drives me are those cultural differences, the diversity of requests. It keeps me curious,” he quips.

Dubbeldam shows no signs of slowing down. He continues to push TechnoMarketing Group into new markets in Asia and Africa and is investing in new emission-free power systems to replace noisy, gasoline-powered generators in mobile fleets.

“The internal combustion generator burns five litres of gasoline an hour. We’ve designed battery-driven alternatives that are clean, quiet and efficient,” he said.

He also sees untapped potential in mobile diagnostics, charging and electric vehicle maintenance. As carmakers move away from dealerships, the demand for mobile solutions will only grow.

“Car maintenance is going to change whether we like it or not. Mobile isn’t a trend anymore. It’s a necessity,” he said.

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Balkrishna Industries Ltd. (BKT) has expanded its partnerships in India’s premier men’s T20 cricket league to eight teams, adding Royal Challengers Bengaluru for the upcoming season as it seeks to strengthen its position in the country’s consumer tyre market.

The company said its BKT Tyres brand would continue as Official Tyre Partner to Kolkata Knight Riders, Sunrisers Hyderabad, Rajasthan Royals, Mumbai Indians, Gujarat Titans, Punjab Kings and Lucknow Super Giants, alongside the newly added Bengaluru franchise.

The move comes as BKT advances its entry into India’s consumer tyre segment, using the tournament as a platform to expand visibility and engage a broader customer base, including commercial operators and private vehicle owners.

The partnerships are structured as long-term arrangements, incorporating stadium branding, broadcast integrations, dealer activations and digital campaigns aimed at strengthening fan engagement.

Rajiv Poddar, JMD of BKT, said: “Partnering with sporting institutions has always been central to BKT’s philosophy of Growing Together with communities. Cricket is one of the most influential cultural forces in India, uniting people across geographies, generations and backgrounds. Our continued partnerships as the Official Tyre Partner under the BKT Tyres brand allow us to connect with audiences in a meaningful way while strengthening our presence in the tyre segment. Through this association, we will further amplify our ‘Elevate Your Drive’ campaign featuring Ranveer Singh across broadcast and digital touchpoints, bringing the campaign’s message of ambition, progress and forward momentum to millions of viewers. These collaborations reflect our commitment to building long-term relationships founded on teamwork, performance and shared aspirations.”

Venky Mysore, Chief Executive of Kolkata Knight Riders, said: “BKT Tyres is not just a partner they are a brand that shares our relentless pursuit of performance. This renewed association is a testament to the trust we have built together and the ambition we carry forward. As BKT accelerates its growth in India's consumer market, the Knight Riders brand gives them the platform, the passion, and the global scale to make that journey count. At Knight Riders Sports, we do not build partnerships for visibility alone we build them for impact. This collaboration is precisely that: two performance-driven organisations, aligned in purpose, investing in a future they intend to win together.”

Rajesh Menon, Chief Executive of Royal Challengers Bengaluru, said: “Royal Challengers Bengaluru is proud to welcome BKT Tyres as our Official Tyre Partner. At RCB, we believe in pushing boundaries, embracing ambition, and creating meaningful connections with our fans, values that closely align with BKT’s ‘Elevate Your Drive’ philosophy. Together, we aim to accelerate our shared vision of excellence, resilience, and forward momentum both on and off the field.”

K Shanmugam, Chief Executive of Sunrisers Hyderabad, said: “We are happy to continue our partnership with BKT Tyres as part of this T20 cricket league. This collaboration reflects a strong alignment of values, bringing together a shared focus on excellence, performance, and consistency. Together, we move forward with clear intent, committed to raising standards both on and off the field, while delivering a meaningful and engaging experience for fans.”

Alok Chitre, Chief Operating Officer of Rajasthan Royals, said: “We are delighted to partner with BKT Tyres for the sixth year, with a shared energy and drive for performance that continues to strengthen our association. Their commitment to sport, and cricket specifically, reflects a clear focus on the growth of the game and its fan ecosystem in India. As we advance in scale and influence, we look forward to building on this partnership in a meaningful way this year as well.”

A Mumbai Indians spokesperson said: “BKT Tyres has been a valued long-term partner of Mumbai Indians, and this continued partnership reflects a shared commitment to consistency and performance. We look forward to building on this partnership through the season.”

Colonel Arvinder Singh, Chief Operating Officer of Gujarat Titans, said: “Gujarat Titans are pleased to continue the association with BKT Tyres. Partnerships like these reflect a shared commitment to performance, consistency and long-term growth. Such collaborations provide a strong platform for teams and brands to connect with fans across the world, and we look forward to building on this association while continuing to engage meaningfully with our supporters and striving for excellence both on and off the field.”

Satish Menon, Chief Executive of Punjab Kings, said: “We are very happy to continue our journey with BKT Tyres. They have been a loyal and valued partner for the Punjab Kings over the years. Their commitment to excellence matches our ambitions, and it is always a pleasure to work with a brand that understands the pulse of the sport and its fans so well.”

Vinay Chopra, Chief Executive of RPSG Sports Private Limited, said: “At Lucknow Super Giants, we believe that strong partnerships are built on shared values of performance, resilience, and ambition. Our association with BKT Tyres reflects this synergy, as both brands are committed to pushing boundaries and consistently striving for excellence. As we gear up for another exciting season, we look forward to engaging our fans more deeply and creating meaningful experiences together through this partnership.”

BKT said its sports partnerships form part of a broader global portfolio spanning multiple disciplines, aimed at reinforcing brand visibility and consumer engagement.

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Goodyear India Limited said its board has taken note of the resignation of Abhishek Arora as Director – Human Resources, India, with effect from April 20, 2026, and approved the appointment of Vishal Dhingra as HR Director, South Asia from April 21, 2026.

Arora, who will also cease to be a senior management personnel member on April 20, 2026, resigned to explore external growth opportunities, according to the company.

The board approved Dhingra’s appointment following the recommendation of the Nomination and Remuneration Committee. He will assume the role as a senior management personnel from April 21, 2026.

Dhingra has more than 25 years of experience in human resources. He joined Goodyear in July 2020 as Director HR – India and currently serves as HR Director – ASEANZ. Prior to this, he held roles at PepsiCo, India, GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare Limited, Eicher Tractors and Ballarpur Industries Limited.

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India has concluded that imports of emulsion styrene butadiene rubber (ESBR) of the 1500 series from the European Union, Japan, South Korea, Russia and Thailand were dumped, following an anti-dumping investigation initiated in March 2025.

The Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR), under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, found that dumping margins across all subject countries were above the de minimis threshold and “significant”.

The investigation was launched after Reliance Industries Limited filed an application alleging injury from imports of the product, which is widely used in tyre manufacturing and other rubber goods. The authority determined that the application met the requirements for standing, with support from Indian Synthetic Rubber Private Limited.

The product under consideration, ESBR-1500, is primarily used in tyres due to its abrasion resistance and ageing stability. The DGTR concluded that domestically produced material is comparable to imported goods and can be used interchangeably.

The period of investigation covered October 2023 to September 2024, with injury analysis spanning four financial years. During this time, imports from the subject countries rose overall and accounted for more than 90 per cent of total imports throughout the period.

The authority found that import volumes were highest during the investigation period and had increased relative to domestic production and consumption.

Dumping margins varied by country. Imports from the European Union and Japan were found to have margins in the range of 10–20 per cent, while Russia showed higher margins of 20–30 per cent. South Korea and Thailand recorded lower ranges, generally between 0–10 per cent for cooperating producers and up to 10–20 per cent for others.

The DGTR conducted a cumulative assessment of imports, concluding that goods from the subject countries compete with each other and with domestic production in the Indian market.

On injury, the authority determined that increased imports had affected the domestic industry through price suppression and declining profitability. It noted that while demand for the product rose steadily, the domestic industry’s financial performance weakened over the same period.

The DGTR also rejected arguments that the injury was caused by internal inefficiencies or raw material volatility, stating that such fluctuations were global and not specific to India.

The authority concluded that dumped imports had caused material injury to the domestic industry, establishing a causal link between import volumes and the deterioration in financial performance.

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Fornnax Technology, a global leader in recycling equipment manufacturing, has officially brought Sushil Upadhyay on board as the new Head of its Service Department, a leadership transition that takes effect immediately. With a professional background spanning over 26 years, Upadhyay arrives with extensive experience drawn from multiple multinational corporations. Throughout his career, he has successfully managed and coordinated large, cross-functional teams comprising more than 300 professionals. Within his new capacity at Fornax, his primary focus will involve steering strategic transformations within the service domain, with the objective of optimising equipment reliability, maximising value across the lifecycle of machinery and elevating the sustained performance of the company’s worldwide installed base of industrial recycling solutions.

In the coming year, the service division under his leadership is set to concentrate on a series of clearly defined operational objectives. Key among these is the effort to curtail instances of unexpected machinery downtime by integrating both preventive and predictive maintenance approaches. The team also intends to roll out measurable performance benchmarks for service delivery, which will include tracking metrics such as speed of response, Mean Time to Repair (MTTR) and overall equipment uptime. Moreover, there will be a concerted push to reinforce the availability of spare components by optimising regional warehousing and distribution processes.

Further developments on the agenda involve the creation and delivery of well-structured training modules targeting technical expertise and workplace safety, aimed at enhancing the capabilities of service personnel. In parallel, the organisation plans to introduce digital tools designed to boost transparency in operations and enable customers to more effectively monitor service activities. These combined efforts underscore Fornnax’s commitment to evolving its service infrastructure in response to growing demands for efficiency and reliability.

Jignesh Kundaria, Director & CEO, Fornnax, said, “Our people are the true engine behind our innovation and execution. As we scale globally and expand our footprint across diverse recycling applications, cultivating a culture of excellence remains central to our strategy. In 2026, we are intensifying our focus on talent development, leadership growth and building a high-ownership, high-accountability environment that drives continuous improvement across engineering, manufacturing, and service. This will set new benchmarks in the industry, and I believe Upadhyay will play a crucial role in this journey.”

Upadhyay said, “Fornnax’s strong positioning in high-capacity shredding solutions and its commitment to sustainable recycling deeply resonated with me. The company’s engineering strength and rapid growth trajectory present a powerful opportunity to build a world-class service organisation. In an industry where machine reliability directly impacts customer profitability, service becomes a direct driver of customer success. I am excited to elevate Service from a support function to a strategic growth enabler, which is specifically focused on uptime, lifecycle value and long-term partnerships.”

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