Like every technology sector requires testing, so do the tyres that come with any vehicle. It is important that the tyres of a vehicle function smoothly on different roads and under all weather conditions. This results in tyre manufacturers conducting a number of vital tests to ensure that their tyres perform when the end user sits behind the wheel. Dr Dieter Barz, Director – Sales and Service, and Executive Board Member at Altracon, a company that provides tyre and material property testing solutions and configurations, throws light on tyre testing standards, how the Indian market is one of the major markets of the future for tyre testing and how the future is about sustainability.

What is the role of testing in tyre development as a whole?
When a customer buys a tyre, they, of course, have to be sure that the tyre is safe, comfortable to ride and not noisy. Therefore, tyre testing is essential.

The tyre is a very complex, built-up element. As for tyre testing in general, it is split up into several areas. For one, there’s subjective testing, like the feeling of driving a car, for instance. This would be the tyre performance.

Then there’s tyre measurement. When it comes to tyre measurement, it’s very important that during the development process, one proves that the tyre is fulfilling various standards. These standards are different for different countries – there are European, American, Japanese or Asian standards and so on. But on the whole, the tyre has to show that it is capable of fulfilling those standards. And that is the role of tyre testing.

What kind of regulation, according to you, will fuel more demand for testing businesses?
The future is about sustainability. Energy consumption is one of the most important factors and is influenced by a lot of things. If we look at compound development, we have to find compounds that have low rolling resistance and low damping in order to be energy efficient. So the focus on tyre testing will be in terms of sustainability and energy consumption, looking into the compounds and the complete tyre as well. These are two very important elements to look into.

Does the Asian market require different testing machines?
In general, no. You have different standards to prove, although the test machines are more or less the same. The software program that you run for the test is what stands.

Which is the most exciting market for Altracon right now?
As sustainability is a global project, there are no priority markets. However, we also see that India is developing very fast. Therefore, the demand for tyre testing, now and in the future, will be very high in India. Hence, India will definitely be a focus market in the future.

Can you elaborate more on this? What is Altracon’s scope in the Indian market?
Altracon is already very well known in the Indian market. In fact, we offer machines that directly suit the country’s requirements. Plus, along with our machines, we also provide tools that are sustainable. For example, we offer special energy management to operate the machine. Besides, we also offer machine programmes that help shorten development processes, thus enhancing sustainability by reducing manufacturing and testing efforts. This saves fuel and reduces emissions and pollution.

Can you tell us a bit about the services provided by Altracon? How do you make sure that your customers receive timely and the most effective service possible?
In the past, we have experienced that the online service we provide fulfils more than 90 percent of customer requirements. If there is any issue with the machine, we start a remote service via the internet in order to look into the machine and solve the problem along with the customer. We have a very fast response time and low costs as there is no travelling involved. We go out to the customer in person and fix the machine only if it is really needed.

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Timo Koponen has started in his new role as Nokian Tyres’ Chief Financial Officer and a member of the Management team, reporting to President and CEO Paolo Pompei. His appointment was announced on 14 January 2026.

Koponen holds a Master’s degree in Economics and Business Administration. He joined the company from Normet, a global mining and tunnelling technology firm, where he served as CFO and Leadership Team member. Prior to that, he held senior finance and business leadership roles at Lamor Corporation, Wärtsilä, Hackman, and Konecranes. He succeeds interim CFO Jari Huuhtanen, who continues at Nokian Tyres as Vice President of Group Business Control.

Paolo Pompei, President and CEO, Nokian Tyres, said, "I would like to welcome Timo Koponen to Nokian Tyres. His extensive experience will be an important asset in the next stages of our development. I would also like to thank Jari Huuhtanen for his excellent work. It is great to continue the cooperation with him.”

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TBC Corporation, one of North America’s largest marketers of automotive replacement tyres through wholesale and franchise operations, has announced the appointment of Bill Schafer as Chief Revenue Officer for TBC Wholesale. This leadership change follows the planned retirement of Rodger Smith, who will remain with the organisation until December 2026 to support a seamless handover.

Since joining TBC in March 2024, Schafer has concentrated on expanding the company’s wholesale operations. He brings three decades of experience from Michelin, where he directed business to business sales, distribution and logistics across North America while managing a team of over 600 people. His background positions him well to drive revenue growth in his new role.

Smith, a 45-year veteran sales executive with diverse industry expertise, has been instrumental at TBC since his arrival in 2020. He led strategic efforts such as strengthening the national sales organisation and launching Supply Chain as a Service. His continued presence through late 2026 ensures that his knowledge and initiatives will carry forward under Schafer’s leadership.

Don Byrd, President and Chief Executive Officer, TBC Corporation, said, “Bill and Rodger previously partnered to lead TBC’s wholesale strategy and reinforce TBC’s mission of being the distributor of choice in the markets we serve. Our focus is clear: TBC will continue to drive value-creating solutions for our customers in the mobility and automotive industry through exceptional service, a diverse product portfolio and innovative solutions.”

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Dow Inc. said its chief executive Jim Fitterling will become executive chair of the board from 1 July , 2026, with chief operating officer Karen S Carter appointed as chief executive.

Carter will also join the board on the same date, while Richard Davis will continue as independent lead director.

The company said the changes follow a multi-year succession planning process and are intended to ensure continuity as it advances its strategy as a materials science group.

“On behalf of the Board, I want to thank Jim for his exceptional leadership and continued contributions to Dow,” Davis said. “Jim has led the company through a period of significant transformation while strengthening Dow's strategy, culture and long-term positioning. We are equally pleased to congratulate Karen on her appointment as CEO. She is a disciplined, highly respected leader with a deep understanding of Dow's businesses and customers. This appointment reflects our confidence in her ability to lead Dow forward into its next chapter of growth and value creation for customers, employees and shareholders.”

Fitterling, who has been chief executive since 2018 and chair since 2020, oversaw the company’s separation from DowDuPont and led its repositioning towards higher-growth, consumer-led markets. He also guided the group through broader macroeconomic and geopolitical challenges, while advancing its sustainability ambitions and corporate culture.

“Serving as CEO of Dow has been the privilege of a lifetime,” Fitterling said. “Together with our employees and leadership team, we have transformed Dow into a stronger, more focused company with the right strategy, capabilities and culture for the future. I look forward to continuing to support Dow as Executive Chair and working closely with Karen to help ensure continuity and strong execution.”

As executive chair, Fitterling will continue to lead the board, focusing on long-term strategy, governance and external relationships.

Carter, who has spent more than three decades at Dow, currently oversees business and operational performance across the company as chief operating officer. She previously led the packaging and specialty plastics division, the group’s largest operating segment, where she focused on capacity expansion, asset upgrades and operational reliability, alongside efforts linked to circular economy initiatives.

“I am deeply honored to assume the role of CEO and lead Dow into our next chapter,” Carter said. “Dow has extraordinary people, world-class assets and leading positions in the markets we serve. Our focus remains unwavering: delivering reliable and innovative solutions for our customers, and long-term value for our employees and our shareholders, while accelerating our transformation to set a new competitive standard for best-in-class performance. I look forward to continuing my partnership with Jim in his new role as Executive Chair, and to working with the Board and all of Team Dow to advance our strategy and deliver on our priorities.”

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Nokian Tyres plc is expanding its partnership with Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) to strengthen IT operations and support ongoing transformation.

The companies will focus their expanded partnership on maintaining and developing IT applications to meet Nokian Tyres’ future needs and to increase the efficiency of its IT operations.

TCS has already handled Nokian Tyres’ service desk support, end-user services like device deliveries, and network and data centre operations. Starting June 1, 2026, TCS will also take over maintenance and development of IT applications, as well as on-site support for internal processes.

This change is part of a larger restructuring of Nokian Tyres’ IT organisation to keep up with changing business needs.

“A more extensive partnership with TCS will enable Nokian Tyres to have a globally unified, agile, and efficient operating model that supports business needs. In addition, it creates a sustainable foundation for the increasing adoption of next-generation technologies such as automation, data-driven solutions and artificial intelligence,” said Timmy McLellan, vice-president, IT and processes, and chief information officer at Nokian Tyres.

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