The International Institute of Synthetic Rubber Producers (IISRP) has elected Douglas Wilson as its President-International for the year 2025–2026 at the association’s 65th Annual General Meeting on April 9, 2025. Wilson replaces Zhuang Yi of Sinopec, who became the Institute's Past President-International.

Wilson is now in charge of P&L for every facet of LCY's Styrenic Block Copolymer business in North and South America, including the Baytown SBS production facility, as the General Manager of the Americas business for LCY Elastomers LP. After 22 years at Honeywell International, Wilson served as Global Business Director for Vertellus (now Aurorium) for five years in the Polyether Sulfones, Citrates and Additives business until joining LCY in 2023. Wilson served as the Global Business Leader for two distinct divisions at Honeywell. He started up as the head of Honeywell's nylon-based film and active resins division, which supplied materials for composites and food and industrial packaging. Later on, he oversaw Honeywell's Research Chemicals division, which included integrating a USD 120 million purchase.

In addition to Wilson, the other members elected to the association’s Executive Committee for the year 2025–2026 include Masayoshi Iwasa of Asahi Kasei Corporation as President of the Asia Pacific Section and member of the FPAC; Giovanni Cassuti of Versalis as EMEA Section Vice-President; Brian Chapman of Kuraray Americas as Member of the FPAC; Shiga Satoru of ENEOS Materials as Vice-President of the Asia Pacific Section; Robert Rikhoff of Lion Elastomers as President of the Americas Section; Zhuang Yi of Sinopec as past President-International and Roxanna Petrovic of IISRP as Managing Director, Assistant Treasurer and Recording Secretary.

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Dunlop Motorcycle Europe and Avon Tyres are set to showcase their combined expertise in cruiser, touring and custom motorcycle tyres at the upcoming European Bike Week, one of the continent’s largest gatherings for riders. The event unfolds along the shores of Austria’s Faaker See and routinely draws tens of thousands of enthusiasts with its mix of live entertainment, custom bike displays, demo rides and a broad spectrum of industry exhibitors.

Reinforcing its deep-rooted ties with Harley-Davidson, Dunlop will again sponsor the event’s signature Harley-Davidson Parade. Both tyre manufacturers will occupy separate exhibition spaces, continuing a joint presence at major trade fairs that began after Avon became part of the Goodyear family in 2022. Their stands will feature Dunlop’s co-branded Harley-Davidson tyres and Avon’s expanded Cobra Chrome line for custom cruisers, while Dunlop additionally offers a hospitality bus and the returning Ape Hanger Challenge, where daily winners earn a free set of co-branded tyres.

Earlier this year, Dunlop was named exclusive tyre supplier for the Harley-Davidson Bagger World Cup, providing racing tyres for the MotoGP-supporting series. Attendees may combine the festival with the 2026 Bagger World Cup finale, scheduled for 19–20 September at the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg.

The 2026 European Bike Week runs from 8–13 September at Faaker See. The Dunlop-sponsored Harley-Davidson Parade is set for 12 September, departing at noon from Rosental Street near the Pogöriacher roundabout and Harley-Davidson sculpture.

Roberto Finetti, Marketing Manager Motorcycle Europe, Goodyear, said, “Dunlop and Avon have a proud heritage in the cruiser and touring motorcycle segment, and European Bike Week is a fantastic opportunity to meet thousands of passionate riders from across Europe. We look forward to welcoming visitors to our stands, where they can discover our biggest ever range of Dunlop and Avon tyres for cruiser, custom and touring bikes, as well as take part in some fun challenges.”

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

TyreSafe has entered into a formal partnership with Knowsley Council to advance tyre safety awareness among motorists throughout the borough. This collaboration bolsters the council’s broader dedication to enhancing road safety and aligns with its strategic objective of reducing traffic-related harm on local highways.

Under this agreement, TyreSafe will supply practical educational materials that clarify driver responsibilities and guide proper tyre inspection procedures. The initiative is designed to empower road users to detect early warning signs of wear, incorrect pressure or damage, thereby preventing minor issues from escalating into hazardous failures. This educational push complements Knowsley’s existing road safety programmes, which integrate engineering improvements, public information campaigns and enforcement measures.

The urgency of this effort is underscored by recent collision data. Over the five-year period concluding in 2025, Knowsley recorded 945 police-attended road incidents, resulting in 262 casualties classified as killed or seriously injured, including 12 fatalities. With more than one billion vehicle miles travelled across the borough annually, proper vehicle maintenance is critical for safeguarding drivers, passengers and pedestrians alike. Tyres, being the sole contact point between a vehicle and the road surface, are fundamental to effective braking, steering and overall handling.

Regular condition checks are therefore essential, particularly given that regional enforcement operations frequently uncover illegal or defective tyres, which carry severe penalties and elevate accident risks. The TyreSafe-Knowsley partnership will facilitate joint campaigns, community engagement and educational events, ensuring clear tyre safety guidance reaches a wide audience. This initiative forms part of TyreSafe’s broader UK-wide strategy to foster multi-sector collaboration, recognising that lasting reductions in road deaths and serious injuries demand coordinated action across education, enforcement, engineering and vehicle safety standards.

Cllr Tony Brennan, Knowsley’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Economic Development, said, “Keeping people safe on our roads requires everyone to play their part, and our Vision Zero approach is focused on reducing the risk of people being killed or seriously injured. Making sure vehicles are safe and properly maintained, including their tyres, is an important part of protecting drivers, passengers and other road users. Tyres can have a significant impact on braking, steering and vehicle control, so ensuring they are legal and in good condition should be part of every motorist’s routine. We’re pleased to be partnering with TyreSafe to provide motorists with clear, practical information that supports our wider road safety work and helps people make safer choices on Knowsley’s roads.”

Stuart Lovatt, Chair at TyreSafe, said, “Tyre safety has an important role to play in keeping everyone using Knowsley’s roads safe. Whether someone is making a short local journey or covering significant distances, ensuring their tyres are legal, correctly inflated and in good condition is essential. Simple, regular checks can help motorists identify problems before they become a risk. We’re delighted to partner with Knowsley Council. Their commitment to Vision Zero and their work to improve safety across the borough makes this a particularly valuable partnership. By working together, we can raise awareness of tyre safety among road users and support the council’s wider efforts to make Knowsley’s roads safer.”

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Michelin India has opened four new retail outlets in Hyderabad, expanding its presence in southern India and improving access to its tyre products and services in the city.

The Michelin Tyre and Services (MTS) stores are located in Jubilee Hills, Saroornagar, Gandimaisamma and Kompally. The expansion is intended to support the availability of the company’s made-in-India Primacy 5 passenger vehicle tyres.

Each outlet has been developed in line with Michelin’s global retail standards, with service bays, equipment and customer facilities designed to deliver a consistent service experience.

The Jubilee Hills store has been launched in partnership with Wheel O City, while the Saroornagar outlet has been opened with Vigneshwara Wheels. A third outlet in Gandimaisamma has been established with Sachin Tyres. The Kompally store has been developed with Lambodara Tyres, which was established in 2012.

The outlets at Jubilee Hills and Gandimaisamma were inaugurated by Benjamin Coesnon, Marketing Director B2C at Michelin India, while the Saroornagar and Kompally locations were inaugurated by Kunal Doshi, SP Director at Michelin India.

Shantanu Deshpande, Managing Director of Michelin India, said, “Hyderabad continues to be one of India's most important mobility markets, driven by rapid urban development, expanding infrastructure, and growing demand for premium mobility solutions. The inauguration of four Michelin Tyres & Services stores across key locations in the city marks an important step in strengthening our retail ecosystem and bringing Michelin's globally benchmarked products and services closer to customers. As we continue to expand our footprint across India and accelerate the growth of our Made-in-India passenger vehicle tyre portfolio, we remain focused on working with strong local partners to deliver superior mobility experiences tailored to the evolving expectations of Indian consumers."

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

The FALKEN ZIEX ZE320 has emerged as the outright winner of the 2026 Auto Express summer tyre test, securing the top position in a competitive field that included premium, mid-range and budget alternatives. The comprehensive evaluation, conducted by the prominent UK automotive publication, saw the ZIEX ZE320 praised for its balanced capabilities and reassuring dynamics across both wet and dry surfaces.

Auto Express, a leading authority for new and used car buyers in the UK, is renowned for its independent tyre assessments, which are carried out without the prior knowledge of the manufacturers. The testing procedure for this year’s competition focused on the popular 205/55 R16 91V size, incorporating a variety of rigorous metrics such as braking, handling, aquaplaning resistance and noise levels.

The tyre’s victory was underscored by its performance in key disciplines, including setting the fastest lap times on both wet and dry circuits. The design features of the ZIEX ZE320, including an intelligent tread pattern with offset sipes, contribute to its strong traction and precise steering feel, while its lightweight casing and optimised sidewalls aim to improve rolling efficiency and reduce noise without sacrificing lateral stability. The entire range holds an ‘A’ rating for wet grip under EU labelling.

Available in 61 sizes spanning 15- to 18-inch wheel diameters, the tyre’s success was hailed as a strong endorsement of its everyday usability and performance. The Auto Express test team ultimately concluded that the ZE320’s all-round excellence and strong results in almost every discipline made it an outstanding choice for a broad spectrum of drivers.

John Barker, a journalist and expert tester from Auto Express, said, “The FALKEN scored an impressive victory, beating some excellent tyres to take a first win. It topped the table in three tests, including setting fastest lap times on both the wet and dry circuits, illustrating its excellent all-round ability. It was the pace-setter in both the wet and the dry and delivered strong results in almost every other discipline too. It’s an outstanding tyre.”

Jaap Leendertse, Managing Director, Sumitomo Rubber Europe, the parent company for FALKEN, said, “Winning the Auto Express summer tyre test is a fantastic achievement and a strong endorsement of the ZIEX ZE320’s real-world performance. This result demonstrates that FALKEN achieved the highest overall score in this test against several other tyre models and can deliver qualities that many drivers value, including performance and everyday usability.”

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!