The valedictory function of Platinum Jubilee celebrations of the Rubber Act 1947 and the Rubber Grower’s Conference at Mammen Mappillai Hall, Kottayam will be inaugurated by George Kurian, honourable Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Minority Affairs, on 16 January 2025. Members and officials of the Rubber Board, farmers, representatives of rubber stakeholders, labourers, technical experts, legislators and others will all be attending the event.

The occasion will be presided over by Member of Parliament Advocate K Francis George. Member of the Legislative Assembly Thiruvanchur Radhakrishnan will be a special guest at the gathering. N Hari, a member of the Rubber Board; G. Anil Kumar, Vice Chairman of the Rubber Board and Bincy Sebastian, Chairman of the Kottayam Municipality, will offer congratulations at the meeting. Dr Jessy M D, Director of Research I/C; Dr T Siju, Rubber Production Commissioner and M Vasanthagesan, Executive Director of the Rubber Board, will also be present at the event.

In his presentation, Vasanthagesan will discuss the important subject of creating a digital platform that links growers and organisations interested in harvesting rubber plants in an unexplored region. A matter of great relevance, the preparedness of the EUDR process for Indian NR exporters, will be explained by Manoj Vembu, Director of TRST01, the Rubber Board's technology partner to implement EUDR in the nation. Additionally, panel discussions on ‘Handholding stakeholders through schemes & policies’ and ‘Sustainable farming practices’ will be held, which will be moderated by Sheela Thomas (Chairperson of Kerala Rubber Limited and former Chairman of the Rubber Board) and James Jacob (Managing Director, Plantation Corporation of Kerala), respectively.

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

KENDA Europe has completed the relocation of its Belgian operations from Arendonk to Turnhout, with the new facility becoming fully operational in March 2026. Constructed by the Bolckmans Group, the 8,000-square-metre centre occupies a strategically central location designed to enhance regional service efficiency while actively reducing CO₂ emissions. This site joins KENDA’s network of five other European locations that deliver fitting, distribution and sales support close to customers.

The Turnhout logistics hub features nearly 6,800 square metres of warehouse space alongside a 1,500-square-metre fitting area. Equipped with two semi-automatic assembly lines and eight fitting stations capable of handling tyres from 3 to 17 inches, the centre streamlines workflows to ensure consistent and reliable service delivery.

Sustainability was a core design principle beyond operational performance. Bolckmans utilised lower-carbon materials such as CEM III B concrete and XCarb steel, while glulam timber beams actively store carbon within the structure. Energy efficiency is achieved through advanced insulation, solar-control glazing, heat pumps and intelligent building management systems, complemented by rooftop solar panels and an on-site wind turbine that supply 100 percent renewable power. Rainwater harvesting and on-site infiltration systems further manage water resources.

With this new Turnhout base, KENDA reinforces its commitment to efficient operations and responsible practices, ensuring robust infrastructure to support customers both now and in the future.

Richard Todd, COO, KENDA Europe, said, “The move not only improves the way we work today but also gives us the flexibility to support our customers well into the future. Throughout the relocation, maintaining a high level of service was our priority, and I am pleased that the transition was completed smoothly.”

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Bridgestone Americas has unveiled the second cohort of its national adaptive sports grant initiative, channelling USD 200,000 through Bridgestone Americas Trust Fund to eight school districts and nonprofit organisations. This latest allocation, consisting of eight grants valued at USD 25,000 each, is set to enhance athletic opportunities for 1,439 students across 75 public schools.

Despite over seven million public school students receiving special education services, participation in school athletics remains markedly low due to a shortage of adaptive programme resources. Bridgestone’s financial commitment directly confronts this disparity by bolstering both nascent and established K–12 sports offerings.

Building upon an initial 2025 investment, this new funding brings the company’s total two-year contribution to USD 400,000. The current cycle features five returning recipients receiving renewed backing alongside three newly selected grantees, ensuring continuity and fresh expansion.

The awarded funds are earmarked for curriculum development, specialised equipment purchases, and coach training. Recipients for 2026 span multiple states, including organisations and school districts in Ohio, Georgia, Illinois, California, Florida, Indiana and New York.

Wade Munday, Director, Corporate Philanthropy and Social Impact, Bridgestone Americas, said, "Every student deserves the chance to experience the benefits of sports by building confidence, connections and lifelong skills that come from being part of a team. Through these grants, we’re helping schools create more opportunities for students of all abilities to play, compete and reach their full potential both on and off the field."

Coach Rod Harris of Peach County High School in Georgia, a first-time grant recipient through AAASP in 2025, said, “Adding adapted track and field has helped enhance and grow our overall track and field programme. Everyone learns from each other, and it creates a strong sense of camaraderie within the team. It’s incredibly impactful, and we want to continue growing the programme because it is truly inclusive.”

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Comerio Ercole maintained a busy international exhibition schedule throughout June 2026, following its successful participation at INDEX Geneva in May. The company showcased its latest innovations for the plastics and rubber sectors at PLAST 2026 in Milan. The tour progressed to São Paulo, Brazil, for Expobor & Pneushow 2026, Latin America’s most significant rubber and tyre industry fair. This event served as a platform to reinforce ties with established local clients, engage with potential partners and discuss future collaborations.

The firm also attended Saudi Plastics & Petrochem 2026 in Riyadh, a critical gathering for the Middle Eastern petrochemical market. The exhibition underscored rising regional interest in sophisticated processing technologies, consolidating Comerio Ercole’s footprint in an area investing heavily in industrial expansion.

The company hosted an official delegation from Svilajnac, Serbia, at its Busto Arsizio headquarters to bolster economic and industrial exchanges between the regions. Comerio Ercole presented its expertise in rubber and plastics machinery while fostering dialogue on innovation and future partnerships. The company thanked the Municipality of Busto Arsizio and participating organisations for facilitating the exchange.

The newly launched JET – Joint Embossing Technological Center, a venture with the Italian SIMEC Group, has attracted attention within the technical materials industry. The market outlook for the first half of 2026 remains positive, with sustained investments from tyre and rubber clients complemented by growing opportunities in plastics processing. With numerous global projects underway, Comerio Ercole acknowledged the trust placed in its engineering capabilities by customers and partners, whose collaboration remains central to its growth.

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Continental has been awarded a gold medal in the 2026 EcoVadis Sustainability Rating, securing 84 points out of 100. This elevates the automotive supplier into the global top five percent of companies scrutinised by the Paris-based organisation. The evaluation marked a shift, as the company was examined for the first time under the ‘manufacture of rubber tyres and tubes’ classification, having previously been benchmarked under ‘parts and accessories’.

The highest scores came in environmental stewardship and labour practices, with 86 points earned in each. EcoVadis analysts weighed climate action plans, management frameworks and public sustainability disclosures. The firm's certification portfolio, procurement policies and execution of internal processes also contributed to the final rating.

Continental has boosted renewable and recycled input utilisation to 28 percent of tyre production materials as of 2025, with a roadmap calling for 40 percent by decade's end. Current lines incorporate reclaimed polyester from plastic bottles, repurposed steel, silica from agricultural ash and synthetic rubber from circular feedstocks. The group is intensifying supply web oversight through certified sourcing and binding sustainability clauses for primary vendors.

Absolute carbon output from tyre manufacturing has dropped by roughly 180,000 metric tonnes over four years, driven by cleaner energy carriers. In early 2026, Continental permanently ceased coal and heavy fuel oil combustion across its global footprint. Plants now generate process steam via green electricity, biomass, biogas and a mix of LPG and natural gas for grid stability. Since 2007, EcoVadis has expanded to over 150,000 rated entities, offering a digital platform for buyers and suppliers to compare supply-chain sustainability performance.

Jorge Almeida, Head of Sustainability for Continental’s Tires group sector, said, “Even in our new industry category, with its different assessment criteria, we continue to rank among the top 5 percent of companies worldwide. Our particularly strong score in the environment theme highlights the measures and management approaches we have implemented to achieve our sustainability targets – from using renewable and recycled materials to further reducing emissions at our plants.”

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!