The International Rubber Conference Organisation (IRCO), the association of rubber societies from around the world and the organiser behind International Rubber Conference (IRC), sees India’s rubber industry booming over the last few decades. Tyre Trends recently caught up with Michael Clayton, Executive Chairman, IRCO, and Dr Matthew Thornton, Secretary General, IRCO, at the sidelines of Rubber Con 2024. Edited excerpts.

What is the underlying change you are seeing in the rubber conference globally?

Dr Thornton: I think the global rubber industry as a whole is facing similar challenges and bits. Rubber Con being a global conference, the themes have certainly changed over sort of the last 15 years and definitely we are seeing as we should, a trend and focus on sustainability, sustainable materials and sustainable practices.

What about India’s present and future role in the global rubber industry?

Clayton: I think it’s clear to see from the number of delegates at the three-day Rubber Con 2024 being nearly 1,000 that the Indian rubber sector is booming over the last 15 years. This is the third or fourth time we are in India for the IRCO event and plans are there for the future as well. Every time we come here, you can see the depth of the research that’s being done in India and the impact that that’s having globally on the international rubber sector.

Dr Thornton: I think with the population in India, the growth of the automobile sector, it’s (Indian rubber industry) got to be part of the global industry. As we move forward, it’s going to be a huge market for the rubber industry and a huge producer of rubber that goes into the automotive sector globally as well.

Given the disruption in natural rubber production and companies looking at alternative materials, will natural rubber lose its dominance?

Dr Thornton: I think natural rubber is going to play an important role, maybe more of an important role going forward. The move towards sustainability is something that we have seen over certainty in the last five years. Almost every conference now has a focus on sustainability, and being able to use natural rubber, as opposed to synthetic oil derived rubbers from fossil fuel sources, is going to play a key role. And certainly, using alternative feed stocks for natural rubber as well, like dandelion and guayule, is going to be important as well.

What is your take on repurpose, reuse or recycling of tyres?

Dr Thornton: In the UK and Europe, there’s a huge focus on recycling tyres, which I think will extend globally as well. Going forward, companies like Birla Carbon, who are part of Aditya Birla Group in India, are building plants in the Netherlands and investing EUR 100 million in a new facility in the Netherlands to recycle tyres into recovered carbon black and pyrolysis oils. I see that happening across Europe, in the UK, and I am sure going forward that will happen globally. We can’t just continue to leave old tyres in the environment; there have to be some kind of recovery mechanism. For producers and manufacturers, that is something that has to be high on their agenda and ensure that we don’t damage the environment or have an impact on the ecosystem for future generations.

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Balkrishna Industries Ltd. (BKT) has extended its partnership with Cricket Australia for a further three years, remaining the naming rights partner of the Golden Cap awards in the Big Bash League (BBL) until the end of the 2028-29 season. The renewal takes the partnership beyond a decade, making it one of the league's longest-running commercial agreements.

BKT has been an Official League Partner of the Big Bash League since 2018. The companies said the extension reflects their continued commitment to supporting the growth of Australian cricket while enhancing the experience for players and fans.

Over the course of the partnership, BKT has developed a strong presence across the Big Bash Leagues through its association with the tournament and fan engagement initiatives. The renewed agreement, the companies said, reflects a long-term relationship built on community engagement and a shared commitment to Australian cricket.

Rajiv Poddar, Joint Managing Director of BKT, said: “The extension of the partnership with the BBL has continued to evolve since 2018, bringing us to achieve significant milestones together. Australia remains a strategic market for BKT, and cricket is one of the country's most popular and passionately followed sports, bringing together millions of fans every year. That’s why we are pleased to continue supporting one of the world's most exciting cricket competitions through the 2028/29 season. We look forward to building on the success we have achieved together and creating lasting value for our stakeholders, partners and fans around the world.”

Alistair Dobson, General Manager of the Big Bash Leagues at Cricket Australia, said: “We’re thrilled to extend our partnership with BKT, who has been such a fantastic supporter of the Big Bash for nearly a decade. The BKT Golden Bat and BKT Golden Arm caps have long been popular with players and fans and a great way to celebrate the world-class batting and bowling across both the BBL and WBBL. BKT Big Bash Tipping also adds to the fan experience, giving fans another avenue to engage with the leagues and challenge their friends, families and workplaces. We’re looking forward to continuing to build on our strong relationship with BKT as this partnership extends beyond a decade in the coming years.”

The companies said they would continue to work together as the partnership enters its second decade, with a focus on innovation, fan engagement and the long-term development of Australian cricket.

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JK Tyre & Industries has appointed Pushpak Barik as Vice President – Replacement Business, reinforcing its domestic leadership team as the company looks to strengthen its presence in the replacement tyre market, according to a report.

In his new role, Barik will lead the strategic growth of JK Tyre's replacement business, with responsibility for expanding the company's replacement market portfolio, optimising channel performance and strengthening its retail footprint across India.

Before joining JK Tyre, Barik served as Head of Sales – Commercial Mobility at TVS Motor Company, where he led initiatives to accelerate business growth in the commercial mobility segment.

He brings extensive industry experience, having held leadership positions at Continental, Ashok Leyland, Bajaj Auto and Tata Motors. His expertise spans sales leadership, channel development, commercial mobility, strategic partnerships, network expansion and business transformation.

JK Tyre said Barik's experience in driving profitable growth, strengthening distribution networks and expanding market presence will support the company's next phase of growth in the replacement business.

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Nokian Tyres has announced the promotion of Tiina Frazer to Senior Vice President of Brand, Marketing and Communications, effective 1 August 2026. In addition to her new executive role, she will join the company’s Management Team, operating from the headquarters in Helsinki, Finland, and reporting directly to President and CEO Paolo Pompei.

Frazer originally joined the Finnish tyre manufacturer in September 2025 as Vice President for the same functional area. Her professional background includes a tenure as Vice President of Brands and Marketing at HKFoods Finland Oy, along with prior senior leadership roles at Lumene, Roche Pharmaceuticals and Fiskars, bringing extensive cross-industry experience to her expanded responsibilities.

Paolo Pompei, President and CEO, Nokian Tyres, said, “I am delighted to welcome Tiina to the Nokian Tyres Management Team. Her experience in building impactful brands make her an excellent addition to our team as we continue to strengthen our premium position in our key markets.”

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Fornnax Technology has taken a decisive step to strengthen its European footprint by formalising a service partnership with industry veteran Lukas Baur of NOBA Maschinenservice. The agreement, ratified by company CEO Jignesh Kundaria, transitions the Indian manufacturer’s support model from remote coordination to an on-the-ground operational presence. This strategic alignment is designed to address the growing demand for immediate technical intervention across the continent’s recycling sector.

Based in Worbis, Germany, Baur commands a fully integrated service infrastructure that includes a 1,000-square-metre workshop fitted with a 5-tonne crane system, a dedicated hydraulic bay and specialised tooling for bearing replacements. His mobile response unit comprises 12 Mercedes Sprinter vans and a workforce of 24 certified technicians, enabling rapid deployment across a 1,000-kilometre radius. This setup guarantees that Fornnax customers can expect emergency assistance within 24 hours of a service call.

Baur’s professional history spans over 20 years of hands-on work with prominent shredder brands such as Eldan, Lindner and Vecoplan, giving him intimate knowledge of the operational challenges faced by European plant operators. His decision to join forces with Fornnax was driven by the manufacturer’s distinctive combination of competitive pricing, rugged construction and advanced wear-resistant engineering. He recognised that the current market turbulence – marked by tight margins, postponed capital expenditures and a dwindling labour pool – demanded a partnership capable of delivering both technical depth and logistical speed.

Under the new arrangement, Baur assumes full responsibility for the entire equipment lifecycle, covering system commissioning, scheduled upkeep, urgent breakdown recovery and the supply of mechanical, hydraulic and electrical components. He has also expressed a long-term vision to transform his Worbis facility into a regional spare parts consolidation centre, particularly if Fornnax opts to stock inventory at that location. To match anticipated growth, he plans to augment his fleet and technician count by two to three units annually.

This collaboration signals Fornnax’s broader commitment to building a dedicated European service network rather than relying on generalized support structures. With Baur’s proven capabilities now formally integrated, the company aims to deliver faster resolution times and technically nuanced assistance that aligns with the high-throughput demands of modern recycling operations. The partnership ultimately positions Fornnax as a formidable contender in the European shredding equipment landscape, with service excellence as its cornerstone.

Jignesh Kundaria, Director and CEO, Fornnax, said, "We strongly believe that by continuously improving our service quality and customer satisfaction index, we can build long-term relationships with our customers. Higher customer satisfaction leads to greater trust, which significantly increases repeat orders and ultimately drives sustained growth in our sales revenue."

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