The fourth edition of the Recircle Awards, recognising sustainable innovation in the global tyre retreading and recycling sectors, announced its winners during a ceremony at Autopromotec 2025 recently.

The awards, organised by Retreading Business and Tyre & Rubber Recycling magazines, received over 4,000 legitimate votes through their website, reflecting growing industry interest in sustainable practices.

Bengt-Sture Ershag, founder of Scandinavian Enviro Systems, received the Lifetime Achievement Award in The Tyre Recycling Sector. “I’m honoured to receive this award and grateful for the opportunity to contribute meaningfully to my field,” Ershag said, crediting colleagues and mentors for their support throughout his career.

The winners in the 22 categories of the 2025 Recircle Awards are as follows:

• Best Company Director: Haarjeev Kandhari (Vaculug)
• Best Retreading Accessory and Consumables Supplier: VM Rubber
• Best Retreading Equipment Supplier: Italmatic
• Best Retreading Industry Innovation: Italmatic: Crater Tire CT 4.0 Double Skiving Robot
• Best Tread Rubber Supplier: Marangoni
• Best Tyre Recycling Industry Supplier: Eco Green Equipment
• Best Tyre Recycling Innovation: Regom: ELT Sorting Technology
• Business Breakthrough Award: Rover Research
• Circular Economy Award: Liberty Tire and Walmart
• Employee of the Year: Leonardo Oliveira (Vipal Rubber)
• Retreader of the Year Award: Marangoni
• Spirit of Retreading Award: 633 Tyres
• Tyre Recycler of the Year Award: Genan
• Women’s Award for the Tyre Retreading Sector: Christina Guth (AZUR Network)
• Women’s Award for the Tyre Recycling Sector: Ifedolapo Runsewe (Freee Recycle)
• Industry Achievement Award for the Tyre Recycling Sector: SDAB for the creation of the End-of-Life Tyre Research Portal
• Tyre Industry Education Award: Univipal
• Spirit of Tyre Recycling Award: Freee Recycle
• Tyre Pyrolysis Award: Bolder Industries
• Spirit of Tread Rubber Manufacturing Award: Galgo
• Lifetime Achievement Award in the Tyre Retreading Sector: Mario Marangoni
• Lifetime Achievement Award in the Tyre Recycling Sector: Bengt-Sture Ershag

Mario Marangoni, Chairman of Marangoni Holding S.p.A., was also recognised with a lifetime achievement award. He described the honour as acknowledging “a journey that began in the climate of sanctions and autarchy of the Second World War and led to the introduction of recycling and reuse of tyre retreading.”

This year’s edition introduced two new categories specifically recognising women’s contributions to the sector, part of efforts to make the awards more inclusive.

David Wilson, Chairman of the Nominations Committee and editor of the organising magazines, said the voting numbers demonstrate growing sector interest in environmental innovation. “We hope these awards will continue to contribute to promoting green business and raising awareness about the circular economy,” Wilson stated.

The awards aim to highlight sustainable innovation, production processes, management and services within the tyre retreading and recycling industries, with Autopromotec serving as the primary sponsor.

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

The German Rubber Industry Association (wdk) has sounded an alarm over an exceptionally difficult economic situation facing the rubber sector. Soaring raw material prices and persistently high energy costs, exacerbated by the Iran war, are coinciding with weak industrial demand. wdk Chief economist Michael Berthel noted an almost unprecedented economic disparity, as raw material costs approach historical highs from 2011 and 2022 while a lack of demand prevents any offset for manufacturers.

Since the final quarter of 2025, prices for key inputs have risen sharply. Natural rubber has jumped more than 40 percent within months, while butadiene-based synthetic rubbers have increased over 30 percent. EPDM synthetic rubber, carbon black and oil-based plasticisers have all risen more than 20 percent, with some individual chemicals exceeding 40 percent cost growth in just a few weeks.

Energy prices remain a major burden, with Middle East developments fuelling market uncertainty. Risks to international transport and supply chains persist, and German rubber companies are closely watching potential impacts on raw material availability and global logistics flows.

Berthel warned that firms face mounting pressure from high costs, geopolitical instability and structural disadvantages in Germany, with no short-term relief in sight. The industry depends heavily on fair and reliable partnerships across the value chain, as processing companies alone cannot absorb the current strain. He called for fair solutions and a shared understanding of this exceptional situation.

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

The Rubber Board of India has confirmed the continuation of all existing central sector schemes for the 2026-27 fiscal year at unchanged rates. Financial aid for new planting will be restricted to estates utilising poly bag or root trainer plants sourced solely from Board-approved nurseries, with applicants required to submit the original purchase bill. This mandatory verification step aims to ensure quality and authenticity of planting materials used across the sector.

Support for rain guarding and spraying operations will be channelled exclusively through Rubber Producers’ Societies. These societies must include GST bills for all acquired materials when applying. The official timeline for submitting applications will be announced separately by the Board, giving producers adequate time to prepare documentation and coordinate with their respective societies before the deadline.

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

The Rubber Board of India has announced a temporary engagement for a young professional within its Market Promotion Division, located at the RRII campus in Puthuppally, Kottayam. The selected individual will assist with division activities and promote ‘mRube’, the electronic trading platform for natural rubber.

Candidates must hold an MBA in Marketing or Agri Business Management with computer knowledge, while skills in digital marketing, sales or market research and proficiency in English and Hindi are preferred. Applicants aged up to 30 years as of 1 May 2026, will be considered for the one-year role, which offers a consolidated monthly pay of INR 25,000.

Interested individuals should send their applications to the Deputy Director (Marketing) at the Central Laboratory Building, RRII, Rubber Board PO, Kottayam – 686009 by 19 May 2026. Shortlisted names will appear on the Rubber Board’s website with interview details, as no separate communication will be sent.

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Bekaert has officially finalised its acquisition of Bridgestone’s tyre reinforcement operations in China and Thailand, after securing all necessary regulatory approvals and meeting standard closing conditions. The deal, now fully completed, marks a significant step in the Belgian company’s expansion strategy.

The transaction brings under Bekaert’s control two production facilities: Bridgestone (Shenyang) Steel Cord Co., Ltd. in China and Bridgestone Metalfa (Thailand) Co., Ltd. in Thailand. These plants specialise in manufacturing high-quality tyre cord products exclusively for Bridgestone tyres, and they will continue to supply Bridgestone under the new ownership, further deepening the longstanding partnership between the two firms.

Financially, the acquisition is expected to add roughly EUR 80 million to Bekaert’s annual consolidated sales. The EUR 60 million cash consideration for the deal was funded from the company’s available cash reserves.

Curd Vandekerckhove, CEO Rubber Reinforcement, said, “With the completion of this acquisition within our Rubber Reinforcement division, we are pleased to officially welcome the plant teams in China and Thailand to Bekaert. Our immediate focus is on a smooth transition and operational continuity while continuing to serve Bridgestone as a key strategic partner. The completion of the acquisition further strengthens the position of Bekaert in the tyre cord market, expands the global manufacturing footprint and deepens our longstanding partnership with Bridgestone. A long-term supply agreement ensures continued delivery of high-quality tyre reinforcement within a trusted supplier model.”

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!