The Rubber Board has announced its intention to start an electronic trade platform to improve the marketing efficacy of participants in the supply chain of natural rubber.  

Satish Sharma, Chairman of the Automobile Tyre Manufacturers Association, will launch the logo ‘mRube’ prepared as part of this e-market on 28 April through a virtual meeting at Rubber Board, Kottayam, the board said in a statement. Representatives from all rubber stakeholder groups have been scheduled to attend the meeting. 'e-market' is expected to go live in the second week of May 2022. 

India's natural Rubber trade possesses an innate advantage of high-level marketing efficiency owing to its coherent supply chain. The rubber market ecosystem has changed significantly over the years with changing patterns of demand in terms of quality and quantity from the consuming sector.
Though price realisation is relatively good for producers of quality rubber, large volumes of ungraded rubber traded are in the country, the release said. 

These producers are losing their opportunity for want of proper market awareness. There are also cases where growers and co-operatives find it difficult to sell rubber as per quality grades to the final consumer, which often dissuades them from producing quality material. The size of the dealer fraternity is also seen shrinking. In 2000, there were 10,512 active rubber dealers in the country, which came down to 9741 in 2010. In 2020, the count shrunk to 7135, which is quite alarming, the board pointed out. 

Considering the scenario, the board proposes to set up an electronic trading platform to improve the efficacy of the domestic supply chain for natural rubber. The electronic trading platform is contemplated to complement the existing trade system by bringing in more transparency and market visibility. It is expected that e-trade could bring more business to the existing rubber dealers, processors and manufacturers by reaching out to new sellers/ buyers, even in far-off places. 

The e-trade platform is branded as “mRube’ and i- Sourcing Technologies Pvt. Ltd. Ahmedabad is the technology partner for developing this electronic trade platform. The software development for this electronic market is over, and final testing is in progress, the board said. 

The electronic market follows a simple one-time registration for users. Users shall input their Rubber Board license number, and the system will fetch the rest of their details from the Rubber Board licensing portal, and an OTP based validation will complete the registration.  

‘mRube’ attempts to figure out certain impending issues in the current rubber marketing system. Despite being used in the manufacture of products with critical importance like automobile tyres and tubes, surgical and pharmaceutical products etc., there is no systematic arrangement for certifying the quality of rubber traded in the country. In the proposed electronic market, the Rubber Board has a system for assaying the quality of rubber, which will be a game-changer in the domestic NR trade. Besides this, Rubber Board has joined hands with Federal Bank Ltd and ICICI Bank Ltd. to operate the payment gateway and escrow account, which will nullify the payment risk of buyers and sellers involved in trade through this portal. 

It said for the first time in the history of commodity trade, either online or offline, banks had agreed to finance “zero interest rate” advances to sellers. The board also made arrangements with two partnering banks to extend zero interest rate facility to rubber sellers trading through this e-market. Also, ‘mRube’ allows users to filter out buyers and sellers according to their geographical location, quantity, grade of rubber, customer ratings etc. The buyers and sellers can upload their offers, and there is a provision for quoting counter-offers before confirming the trade. Personalised trade pages are available for those buyers whose purchases are from their empanelled vendors. A unique feature built into the system is the generation of legalised trade contacts signed using DSC. The Android and ios versions of e-market mobile applications are also ready for use, the release added. (TT)

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Falken has been named the recipient of the prestigious BRV Service Award, as announced by the German Tyre Retail and Vulcanisation Trade Association during its General Meeting on 8 June 2026. As a brand operating under Dunlop Tyre Europe GmbH, Falken emerged victorious from a competitive online survey where over 250 tyre trade members cast their votes to determine the industry’s most outstanding partner.

This accolade specifically recognises Falken’s superior service standards and its commitment to fostering a reliable and cooperative relationship with its retail partners. The overwhelming vote of confidence from the trade serves as a significant form of recognition for the company, while simultaneously acting as a powerful incentive for the entire Falken workforce to maintain their high-performance levels.

Thomas Langer, Sales Director Germany, Dunlop Tyre Europe GmbH, said, “The news of a top ranking in the BRV Service Award was already a special honour, as it comes directly from the specialist tyre trade. We are now even more delighted to celebrate the overall victory. We would like to express our sincere thanks for this recognition. First place confirms our commitment to offering Falken partners not only reliable and safe products, but above all, dependable service, personalised support and a truly partnership-based collaboration. The fact that the trade has voted the entire team’s efforts into first place motivates us to continue pursuing our goals with determination.”

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The Alliance for the Future of Tires (AZuR) has concluded its participation at The Tire Cologne 2026 with a positive assessment, operating through a network of 19 affiliated organisations across Europe. Their shared exhibition space in Hall 7.1 emerged as a central meeting point during the industry's premier global gathering. Key episodes included a governmental visit, a strategic industry forum and recognition for emerging enterprises.

An immersive installation greeted visitors to the AZuR area, with the entire floor surface consisting of resilient tiles produced from recycled tyre rubber supplied by network affiliate MRH Mülsen. This practical display offered a compelling illustration of how discarded materials can be transformed into functional products. The collaborative exhibition model proved highly favourable among attendees and participating companies alike.

The initiative broadened its collaborative base during the fair, securing commitments from new entities in Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands to advance shared sustainability objectives. North Rhine-Westphalia's environment minister, Oliver Krischer, toured the exhibition as part of a broader initiative to spotlight regional excellence in circular practices, observing demonstrations spanning digital monitoring, alternative materials and recovery processes.

A dedicated assembly on tyre retreading drew roughly 40 specialists from manufacturing, materials supply and trade associations. Conversations revolved around the technology's track record and adaptation to market conditions, referencing recent environmental performance data. Survey feedback indicated robust confidence in retreading's financial and environmental merits, though participants identified competition from lower-cost imports as a primary obstacle.

The programme concluded with the LOOP THE TYRE competition awards. The top honour went to Machine-Vision.io from Reutlingen for its optical evaluation system streamlining used tyre assessment. Sustainable Rubber Solutions from the Netherlands received second prize for its chemical innovation enabling rubber reintegration into new compounds, while Austria's ReTyre project claimed third for developing a scalable devulcanisation method for tyre-to-tyre recycling.

Anna-Maria Guth, AZuR Network Coordinator, said, “TTC impressively demonstrated the high level of interest in a functioning tyre circular economy. We were particularly pleased with the exceptionally positive atmosphere at our joint stand. Our partners see themselves as equal contributors to a common goal and as partners in a strong alliance for the future.”

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Prinx Chengshan marked a significant milestone at The Tire Cologne 2026 in Germany on 9 June, where it officially introduced its Prinx-brand commercial vehicle tyres to the European market. The launch event, held during the prestigious trade fair, served as a commemorative highlight for the 50th anniversary of the Chengshan Group. While the company showcased its full portfolio of brands, including Chengshan, Austone and Fortune, the European debut of the Prinx commercial tyre line commanded the primary focus of industry attendees.

Senior company representatives provided comprehensive insights into the strategic initiative during the event. Officials from the Europe and Americas Sales Center, the R&D Center and the European Technical Center outlined the company's developmental trajectory, manufacturing scale and proprietary technological advancements. The presentations emphasised the integration of intelligent manufacturing systems and global research capabilities, with particular attention given to how the Prinx brand is developing future-oriented commercial solutions tailored specifically for European fleet operators.

The Prinx brand, positioned as a premium offering, leverages three intelligent manufacturing facilities located in China, Thailand and Malaysia, combined with the localised expertise of its European Technical Center. The company has concentrated its research efforts on six core technologies, including low rolling resistance and high wear resistance features, complemented by an intelligent tyre monitoring system. A strategic partnership with Marangoni, a prominent European retreading material manufacturer, further strengthens the brand's comprehensive service capabilities.

For its market entry, Prinx launched three initial product series covering nine tread patterns suitable for long-haul and regional mixed road conditions. Future product expansion plans include tyres for mixed-use applications, city buses, long-distance coaches and winter conditions. Since announcing its European passenger car tyre initiative in Milan in 2023, the brand has rapidly enhanced its product matrix and reinforced its market presence through branding initiatives and sponsorship of major racing championships.

With five decades of industry experience, Prinx Chengshan is accelerating its global strategy through a product-plus-service philosophy. The company aims to deliver customized solutions addressing the complete tyre lifecycle by combining Chinese manufacturing heritage with international research and development networks. This approach positions the company to precisely meet localised European market demands while inviting global partners to contribute to a sustainable transportation future.

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Grady County, Georgia, has successfully addressed the persistent issue of flood-damaged roads by implementing an innovative and sustainable construction method on Lower Cairo Road. The project tackled chronic washouts that had long plagued the area, where conventional repairs consistently failed during heavy rainstorms. The chosen solution involved a significant elevation of the roadway and the reinforcement of its foundation, moving beyond temporary surface fixes to target the root causes of the flooding.

The county utilised a technique known as Mechanical Concrete, which employs recycled tyre cylinders to create a durable and flexible road base. In this process, scrap tyres are processed into cylindrical units and arranged in a grid pattern. These interconnected cylinders are then filled with aggregate, in this case, reclaimed asphalt pavement, to form a robust foundation. This system effectively distributes the weight of traffic and provides superior resistance to erosion, directly countering the forces that previously caused washouts.

The specific work on Lower Cairo Road covered a length of 880 linear feet and a width of 18 feet, raising the road's elevation by 12 inches. The project successfully incorporated 3,300 recycled scrap tyre cylinders, demonstrating a significant commitment to sustainability by diverting waste from landfills. The enhanced drainage and structural stability provided by this method are expected to drastically reduce the frequency and cost of future maintenance, offering a long-term solution to the community's flooding woes.

The success of Grady County’s initiative highlights a scalable and cost-effective approach for other municipalities facing similar infrastructure challenges. This method proves particularly beneficial for rural networks and low-lying regions with limited budgets. By demonstrating how to build resilient roads using recycled materials, Grady County has provided a practical model for enhancing infrastructure durability while promoting environmental stewardship.

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