Vinod Patkotwar, Managing Partner at Crown Rubber Products, Pune, is the new chairman of the Rubber, Chemical and Petrochemical Skill Development Council (RCPSDC).  

He was elected at the meeting of the Board of Directors of the Council, a press release said. Patkotwar will be responsible for overseeing the operations of RCPSDC and work closely with its governing council on strategic issues related to the growth of the rubber, chemical and petrochemical sectors in India. 

A veteran in the rubber industry, Patkotwar has held leadership positions in various industry forums. He has served as the chairman of the All India Rubber Industries Association (AIRIA) Western Region. As a managing committee member of AIRIA, he has been spearheading several flagship events of the industry aimed at increasing its competitiveness and profile. He pioneered a national expo under the banner RDME (Rubber Dies and Mould Exhibition). He has also been serving as the editor of AIRIA’s widely circulated journal “Rubber India”, the release said. 

Patkotwar said, "Rubber Industry has witnessed a growth in stature during the last decade and the role of RCPSDC in setting up a robust pan India skilling infrastructure cannot be underestimated. Some of the skill training projects, especially Saamarth and Utthaan, launched by RCPSDC have been well acclaimed. We invite the industry across the three verticals, especially MSMEs to come forward and make the most of the opportunities unfolded by RCPSDC." 

Dr Ashrita Tripathi, Head Training & QA at RCPSDC, said, "Mr Patkotwar joins at a juncture when RCPSDC is widening its footprint across the three verticals of rubber, petrochemical and chemical. With a seasoned person of the calibre of Mr Patkotwar as the leader, the skilling up process will be further accelerated." 

As one of the foremost sector skill councils in the country, RCPSDC has been involved in the skill training of nearly three lakh people, especially in the domains of rubber manufacturing, rubber plantations and tyre services. Currently, RCPSDC is working actively to meet the newly received mandate of upskilling chemical and petrochemical sectors in the country, the release added. (TT)

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Webfleet, Bridgestone’s globally trusted fleet management solution, has earned three prestigious awards across Europe this month. In Germany, its AI-powered tool Fleet Advisor was recognised as the ‘Rising Star’ at the Baugewerbe Produkt des Jahres 2025 awards. Meanwhile, in Poland, Fleet Advisor – which leverages generative AI to deliver swift, insightful answers to critical fleet-related queries – secured the ‘Fleet Derby 2025’ award in the Digital/AI Innovation in Management category.

Additionally, in Spain, Webfleet received the ‘Award for Excellence in the Road Transport Industry’ from Cadena de Suministro, a leading logistics publication, honouring its 25-year legacy of innovation and transformative contributions to the mobility sector. These accolades highlight Webfleet’s continued leadership and technological advancement in fleet management.

Jan-Maarten de Vries, President of Fleet Management Solutions at Bridgestone, said, “Together, these awards highlight the strength of Webfleet’s dual commitment to cutting-edge innovation and customer-driven progress.”

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The 3rd Edition of the Passenger Vehicle Forum (PVF), a leading forum focussing on the passenger vehicle segment, is scheduled to take place on 3 September 2025, at Hyatt Regency, Pune.

This 2025 edition of PVF will focus on a wide area of topics such as – software-defined vehicles (SDVs) and E/E architecture transformation, electrification, hybridisation & future powertrains, connected, autonomous & smart mobility technologies, sustainability, alternative fuel, customer behaviour, retail transformation and aftermarket innovation.

The idea is to understand the present and future trends reshaping the passenger vehicle industry.

The event is expected to bring together over 300 senior decision-makers, more than 60 speakers and over 40 solution providers to debate, discuss and plan the way forward.

Since its debut, the Passenger Vehicle Forum is amongst one of the key platforms that brings together various stakeholders – OEMs, auto component manufacturers, mobility providers and policy influencers, all under one roof.

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Chinese tyre major Linglong Tire was recently recognised as one of the Best Managed Companies in China in an event joint held by Deloitte China, the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) Business School and the Harvard Business Review.

The tyre maker was recognised for its capabilities in the areas of strategic leadership, operational efficiency, integrated management and sustainable growth at the annual event.

Linglong Tire stated that the Best Managed Companies program is a globally recognised initiative under the guidance of Deloitte is said to be the only international award in China for the comprehensive evaluation of enterprise management systems.

The award in its 7^th year saw potential companies evaluated on the bases of complex management questions, executive interviews and neutral expert assessments based on Deloitte’s global program. The companies were assessed on four criteria – strategy, expertise, commitment and financial strength.

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Hankook Tire Hungary Ltd received the ‘Key Supporter of Saint Pantaleon Hospital’ award during the hospital's Semmelweis Day ceremony in Dunaújváros, Hungary. This recognition highlights the company's longstanding commitment to enhancing local healthcare quality through consistent contributions.

Marking a new tradition, this year's ceremony expanded beyond honouring healthcare workers to acknowledge institutional supporters. Hankook earned this distinction through multiple initiatives, including recent equipment donations for the paediatric ward and installation of a nurse call system in the surgical department. The company's support extends to previous years' projects such as ventilator procurement, maternity ward renovations, and pandemic-related protective equipment donations.

The award coincides with Hungary's annual Healthcare Day celebrations on 1 July, which since 1992 has honoured medical professionals nationwide. By recognising Hankook's sustained community involvement, Saint Pantaleon Hospital underscores the vital role of corporate partnerships in maintaining quality healthcare services.

Dr Örs Szilágyi, Director General of the Saint Pantaleon Hospital, said, “We are very grateful for the help and commitment of Hankook Tire Hungary. We are working together for a joint goal to improve continuously the standard of healthcare and thus create value for local citizen, help them in maintaining their health and in getting better. Hankook’s Corporate Social Responsibility sets an example to all. We are happy to award Hankook Tire Hungary Ltd as the first company with the ’Key Supporter of Saint Pantateon Hospital’ award.

Receiving the award from Dr Szilágyi on behalf of the company, Ho Taek Lim, Managing Director of Hankook Tire's Hungary Plant, said, “We are honoured to receive this recognition from Saint Pantaleon Hospital. At Hankook, we believe in long-term partnerships and consider the health of the people living here, our employees and their families to be our most important investment, which is why we intend to continue supporting local initiatives and institutions in the future.”

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