Balkrishna Industries Ltd. (BKT) has expanded its partnerships in India’s premier men’s T20 cricket league to eight teams, adding Royal Challengers Bengaluru for the upcoming season as it seeks to strengthen its position in the country’s consumer tyre market.

The company said its BKT Tyres brand would continue as Official Tyre Partner to Kolkata Knight Riders, Sunrisers Hyderabad, Rajasthan Royals, Mumbai Indians, Gujarat Titans, Punjab Kings and Lucknow Super Giants, alongside the newly added Bengaluru franchise.

The move comes as BKT advances its entry into India’s consumer tyre segment, using the tournament as a platform to expand visibility and engage a broader customer base, including commercial operators and private vehicle owners.

The partnerships are structured as long-term arrangements, incorporating stadium branding, broadcast integrations, dealer activations and digital campaigns aimed at strengthening fan engagement.

Rajiv Poddar, JMD of BKT, said: “Partnering with sporting institutions has always been central to BKT’s philosophy of Growing Together with communities. Cricket is one of the most influential cultural forces in India, uniting people across geographies, generations and backgrounds. Our continued partnerships as the Official Tyre Partner under the BKT Tyres brand allow us to connect with audiences in a meaningful way while strengthening our presence in the tyre segment. Through this association, we will further amplify our ‘Elevate Your Drive’ campaign featuring Ranveer Singh across broadcast and digital touchpoints, bringing the campaign’s message of ambition, progress and forward momentum to millions of viewers. These collaborations reflect our commitment to building long-term relationships founded on teamwork, performance and shared aspirations.”

Venky Mysore, Chief Executive of Kolkata Knight Riders, said: “BKT Tyres is not just a partner they are a brand that shares our relentless pursuit of performance. This renewed association is a testament to the trust we have built together and the ambition we carry forward. As BKT accelerates its growth in India's consumer market, the Knight Riders brand gives them the platform, the passion, and the global scale to make that journey count. At Knight Riders Sports, we do not build partnerships for visibility alone we build them for impact. This collaboration is precisely that: two performance-driven organisations, aligned in purpose, investing in a future they intend to win together.”

Rajesh Menon, Chief Executive of Royal Challengers Bengaluru, said: “Royal Challengers Bengaluru is proud to welcome BKT Tyres as our Official Tyre Partner. At RCB, we believe in pushing boundaries, embracing ambition, and creating meaningful connections with our fans, values that closely align with BKT’s ‘Elevate Your Drive’ philosophy. Together, we aim to accelerate our shared vision of excellence, resilience, and forward momentum both on and off the field.”

K Shanmugam, Chief Executive of Sunrisers Hyderabad, said: “We are happy to continue our partnership with BKT Tyres as part of this T20 cricket league. This collaboration reflects a strong alignment of values, bringing together a shared focus on excellence, performance, and consistency. Together, we move forward with clear intent, committed to raising standards both on and off the field, while delivering a meaningful and engaging experience for fans.”

Alok Chitre, Chief Operating Officer of Rajasthan Royals, said: “We are delighted to partner with BKT Tyres for the sixth year, with a shared energy and drive for performance that continues to strengthen our association. Their commitment to sport, and cricket specifically, reflects a clear focus on the growth of the game and its fan ecosystem in India. As we advance in scale and influence, we look forward to building on this partnership in a meaningful way this year as well.”

A Mumbai Indians spokesperson said: “BKT Tyres has been a valued long-term partner of Mumbai Indians, and this continued partnership reflects a shared commitment to consistency and performance. We look forward to building on this partnership through the season.”

Colonel Arvinder Singh, Chief Operating Officer of Gujarat Titans, said: “Gujarat Titans are pleased to continue the association with BKT Tyres. Partnerships like these reflect a shared commitment to performance, consistency and long-term growth. Such collaborations provide a strong platform for teams and brands to connect with fans across the world, and we look forward to building on this association while continuing to engage meaningfully with our supporters and striving for excellence both on and off the field.”

Satish Menon, Chief Executive of Punjab Kings, said: “We are very happy to continue our journey with BKT Tyres. They have been a loyal and valued partner for the Punjab Kings over the years. Their commitment to excellence matches our ambitions, and it is always a pleasure to work with a brand that understands the pulse of the sport and its fans so well.”

Vinay Chopra, Chief Executive of RPSG Sports Private Limited, said: “At Lucknow Super Giants, we believe that strong partnerships are built on shared values of performance, resilience, and ambition. Our association with BKT Tyres reflects this synergy, as both brands are committed to pushing boundaries and consistently striving for excellence. As we gear up for another exciting season, we look forward to engaging our fans more deeply and creating meaningful experiences together through this partnership.”

BKT said its sports partnerships form part of a broader global portfolio spanning multiple disciplines, aimed at reinforcing brand visibility and consumer engagement.

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ZC Rubber has received the Second Prize of China's State Science and Technology Progress Award for a project focused on high-performance tyre technologies and green intelligent manufacturing, developed jointly with Harbin Institute of Technology. The award recognises the project, titled Key Technologies and Green Intelligent Manufacturing of High-Performance Tires.

According to the company, ZC Rubber is the only Chinese tyre manufacturer to receive the State Science and Technology Progress Award at the Second Prize level or above during the past decade. The award is among China's highest state honours for scientific and technological innovation.

The company said the recognition reflects its investment in research and development and its efforts to integrate tyre development with intelligent manufacturing. In 2025, ZC Rubber invested RMB 1.54 billion in research and development, equivalent to 3.43 percent of annual revenue, according to its annual report.

The award recognises technologies that have moved beyond laboratory research into industrial application, linking high-performance tyre development with green and intelligent manufacturing processes.

Central to the company's research strategy are two proprietary technology platforms: the X-Tech System for truck and bus radial tyres and the Phecda Tech System for passenger car radial tyres. The platforms combine compound formulation, tyre structure design, process engineering, simulation, testing and intelligent manufacturing within a single development framework.

Rather than adapting an existing product architecture, the platforms define performance targets according to vehicle application, operating conditions and customer requirements before developing compounds, structures and manufacturing processes. ZC Rubber said this enables it to develop tyres for different duty cycles, climates, road conditions and regional requirements rather than using a standardised design.

Henry Shen, Senior Vice President of ZC Rubber, said: “Our objective is not simply to develop an individual material, tread pattern or manufacturing process. X-Tech and Phecda are complete development systems that connect user requirements with simulation, materials, tire engineering, manufacturing and validation. This award recognizes the direction we have pursued through sustained R&D investment.”

The company has applied the X-Tech and Phecda platforms across products developed for different regions. In Asia, the X-Tech System underpins the X-Elite truck tyre series. In Europe, it is used in the WESTLAKE Gen II commercial tyre range, while the Phecda Tech System supports passenger car tyres including the WESTLAKE ZuperAce Z-007 and GOODRIDE Solmax 1. Technologies from both platforms have also been applied across ARISUN's truck and passenger car tyre ranges in the Americas.

Shen said: “International markets do not have identical requirements. A tire developed for European highway fleets, Southeast Asian transport operations or passenger vehicles in the Americas must respond to different vehicles, roads, climates and customer priorities. Our technology platforms allow us to address those differences through a consistent and systematic development process.”

The company said the award-winning project incorporates green and intelligent manufacturing technologies intended to improve product consistency, production efficiency and energy performance. It added that the X-Tech and Phecda platforms will continue to support original equipment and replacement market product development across its WESTLAKE, GOODRIDE, ARISUN and other brands.

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The Indian Rubber Materials Research Institute (IRMRI) has officially announced the appointment of Professor (Dr) Abhijit Bandyopadhyay as its new Director. This decision marks a significant leadership transition for the institute, as it prepares to welcome a figure with extensive expertise in polymer science and rubber technology.

Professor Bandyopadhyay brings a distinguished academic and technical background to his new position. He currently serves as a full Professor in the Department of Polymer Science and Technology at the University of Calcutta and holds the role of Director, Technical at the South Asia Rubber and Polymers Park in West Bengal. His prior experience includes a tenure as Assistant Professor at the Rubber Technology Centre, IIT Kharagpur, and he has recently been appointed as a Technical Consultant for Rubber products at Berzelius Materials Performance Inc. in the United Kingdom.

Stepping into his new role, the new Director is expected to prioritise research advancement, indigenisation of technologies and sustainable development within the rubber sector. The IRMRI leadership and members have expressed confidence in his visionary guidance, anticipating that his leadership will drive the institute toward greater innovation and research excellence in the coming years.

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The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has granted laboratory recognition to M/s D. Banerjee Centre of Excellence (DBCOE), based at the JSS Technical Institutions Campus in Mysuru, Karnataka, for a three-year period from 8 July 2026 to 7 July 2029.

The recognition, issued under the BIS Laboratory Recognition Scheme (LRS), enables the centre to undertake testing activities in accordance with BIS requirements. The laboratory's details have been uploaded to the BIS Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS), with sample receipt, testing and report generation to be managed through the online platform. The recognition remains subject to compliance with the provisions of the BIS LRS 2020.

Established by the Indian Institute of Rubber (IRI) in collaboration with JSS Technical Institutions, the centre is intended to strengthen industry-academia collaboration in polymer science and rubber technology while supporting research, testing, training and technology development for the tyre and wider rubber industry.

The facility has developed capabilities in material characterisation, wet chemistry and forensic failure analysis. Its laboratories can analyse raw materials including carbon black, rubber chemicals, elastomers, accelerators and antioxidants, while also supporting material specification development, plant audits and quality approvals. Plans are also in place to expand failure analysis services for manufacturers, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs).

DBCOE also aims to support manufacturers adapting to changing automotive requirements, including electric vehicles, through research into advanced materials and sustainable alternatives. Its stated focus includes bio-based materials, tyre recycling, steel reuse and low-emission polymers, alongside technical support for regulatory compliance and homologation.

Alongside its testing infrastructure, the centre has established a training ecosystem for the rubber sector. It offers two flagship programmes: a Diploma in Rubber Technology for diploma holders and new recruits, and a Postgraduate Diploma in Rubber Technology for science and engineering graduates. Both programmes combine online theory modules with practical training and laboratory sessions at the Mysuru campus, with final examinations conducted by IIT Kharagpur.

The centre is also developing a series of short-duration industry courses covering mixing, compounding, extrusion, calendering, tyre building, moulding, retreading, footwear, conveyor belts and latex products. These programmes combine classroom instruction with practical demonstrations, testing methodologies and failure analysis.

According to the centre, more than 40 industry experts contribute to its training programmes. Several tyre manufacturers, including Apollo Tyres, Yokohama, BKT and JK Tyre, recognise completion of the diploma programme as part of their employee development initiatives.

The centre primarily serves the tyre industry but also aims to support non-tyre rubber manufacturers, particularly MSMEs that lack access to advanced testing facilities and technical expertise. Through consultancy, training and laboratory services, it seeks to improve technical capability, product quality and compliance across the broader rubber sector.

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Elkem ASA, a global leader in advanced silicon-based materials, has announced the appointment of Dag Teigland as its new Chief Executive Officer, effective 3 August 2026. The board’s decision coincides with the departure of Helge Aasen, who will step down after leading the company since 2009 to take on the role of Chairman of the Board.

Bringing more than two decades of industrial and investment expertise, Teigland currently serves as executive chairman of Tekna Holding ASA, a firm known for advanced metal powders. His career includes senior executive positions at Tinfos AS and Holta Invest AS, where he managed an active investment platform. Previously, he held multiple leadership roles at Elkem from 1998 to 2002, culminating as Managing Director for the chrome business area, providing him with direct familiarity with the company’s operations.

Marianne E Johnsen, Interim Chair of the Board of Elkem, said, “The Board is pleased to appoint Dag Teigland as CEO of Elkem. He brings deep industrial expertise and a proven track record of driving development and transformation. With his background spanning both international industrial operations and investment environments, Dag is well suited to lead Elkem into its next phase of growth and development.

“At the same time, the Board would like to thank Helge Aasen for his strong leadership and significant contribution to Elkem over many years. During his tenure, Elkem has strengthened its strategic position, expanded its global footprint and developed world-leading positions in silicon, ferrosilicon, foundry alloys and carbon solutions. Helge has also led Elkem through major portfolio and financing measures, including the divestment of the Silicones division. We are very pleased that he will continue to contribute to the company’s development as chairperson of the board.”

Teigland said, “It is a great honour to return to Elkem and take on the role of chief executive officer. Elkem is a company with a strong industrial heritage and a leading position within its respective segments. I look forward to working with the Board, the Elkem leadership team and colleagues worldwide to build on this foundation, accelerate sustainable growth, advance safety and innovation and ensure that Elkem continues to supply the strategic materials needed for a cleaner, smarter and more resilient future.”

Aasen said, “It has been a privilege to lead Elkem as CEO over the past 17 years. I am proud of what the organisation has accomplished during this period and confident that the company is well positioned for long-term, sustainable value creation. I look forward to continuing to support Elkem in my new role as chairperson of the board and to work closely with Dag in the transition.”

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