Davanti Tyres will set up a new innovative European Development Centre at Applus+ IDIADA in Spain, which will be used for its next-generation tyre design.

The British tyre company said the hi-tech facility will allow the company’s research and development team to experiment more with innovative new designs and materials, speed up new product development and enhance ongoing testing and improvement of its existing range.

With greater access to IDIADA’s world-leading proving grounds all year round, Davanti will be able to push the boundaries of innovation further than ever, utilising year-round wet and dry testing facilities to develop new products, solve challenges facing the whole tyre industry and strategically plan new developments further into the future to expand Davanti’s product offering.

“This is the biggest step Davanti has taken since we brought our first tyre - the DX390 - to market,” said Davanti Tyres General Manager Peter Cross. “We will now be able to physically trial a greater number of prototypes at an earlier development stage in order to ensure our next generation of products establish a new benchmark for excellence.

“Successful products require extensive development testing on proving grounds. Having our own facility on-site at IDIADA will allow us to gather a much greater amount of data on what developments work well and what do not in a way that we could never learn purely from computer simulations or lab results.

“Investing in the European Development Centre gives us a platform to be a driving force in the development of next-generation tyres. As environmental regulations change and the way vehicles are designed and built evolves, tyres will need to adapt.

“We're a dynamic brand and we need the bandwidth in our testing and development capabilities to match our expansion plans for the medium and long term.

“This facility gives us the flexibility to continue to be innovative and disruptive within the market. To think boldly and ensure Davanti is at the forefront of tyre innovation at a time of significant change.”

Davanti has equipped the facility with a suite of cutting edge tyre analysis and design equipment and it will be the brand’s hub for all prototype engineering and testing.

It will also open up the site for its customers, allowing them to see Davanti’s research and development processes first-hand and giving engineers a direct line of communication to the market to help steer development to suit changing customer demand.

Davanti has also committed significant investment to the project despite the ongoing global pandemic. According to Peter, waiting to develop driver safety and tyre efficiency was not considered an option.

“Covid has presented every industry in the world with challenges this year,” he said. “But what it has shown is innovation, investing in ideas, is always a good investment.

“Throughout 2020’s cycle of lockdowns and restrictions people have still needed to use the roads safely. Davanti’s primary commitment has always been road safety and we remain dedicated to improving that in everything we do.

“Our team will now be able to explore what the market needs from our next generation of tyres. How to optimise performance, enhance safety and develop a range of tyres which meets the needs and expectations of not just the drivers of today, but the drivers of tomorrow.”

Goodyear has launched the Value Simulator, an online tool designed to assist fleet operators in visualising the possible financial and environmental advantages of upgrading their mobility and tyre solutions. The simulator is now available on the company's truck tyre website and is a component of Goodyear Total Mobility, the company's end-to-end solution for commercial fleets.

According to Goodyear, the tool takes into account typical fuel consumption and cost, fleet size and breakdown frequency, vehicle mileage and maintenance trends and the kind of transportation and route profile. After data is entered, the simulator instantly estimates the potential decrease of CO2 emissions, maintenance and fuel costs, and annual breakdown-related cost savings. Additionally, customers can customise simulations according to their own fleet characteristics.

The CO₂ reductions are based on theoretical fuel usage using EU tyre label values as a baseline; real savings may vary depending on factors including driver behaviour, vehicle condition and road conditions. Additionally, based on user interaction, the simulator suggests appropriate Goodyear goods and services. These recommendations can be used as a springboard for talks with Goodyear's staff in order to do a more thorough study and develop a customised fleet plan.

Maciej Szymański, Marketing Director Commercial at Goodyear EMEA, said, “At Goodyear, we are committed to supporting transport fleets in maximising efficiency, increasing competitiveness and promoting sustainability. The Goodyear Value Simulator confirms our dedication to customer-centric solutions and helps fleet managers to make informed decisions that aim to drive tangible benefits for their operations. With the Goodyear Value Simulator, fleets can visualise the potential financial and environmental impact of adopting Goodyear Total Mobility. From reducing breakdown costs to enhancing fuel efficiency, our solutions are designed to deliver real value to our customers.”

Webfleet, Bridgestone’s globally trusted fleet management solution, has launched its new flagship Driver Terminal, the PRO X, designed specifically for truck and van fleets.

By providing direct tablet access to Webfleet fleet management services, the PRO X links drivers and companies to streamline work administration. Fleets can utilise a variety of sophisticated Webfleet features, such as workflow management, electronic Proof of Delivery (ePOD) and two-way communication between drivers and fleet managers thanks to the pre-installed Webfleet Work App. They can also access other Webfleet services, such as Cold Chain, Remaining Drive Times and OptiDrive ranking, which allows drivers to view peer performance.

Van and truck fleets may enjoy the best-in-class professional navigation with the newest technology, like smart warnings for traffic or low-emission zones, major points of interest for trucks and EVs and live ETA reporting, with easy access to TomTom GO Fleet.  Additionally, when paired with OptiDrive, the motorist gets immediate feedback to help them drive better. Pre-installing maps is now simple, and they are updated automatically every month. With its wide anti-glare screen, sturdy construction, detachable battery and user-friendly controls for instant access to essential programmes, the new high-performance Driver Terminal helps professional drivers both in-cabin and on-site.

With an integrated Mobile Device Management (MDM) system that enables fully remote management of the devices' home screen, app auto-start and other features, it is configured for a quick roll-out in the field and can be tailored to fit various corporate demands. Because it is Android Enterprise Recommended and integrates Webfleet's and TomTom's expertise in sophisticated navigation, devices may be more rapidly customised to meet user demands. Beginning in March 2025, the PRO X will be sold in Europe, Australia and New Zealand, with other territories to follow later this year.

Annick Renoux, Vice President, Webfleet Europe, said, “At Webfleet, we are always committed to delivering smart solutions that enhance the working conditions and safety of our customers and their drivers, powered by the latest technology. That’s why we are proud to introduce the new PRO X – now with even more functionality to help fleet managers streamline their operations, boost efficiency and strengthen their connection with field teams like never before.”

Hana Technologies, Inc. (Hana RFID), a global leader in the design and manufacturing of embeddable RFID tyre tags, has become the first RFID company to join the Circular Rubber Platform. This development aligns with Hana RFID’s mission to drive innovation in tyre traceability and reinforces the company’s long-standing commitment to sustainability and circularity in the tyre and rubber industry.

Hana RFID has been at the forefront of RFID-enabled tyre traceability since 2005, facilitating smooth tracking from cradle to grave and promoting circularity. Hana's RFID tyre tags, which are embedded during manufacturing, provide each tyre a distinct digital identity, facilitating complete lifetime tracking from manufacture and use to recycling and reuse. Hana hopes to promote RFID usage in sustainable tyre lifecycle management by working with leading companies in the sector, which will eventually save waste and increase resource efficiency.

Using radio frequency identification (RFID) technology, an RFID tyre tag is a tiny, embedded device that tracks, monitors and controls tyres. In addition to providing smooth connection with inventory monitoring, fleet management systems and other digital applications, such as the European Digital Product Passport (DPP), these tags produce digital twins of tyres. Hana's RFID solutions empower the whole tyre ecosystem to expedite fleet management, improve inventory control, optimize maintenance, and create creative business models that increase sustainability and efficiency.

Val Peters, VP – Marketing, Hana RFID, said, “We are excited to join the Circular Rubber Platform as the first RFID company in this initiative. RFID technology is essential for advancing a circular economy in tyre manufacturing, and we look forward to collaborating with partners across the rubber sector to drive sustainability on a broader scale.”

Enrico Koggel, Co-Founder, Circular Rubber Platform, said, “RFID technology is key to enabling a circular rubber economy. RFID enables seamless tracking from production to end-of-life recycling by connecting material and production data into each rubber product. It provides traceability and easy identification and allows for smart sorting of materials and efficient recycling to ensure responsible reuse, remanufacturing, recycling and waste reduction. We are therefore very happy to announce Hana as a new member of the Circular Rubber Platform, with the technology and experience they can provide to the platform. We look forward to sharing knowledge on RFID and working out opportunities for this technology in rubber industries that require Digital Product Passports in the near future, such as footwear.”

TÜV SÜD has expanded its test laboratory in Frankfurt am Main and unveiled new testing facilities at an Open Lab Day at the site, giving customers and employees an exclusive insight into the new state-of-the-art testing environments. The expansion strengthens TÜV SÜD’s position as a leading provider of independent testing and certification services.

Car charging plugs can now be tested in the lab to assess features like weather resistance, mechanical strength and electrical safety. To guarantee the endurance and durability of charging plugs and other parts, the new lab can also conduct crash testing on them. The inclusion of performance testing for tiny batteries is another significant development. Basic functional analysis will be the main emphasis of these tests at first, but in the second part of the year, comprehensive safety and performance evaluations will be included. Similar to this, power tool testing capabilities have been greatly increased to give manufacturers an even more thorough evaluation of the calibre, robustness and safety of their goods.

The capability to ascertain the biogenic carbon content of materials is an additional highlight of the expansion. These assessments support the implementation of sustainable manufacturing methods by giving businesses evidence of the utilisation of renewable raw resources. In order to make sure that packaging and other materials fulfil the strictest safety regulations and don't leak dangerous compounds into food, the testing infrastructure for materials that come into contact with food has been increased at the same time. It's also important to note the recently added ability to evaluate welding fume filtration systems, which may undergo a thorough performance assessment and will soon be certified.

TÜV SÜD is now able to provide an even greater variety of chemical testing services to make sure that products satisfy the most recent regulatory standards thanks to the expansion of its Frankfurt laboratory. With standardised testing for compounds including PFOS, PFOA, C9-C14 PFCAs, and PFHxS, there is a special emphasis on PFAS analysis. Due to the laboratory's expansion, even more businesses may now make use of its extensive testing knowledge, which includes services related to durability testing, risk assessment and certification for a range of product categories.

Walter Reithmaier, CEO, TÜV SÜD Product Service GmbH, said, “By expanding our laboratory in Frankfurt, we are responding to growing demand for product testing and certification. Our new testing capacities will set new standards in safety, sustainability and performance. We look forward to supporting our customers with state-of-the-art testing technology and professional expertise.”