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.

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Firestone, a Bridgestone Americas subsidiary, has introduced the Firestone Pathway AS, an all-season touring tyre built for everyday drivers. It comes in 73 sizes, giving it the widest vehicle coverage of any Firestone tyre, and pairs dependable performance and long tread life with value, all backed by a 65,000-mile limited mileage warranty.

Development was shaped heavily by consumer feedback, which pushed improvements in wet traction, tread life and ride comfort over the predecessor. The original plan called for 48 sizes, but 25 more were added mid-development to broaden market reach, helping Firestone cover nearly 77 percent of registered vehicles.

A tread compound engineered for longevity, additional sipes and an optimised see-through void promote even wear and sustained traction. Deep interlocking 3D sipes deliver grip from light snow to dry and wet pavement. Internal testing recorded wet braking gains of 18 percent against the Uniroyal Laredo HT, 11.7 percent against the Firestone All Season and 7.4 percent against the Toyo Extensa AS2, along with shorter dry braking than six leading rivals. Low rolling resistance also supports fuel efficiency in combustion-engine vehicles.

Nationwide availability is underway, with fitments covering popular models such as the Toyota Camry, Toyota RAV4, Subaru Outback, Jeep Grand Cherokee and Chevrolet Equinox.

Leslie Sawyer, Senior Product Design Engineer, Bridgestone Americas, said, "Most drivers want a tyre they can depend on. The Firestone Pathway AS is designed to deliver reliable performance and long-lasting value, giving drivers the confidence they need in everyday driving situations."

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Scandinavian Enviro Systems AB (publ) has entered into a conditional service agreement with an international operator that provides transport services to the energy sector. The agreement follows a letter of intent signed by the two parties on 17 March 2026 and marks a further step towards establishing a tyre pyrolysis plant in North America. Using Enviro’s technology, the facility is intended to recycle up to 50,000 tonnes of end-of-life tyres annually.

Under the terms of the agreement, Enviro will produce the technical documentation needed for the plant’s permit applications and prepare an initial design for the entire facility. For these services, the company will receive a fixed fee of USD 2,000,000, corresponding to approximately SEK 19.5 million. The fee is divided between USD 500,000 for permit application work and USD 1,500,000 for plant design, with USD 450,000 payable once the customer decides to proceed and the remainder paid in instalments as various parts of the services are delivered. Additional work and technical support beyond the fixed-fee scope will be invoiced on an ongoing basis.

The start of Enviro’s work depends on the customer making a final decision to proceed with the project. That decision, in turn, requires the customer to have secured a site for the plant and to have entered into binding agreements with buyers of the plant’s two main products, oil and carbon black, covering at least 75 percent of expected production for each product. Should the customer neither decide to proceed by 31 December 2027 nor elect to continue, the agreement will terminate.

The assignment covers two principal deliverables: technical documentation required for environmental, planning and fire safety permit applications and an initial design of the whole plant, including drawings, equipment lists, calculations and technical specifications. The design will serve as the basis for more detailed engineering work before an investment decision. Enviro will also provide technical support during the permit application process for 12 months after delivering the permit documentation. The agreement does not grant any right to use Enviro’s technology to construct or operate the plant, which would require a separate licence agreement.

According to the timetable, the assignment is expected to be completed about seven months after the customer’s decision to proceed, with permit application documentation ready after roughly five months. The customer may terminate the assignment with 30 days’ notice, in which case Enviro is entitled to compensation for work performed and costs already incurred. Enviro remains entitled to compensation regardless of whether permits are granted or the plant is ultimately built. The agreement is described as an important step in Enviro’s strategy to establish technology-based plants internationally, with the design potentially forming the technical basis for a future licence agreement.

Fredrik Aaben, CEO, Enviro, said, “This is an important step towards establishing Enviro’s technology in North America. Together with the Customer, we are now moving from a letter of intent to a binding conditional agreement, and we look forward to designing the plant as soon as the project is ready to proceed.”

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Dunlop Motorcycle Europe has extended its partnership with the Federazione Motociclistica Italiana (FMI), confirming it will remain title sponsor and exclusive tire supplier to the Campionato Italiano Velocità (CIV). The renewal, announced on Thursday 5 November at EICMA in Milan, follows three years in the role at one of Europe’s most competitive motorcycle racing championships. The new agreement covers another four seasons beginning in 2027.

Riders across the Superbike, Supersport, Sportbike, Moto3 and Moto4 classes will continue to use Dunlop tyres and receive backing from the company’s trackside support engineers. The announcement comes weeks after Dunlop was confirmed to continue supporting the FIM Endurance World Championship, and this sustained involvement in highly competitive series underlines Goodyear’s long-term investment in European motorcycle racing through its Dunlop Motorcycle Europe business.

CIV remains central to Dunlop’s development of racing and track day tire specifications and technologies that inform the next generation of road tyres. In 2027, the company will introduce the KR111 front tyre, successor to the KR109, following validation in real-world CIV conditions; a version raced by Supersport teams this year carried the development name G2_01 VAL4.

The KR111 has a different profile and construction and will be available to racers and track day riders at all levels, while Supersport teams will also run a new development KR108 rear tyre next year. The 2027 season opens on 24–25 April at Misano before visiting Mugello, Cremona, Imola and Vallelunga, with a July return to Misano for the CIV Racing Night.

Roberto Finetti, Marketing Manager Motorcycle Europe, Goodyear, said, “We are proud to extend our partnership with FMI to support the continued growth of CIV, which is firmly established amongst Europe’s most competitive championships. In the past three years, we have worked closely with riders and teams at every level with a combination of proven and development tyres. CIV provides an unparalleled environment for our engineers to evaluate new technologies, as demonstrated by the development of our new KR111 front tyre. We look forward to continuing this work and bringing the benefits of our CIV partnership to even more riders.”

Giovanni Copioli, President, FMI, said, “We are delighted to announce the renewal of our partnership with Dunlop Motorcycle Europe as title sponsor of the CIV and exclusive tyre supplier to the Championship. Over the past three years, Dunlop and the CIV have built a highly successful relationship, contributing to the continued growth and development of the championship. The support of an industry leader such as Dunlop Motorcycle Europe has played an important role in this journey. Together, we are ready to embrace new challenges and continue raising the profile of the CIV, including further strengthening its international reach and appeal. I would like to thank Dunlop Motorcycle Europe for the trust, commitment and support it has shown throughout our partnership, and which it continues to provide as we look ahead to the future together.”

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Kuraray America, Inc. (KAI) took part in the Women's Leadership Luncheon organised by the Economic Alliance Houston Port Region's Women In Alliance, held at San Jacinto College. The gathering drew women from throughout the Houston Port Region to exchange professional experiences, build connections and encourage the next generation of women leaders.

Andrea Cavalier, Principal Engineer at Kuraray America, Inc., noted that as she nears the later stages of her career, she has come to value how much can be learned from people at different points in their professional journeys. Her remarks underscored KAI's view that leadership growth is an ongoing process enriched by connections across career stages.

The event's centerpiece was a fireside chat titled ‘Beyond the Arena: Saddled for Success’, featuring Pat Mann Phillips, past Chairman of the Board for the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, with Nellie Baktashi Macaluso moderating. The conversation explored leadership, career development and spotting chances for personal and professional growth, highlighting three lessons: building trust through credibility and authenticity, embracing challenges by stepping outside familiar situations and knowing one's worth by recognising individual strengths and contributions.

Cavalier further stressed that leadership extends beyond personal success to using experience to create opportunities for others. That outlook mirrors Kuraray America's emphasis on mentorship, collaboration and continuous learning, where employees at all stages share knowledge and support one another.

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