The Asia Pacific Carbon Black Conference 2024 – Perspectives in Asia Pacific, one of the largest and most acknowledged global carbon black industry events, unfolded in Kolkata, India, marking a historic moment for the city. The 15th edition welcomed a record-breaking 252 delegates and featured compelling discussions on the future of the carbon black market, which is projected to reach USD 30.15 billion by 2029. Over three days, industry leaders explored key trends, sustainability efforts and technological innovations, underscoring the sector’s dynamic evolution and the growing importance of India in shaping its future.

The sprawling banquet of a renowned hotel in the City of Joy was attuned to the murmuring of delegates from across the globe when the speaker on the dais invited the International Advisory Committee Chairman Amit Choudhary to address the crowd. With utter excitement, the chairman ascended the stage and opened the 15th Asia Pacific Carbon Black Conference doors to the curious assembly. Over the next three days, the event featured – workshops, intriguing sessions and panel discussions on the global carbon black market, which is slated to reach USD 30.15 Billion by 2029, according to Mordor Intelligence.

From sessions on the latest trends within the space to the use of recovered carbon black and sustainability issues, the conference was a boiling cauldron of information, coupled with an exhibition spanning different makers and associated suppliers to the industry.

Speaking to Tyre Trends exclusively, Choudhary said, “Key takeaways from the conference were impactful for both participants and delegates, with a record-breaking 252 attendees from around the globe. The exhibition, featuring 36 stalls, marked the largest in the Asia-Pacific region in the event’s 31-year history. The conference kicked off with two workshops on day one, focusing on the technical aspects of carbon black and its applications across the tyre and other industries. About 70 attendees engaged in a robust discussion, addressing numerous technical queries from leading players in the carbon black industry, including Birla Carbon, Tokai Carbon, Himadri Speciality Chemical Ltd, Epsilon, PCBL, and so on.”

He added, “For the first time in its history, the conference featured panel discussions on different topics of the carbon black industry covering marketing, raw materials, application, technology and the future of carbon black, which fostered intense engagement from participants. These sessions provided valuable insights and sparked in-depth discussions, impacting all those who attended.”

Many companies attending the conference were not direct carbon black producers but played key roles in the carbon value chain, either as suppliers to the carbon black industry or as technological collaborators or customers. This diverse representation highlighted the industry’s interconnected nature, with attendees gaining exposure to the latest technologies and processes shaping the sector.

“The conference brought together a global audience, fostering collaboration and providing significant opportunities for local suppliers to engage with emerging technologies. Carbon black production in this region, particularly in India, is experiencing rapid growth.

Companies across the country, from Gujarat and Maharashtra in the west to the east and south, are expanding their operations to meet increasing demand. This growth presents ample opportunities for suppliers of essential equipment and consumables to the carbon black industry, such as refractory manufacturers, bag suppliers and packing material providers. Ultimately, the entire supply chain stands to benefit from the increased collaboration and knowledge exchange fostered at the conference,” averred Choudhary.

Quick view

George Haines, Global Product Director and Avijit Sasmal, Chief Sustainability Officer at Himadri Speciality Chemical Limited, highlighted the carbon black industry’s progress in sustainability and circularity. They emphasised advancements such as the use of recycled pyrolysis oil and reclaimed carbon black and achievements like EcoVadis and ISCC+ certifications. Himadri already achieved the milestones and is maintaining Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) across plants. Innovations like LFP Cathode Active Material for EV batteries and renewable energy showcased Himadri’s future readiness. This session set a benchmark for aligning industry practices with global climate goals.

Senior Manager - Technology, K. Arun Kumar, and Manager, Technology and Business Development, Dr. P.M. Sivaram, at CUMI Super Refractories, discussed enhancing reactor life in the carbon black industry through condition monitoring and refractory solutions. They emphasised the need for failure analysis, material characterisation, and data-driven strategies to predict failures, improve productivity, and reduce downtime, ultimately leading to more efficient and sustainable operations in the industry.

The workshop by Himadri Speciality Chemicals Limited Plant Head Kingshuk Bose, on ‘Recent Advancements in Carbon Black Technologies’ provided an overview of carbon black, its applications, and recent technological innovations in its manufacturing processes. He discussed new technologies such as plasma and nanotechnology, which enhance production efficiency and product characteristics. Additionally, AI and machine learning were highlighted to optimise processes, improve quality and predict maintenance needs, ultimately advancing carbon black manufacturing and packaging strategies.

The former Chief Advisor of Research and Development at Apollo Tyres, P K Mohamed, an industry stalwart, addressed the future of the tyre industry, focusing on advancements in carbon black technology in his key note address. He noted that pneumatic tyres, essential for load support, require optimal structures to endure operational pressures. The industry faced megatrends such as mobility, digitisation, electrification, and the shift toward renewable materials. Key customer expectations centre on rolling resistance, traction, durability, and sustainability improvements. Enhancements in carbon black properties, including particle size and surface chemistry, are vital for achieving these goals. The industry’s evolution towards higher sigma levels indicated a commitment to quality and performance, necessitating collaborative efforts in research and development to meet future demands.

Notch Consulting Inc. Founder and President Paul Ita spoke on the outlook for 2024 and highlighted significant developments in the global carbon black and tyre industries. He noted a projected total investment of INR 27.3 billion in new tyre capacity from 2023 to 2028, with Asia, especially China and India, leading in new projects. He also discussed the impacts of EU sanctions on Russian carbon black imports. These sanctions are shifting trade flows, with India emerging as a key supplier to replace Russian volumes. The analysis included production capacity and utilisation trends with a forecast for growth in carbon black production despite current disruptions.

The AGM Strategy at Epsilon Carbon, Sagar Mathur, noted that geopolitical shifts, rapid urbanisation, climate change, sustainability, and technological advancements are shaping the future of the carbon black industry. Key trends included the growing demand for Electric Vehicle (EV) tyres, increased focus on circularity and recycling technologies, and the need for advanced speciality products. He highlighted that urbanisation is expected to strain resources while geopolitical conflicts are reshaping supply chains. The industry must adapt to these changes while addressing environmental concerns, leading to new product development, particularly in sustainable materials.

Vice President of Sales and Marketing (CBD), Kane Hanneke and Vice President of Business Development and Sales (CBD), Surge Klunder, at Himadri Specialty Chemical Ltd, focused on the current demand and supply dynamics of carbon black in North America and the European Union as of October 2024. In their presentations, they highlighted key economic indicators such as GDP growth, inflation, and the Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI), while discussing challenges faced by domestic producers, including import duties, geopolitical tensions, and rising oil costs. Kane also mentioned a notable production increase among leading carbon black producers, particularly in China and India, and addressed the impact of new tariffs on Mexican imports.

Executive Vice-President and Regional Head of Sales and Marketing at Birla Carbon, Shashank Awasthi, discussed the dynamics of the carbon black market in Asia and Europe with a focus on growth plans and regional capacities. He highlighted that China dominates the market with a capacity share of 47 percent and a demand share of 37 percent. He also covered competition in India, where local producers faced challenges from imports, particularly from China, Korea, and Russia. His analysis indicated a projected CAGR of 5 percent for the Southeast Asia carbon black market from 2022 to 2027, driven by rising disposable incomes. It increased automotive production, with Asia accounting for approximately 60 percent of global automobile manufacturing.

The presentation by Zircoa Managing Director Thomas Bohm focused on the role of zirconia refractories in enhancing reactor performance during carbon black production. Zirconia, a unique ceramic material, offers exceptional properties such as high thermal resistance, lower thermal conductivity, and erosion resistance, making it suitable for high-temperature applications in reactors. The advantages of zirconia include increased reactor efficiency, improved product yields, and the ability to withstand aggressive process gases. However, challenges such as degradation from thermal shock and alkali attacks were noted, emphasising the importance of proper alignment and operational practices to maximise the lifespan of zirconia linings.

In his virtual keynote session, Zhu Zilong, deputy director of design at Doright, discussed the emerging supply trends in equipment manufacturing, particularly focusing on the shift from individual equipment supply to comprehensive equipment packages.

The landmark event saw the attendance of dignitaries and industry stalwarts, including the Chief Secretary to the Government of West Bengal, Dr Manoj Pant, Himadri Speciality Managing Director Anurag Choudhary, Tokai Carbon President Hagime Hagasaka, Group Country Head, Aditya Birla Group Thailand, and Chief Expansion Officer Birla Carbon Asia, Sanjeev Sood, among others.

Key Speakers included Aditya Birla Group’s Chief Sustainability Officer Deeksha Vats, Former President at ALSTOM Power Energy Recovery CP Natarajan, Vidhitech Solutions Founder Vinod Taneja, ABG Trading President John Kennelly, Senior Manager Research and Development of Compound Development at CEAT Limited Dr Pranab Dey, Head - Projects Business at Thermax Limited Naveen Sadhu and Rathi Group Director Ravi Rathi among others.

The event was attended by delegates from leading carbon black producers, such as Thai Tokai Carbon Product Company Limited, Hyundai OCI, Aegean First Company, Zircoa Inc., Phillips Carbon Black Limited, CITGO Corp and others.

Curtain Call

Amit Choudhary commented about the conference, “Conferences like this serve as crucial platforms for advancing technological progress in the industry. They provide insights into global trends, revealing which players are exploring new technologies and how different governments are approaching industry expectations. These events create an opportunity for stakeholders to understand evolving needs as well as the requirements of end customers.”

He added, “For instance, during our recent conference, several customers presented compelling insights, with both in-person and online interactions offering a deeper understanding of the tyre industry’s future. The rise of EVs is a key development demanding a shift in tyre technology and manufacturing processes. Current tyres are general-purpose, but as EV adoption accelerates, specialised tyres will become necessary. In the near future, we will see the emergence of EV-specific tyres alongside innovations in related non-tyre markets.”

He also noted that India, with its significant market share, is poised for substantial growth. Established markets in the US and Europe are facing challenges with plant closures and shifting demands. The ongoing geopolitical landscape, including tensions in China and Russia, is influencing market dynamics. However, India remains in a favourable position for investment and is set to experience impressive growth in the sector.

Looking ahead, the next conference is set to take place in 2026.

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From software-defined architectures and virtual proving grounds to the evolving role of tyres and ADAS, the third Vehicle Dynamics Conference in Chennai captured an industry in rapid transition. Industry leaders examined the trade-offs, technological leaps and competitive pressures that will define the next decade of vehicle engineering in India.

It was on 16 June 2026 that the 3rd edition of the Vehicle Dynamics Conference took place at Chennai Trade Centre, bringing together close to 200 stakeholders from the auto industry across India and internationally and marking another milestone for automotive development.

The event focused on the rapid evolution taking place across vehicle engineering, focusing on safety, performance, ride and handling, efficiency and emerging technology developments.

Opening the conference, Tom Thomas, Conference Chairman, underlined the significant transformation gripping the automotive sector. In his welcome address, Thomas noted, “Advances in software-defined vehicles, simulation technologies, electrification, safety systems, connectivity and vehicle performance are redefining the future of mobility.”

Building upon this perspective, S K P Amarnath, Vice-President of R&D, Apollo Tyres, declared that the event had matured into a vital platform where the entire ecosystem is discussed, status quos are challenged and new ideas are exchanged.

“Multiple transformational forces are converging at the first time in auto industry’s history, creating a defining moment for mobility,” Amarnath stated in his opening address.

He emphasised that the industry stands united in creating safer, smarter, comfortable, and sustainable vehicles, observing, “The disruptions – connected, autonomous, electric and software-defined vehicles (SDVs) – are happening at a speed and scale never experienced before.”

Amarnath further described India’s remarkable rise as a global automotive hub that faces fresh competitive pressures from China and Eastern Europe. “The speed of change is fast and influencing key attributes like vehicle dynamics and energy management. OTAs are becoming common and vehicles are turning into a continuously evolving platform,” Amarnath explained.

Turning attention to hardware, he identified the tyre as the most neglected part of the vehicle despite being the only component in direct contact with the road surface.

Revealing that Renault engineers devoted extensive track time to tyre testing at the Madras Racing Circuit, Dr Vikraman explained, “The slip angle, slip ratio, steering response, ride comfort, cornering stiffness optimisation etc. were achieved on dot through thousands of tuning cycles.”

He outlined that three guiding principles – be clear, be sure and be clever – guided target setting, vehicle character creation, kinematics, simulation and real-world proving ground evaluations. He observed that while precise tuning makes a vehicle exceptional, ADAS has compounded the paradox regarding vehicle dynamics.

Dr Vikraman mentioned that to overcome regional road variations, Renault clever-engineered the Duster’s ADAS technology specifically for local conditions where regulations regarding speed humps and barricades are rarely enforced.

Asserting India’s growing importance, Dr Vikraman concluded, “Engineers are expected to solve complex problems with creative solutions. Indian engineers should be creative and disruptive. They should be also proud.”

In the session focused on software, simulation and NVH, Shiv Sikand, Co-Founder of Drako Tech, spoke on the future of self-driving connected vehicles. “The architecture necessary to deliver AI connectivity, ADAS and OTA has simply been too expensive to put into a mainstream vehicle programme,” Sikand noted.

“Drako architecture – founded specifically to eliminate that barrier – enables the addition of new features through a mere software push,” said Sikand, explaining that traditional vehicle designs are frozen when shipped, leaving engineering cycles four to six years old by the time cars reach consumers.

He mentioned, “Tesla proved what seemed impossible 10 years ago. It proved that a software-first vehicle architecture could deliver a better product at lower long-term cost. Chinese manufacturers took that lesson – specifically BYD – and industrialised it at scale.”

The executive explained that Drako’s DriveOS single-ECU platform replaces kilometres of wiring and dozens of isolated ECUs with a single USB backbone and commodity hardware, cutting cost, weight and carbon footprint.

During the panel discussion titled ‘Engineering in India for the World’, moderated by AutoAscend’s CEO Latha Chembrakalam, industry executives evaluated local development trends.

Manoj Aggarwal, Vice-President of Engineering at Maruti Suzuki India, observed that while central computing was once considered too costly, current focus centre’s entirely on software systems and exporting Indian products to Europe and Japan.

Aggarwal noted, “The ISO 26262 standard has been adopted and work is progressing on digital twins with Japan and Germany to deliver a global product. In vehicle dynamics, much work is taking place on virtualisation.” He added that Maruti Suzuki maintains a dedicated division to collaborate directly with startups.

Piyush Kende, Senior General Manager of Vehicle Integration at Tata Motors, emphasised that changing regulations and multi-fuel options are driving rapid engineering shifts. “SDVs are a new trend and are creating a need to work on them faster from India perspective,” Kende said, noting that Tata develops platforms in-house.

“Young engineers need to be pushed into innovation and IP creation. There is a gap regarding knowledge vis-à-vis real-world understanding,” he added and explained that regulatory frameworks encourage local engineering while global supply chain strategies protect against international disruptions.

Arjun Balasubramanian, Division Head of Product Development (PCR-OE) at Apollo Tyres, shared, “We are tackling geopolitical issues that add a different perspective to the supply chain, resources and engineering opportunities. We are also collaborating with academia regarding engineering, governance etc. We are also making patents and building technology.” He added that evolving tyre emission regulations require active academic and industrial research.

Ankur Sharma, Head of Platform Engineering at JSW MG Motor India, highlighted that vehicle development is no longer purely mechanical, remarking, “There’s AI at work.” Sharma explained that Indian testing includes unique local edge cases, stating, “We have had scenarios with a vehicle hitting a cow or vice versa as a test parameter that is unique to India. This could be applied to markets that face such a challenge.” He added that workforce availability and time-to-market demands make academic collaboration essential.

Addressing computer-aided engineering, Prajakta Khare, Technical Manager of Multibody Dynamics at Dassault Systemes, presented on Simulia Simpack.

L-R: Latha Chembrakalam, CEO, AutoAscend; Manoj Aggarwal, VP – Engineering, Maruti Suzuki India; Piyush Kende, Sr Gen Manager,

Vehicle Integration, Tata Motors; Ankur Sharma, Head – Platform Engineering, JSW MG Motor India and Hitesh Joshi, Head of Technology, Apollo Tyres.Your contribution played a pivotal role in making GTRC 2026 a resounding success. We deeply appreciate your trust and collaboration, and we look forward to welcoming you again as we continue to shape the future of the tyre industry together.

Khare noted, “Simulia Simpack is unique and delivers in terms of accuracy, efficiency, team automation and robustness, among others. In the face of challenges that include market pressure, complexity and diversity, this helps to do CAE led development, including in the area of vehicle dynamics.”

She added that Simulia resolves complex physical factors in software-defined vehicles, including high vehicle mass, regenerative braking, battery placement and tyre properties.

Dr Nagesh Poojary, Managing Director of IPG Automotive India, spoke on virtual validation ecosystems, warning that software recalls could cost the industry USD 30 billion to USD 35 billion in warranty expenses. “Doing real-world tests is not feasible while the need to test more is increasing,” Dr Poojary noted, explaining that continuous virtual validation under ISO 26262 enables manufacturers to handle software complexity efficiently.

In the safety and performance session moderated by Sharad Matade, Executive Editor of Motoring Trends, panellists examined two-wheeler engineering.

Vishwadev Muraleedharan, Head of Vehicle Dynamics at Simple Energy, pointed out that the rider constitutes 50 percent of total vehicle dynamics. “A technology like ABS is mandatory and there should be a clear line between the system intervening and not intruding in a two-wheeler,” Muraleedharan mentioned. He revealed that electric two-wheeler battery compartments form a critical structural part of the chassis and urged ground-up component design. He noted that Simple Energy utilises a mid-drive motor near the swingarm pivot to centralise mass near the centre of gravity.

Prithivi Raj S, Technical Manager of Vehicle Engineering at Raptee HV, agreed that two-wheeler packaging is complicated by high centre-of-gravity requirements. He suggested that Inertial Measurement Units could generate rider safety scores alongside managing ABS lean angles.

“We have engineered a huge battery box to get the Cente of Gravity (CG) right in terms of dynamics. The most underrated factor in ride and handling is tyre pressure. A tyre is not only for grip but also a significant part of the spring damper system,” Prithivi Raj averred, stressing that system interventions must not override driver control unpredictably.

In a panel on smart hardware and software moderated by Nilesh Wadhwa, Assistant Editor of Motoring Trends, Gopal Musale, Cluster Head of Digital Product Engineering at BMW TechWorks India, announced, “The use of software and hardware is at a point where more software will come in hereafter. Vehicle improvement is going to be closely linked to AI in the coming times and software updates will be over the air (OTA).”

Musale explained that BMW utilises digital twins and a six-degree-of-freedom simulator in Munich to evaluate vehicle behaviour virtually before building physical prototypes, saving significant time and testing costs.

Alexander Aydt, Senior Fellow for ADAS/AD Tooling at Vector Informatik, noted that AI accelerates code generation and object detection, such as identifying a child running behind a ball. However, Aydt emphasised, “Humans are still strong at predicting the unimaginable.” He added that software-defined architecture allows engineers to alter intrusive vehicle features with ease compared to rigid mechanical designs.

Darren Jeseritz, Senior Applications Engineer at MTS, presented on hybrid simulation and Model-in-the-Loop (mHiL) testing. Jeseritz explained that MTS hybrid simulation integrates physical hardware with virtual multibody models, enabling steering and suspension certification on virtual tracks before physical prototypes exist. He noted that four-corner systems allow for complete vehicle dynamics simulation in laboratory environments.

The commercial vehicle session, moderated by Bhushan Mhapralkar, Editor of Motoring Trends, addressed decarbonisation and efficiency. Rajaram Kumble, Section Manager at Volvo India, noted that Volvo evaluates safety for both occupants and pedestrians. He shared that systems like predictive cruise control deliver 5 to 7 percent efficiency gains, while Volvo Dynamic Steering reduces steering effort in heavy manoeuvres by up to 70 percent.

Ramakrishna Donakonda, Vice-President and Head of Powertrain and eDrives at Daimler Truck Innovation Centre India, contrasted European staggered regulations with India’s simultaneous regulatory deadlines, such as 2027 ADAS mandates.

Donakonda explained that OEMs prioritise scalable platforms, noting, “Ultimately, what is offered to the customer is what they want and at prices that are acceptable to them.” He added that commercial electric vehicle adoption remains governed by charging infrastructure availability.

M K Jain, Tyre Technologist at JK Tyre, observed that commercial vehicle technology is rapidly adopting passenger car innovations, including Tyre Pressure Monitoring Systems and ‘Tyre-as-a-Service’ models. Jain noted that as per-kilometre payment models expand, tyre manufacturers are transitioning into ongoing tyre managers rather than pure hardware suppliers.

Concluding the technical presentations, Dhanasekar Venkatesan, Senior Principal Application Engineer at Cadence, highlighted that compressed launch timelines push teams towards zero-prototype development. Venkatesan explained that Cadence provides the MSC Adams multibody dynamics tool – a 50-year-old software used in space programmes – to accurately predict motion, forces, durability and vibration under complex Indian road conditions.

The third Vehicle Dynamics Conference demonstrated that vehicle engineering has transitioned into an integrated ecosystem where software, virtual simulation and mechanical design converge to shape the future of global mobility.

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Around 400 stakeholders from the global tyre and rubber industry converged on Chennai for the third edition of the Global Tyre and Rubber Conference (GTRC), held over two days on 17 and 18 June 2026. Against a backdrop of geopolitical strain, an accelerating shift to electric vehicles and the steady thrust on artificial intelligence into every layer of manufacturing, the gathering offered an unusually candid read on where the sector stands – and how anxious and ambitious it has become about what comes next.

Mike Norman, Chief Commercial Officer of VMI Group, called it a special moment for the industry, pointing to geopolitical disruption, rising competition from China, regulatory upheaval, the EV transition and the arrival of AI as forces reshaping the business. “This is a special event for the tyre and rubber industry. The times are difficult and there are disruptions – geopolitical in nature – that are a matter of concern and underline the changing nature of the business,” he said, adding that “the technological advancements are creating new opportunities to improve efficiency, quality and performance.”

CHANGE OF TYRE MANUFACTURING ERA

The conference’s most sweeping remarks came from Arun Mammen, Chairman of ATMA India and Vice Chairman & Managing Director of MRF, who argued that growth in the sector will not simply arrive – it must be built through bold investment, scientific rigour and the courage to transform, in step with India’s Viksit Bharat 2047 ambitions.

Mammen’s central claim was structural: for more than a century, tyre engineering has rested on three pillars – durability, grip and cost. “That era is ending. The convergence of sustainability imperatives and autonomous, shared and electric vehicles megatrends are forcing a complete reimagination of what a tyre must be,” he said.

He argued that electric vehicles demand a fundamentally different tyre – one engineered for ultra-low rolling resistance to preserve range – and that this requirement collides with Indian road realities, where only about three percent of the network qualifies as national highway. That gap, he said, calls for India-specific innovation and a regulatory framework that does not trade away safety in the pursuit of sustainability.

Mammen went further, describing a future in which the tyre itself becomes intelligent. “The tyre of tomorrow will no longer be a passive mechanical component, it will be an intelligent system embedded with sensors, TPMS that will enable real-time tracking of pressure, temperature, wear, road friction, predictive maintenance and optimised fleet performance that saves lives,” he said, adding that unlocking this potential would depend on deep, sustained collaboration between OEMs and tyre manufacturers.

On the factory floor, Mammen said Industry 4.0, AI, IoT and digital twins are transforming tyre manufacturing through process optimisation and predictive quality control. He also highlighted the shift from steam-based curing to electric and induction systems, with green hydrogen emerging as a future option.

On raw materials, Mammen noted the growing need to reduce dependence on petroleum-derived inputs. He highlighted India’s natural rubber expansion, with four major tyre companies helping establish 200,000 hectares of plantations, alongside a broader push towards bio-based materials, recycled content and a circular economy.

Mammen also pointed to renewed interest in retreading and the need for more resilient, localised supply chains, including domestic production of advanced manufacturing equipment. He concluded that India’s tyre industry now has an opportunity to lead the sector’s next phase of transformation.

Peter Haan, Head of Global VM Tire at Siemens AG, a visionary tyre veteran who has played a transformative role in advancing automation, digitalisation and technological innovation in the global tyre industry, received the Tyre Trends Lifetime Contribution award. “I would like to thank my dear friends in the Indian tyre industry, my partners and customers because I learned over the years that it is all about partnership,” he said in accepting it.

SESSION ONE: BUSINESS & EMERGING TRENDS

The opening panel, moderated by Latha Chembrakalam, CEO of AutoAscend, brought together Mammen, Norman and Ian Wilson, CEO of HF Group.

Mammen described a tyre industry facing sustainability pressure, the EV transition and raw-material constraints simultaneously – a convergence upending the economics of a capital-intensive business, since EVs change the game entirely. Building new facilities takes time and heavy capital, he said, arguing for a balance between existing plants and advanced new ones, and realistic targets for green tyres given that EVs demand an entirely new specification, technology and material set. Staying close to markets matters amid geopolitical shifts, he added: global technology matters more than global manufacturing footprint, and sophistication in tyre machinery will require more data analysts, cybersecurity specialists and other skilled talent.

Norman described China as a non-legacy market that has become a major disruptor, forcing costly upgrades to technology and facilities. “We are taking a platform approach for our machines right from the development stage to ensure scalability and retrofitting,” he said. EV adoption, he noted, is outpacing the industry’s ability to keep up, though VMI’s machines already handle the lighter, tougher tyres EVs require; cell-style manufacturing may help, even if it complicates large-scale short runs, making flexibility and modularity essential. He warned that scarce skilled manpower will push more automation and, in turn, more complex machinery, and that legislation – fast-arriving – is being underestimated.

Wilson pointed to Chinese auto OEMs building greenfield facilities in Africa as a signal of changing demand. “Chinese auto OEMs are setting up greenfield facilities in Africa, indicating a demand and change for tyre makers,” he said, adding that “new tech developments like AI are set to enhance tyre development and production.” Replacing steam curing with electric systems, he added, could bring significant improvement, alongside attention to the energy efficiency of recyclability; lower rolling resistance in EV tyres is also reshaping how silica is used in compounding.

Sanjay Chatterjee, Director General of ATMA, used his address – ‘Indian Tyre Industry – Towards a Resilient and Atmanirbhar Tomorrow’ – to cite Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s remark that Indian tyre exports crossed INR 273.12 million in the last fiscal year despite headwinds, reaching more than 172 countries. “Robust tyre production and growth, natural rubber production, ERP regime and other regulations are driving Indian economic growth,” he said.

SESSION TWO: MANUFACTURING EXCELLENCE

Chaired by V K Misra, Technical Director of JK Tyre & Industries, this session opened with Dr Gerard Nijman of KraussMaffei Extrusion posing a pointed question in his talk, ‘50 Years Of Tyre Component Extrusion: Did The Piggyback Multiplex Head Reach The End Of Life?’ He explained that multiplex and rollerhead lines use a piggyback configuration to produce roughly seven to eight components, but that drawbacks – limited flexibility, capped head pressure, hydraulic dependence, poor accessibility, an over-engineered locking concept and difficulty swapping heads – mean that “it is therefore necessary to question whether it has reached the end-of-life.”

Nicola Fedele, Managing Director and Board Member at Rodolfo Comerio, described calendering as “the heartbeat of tyre production,” adding: “There are innovations (friction-free lamination) and breakthroughs (less material use and fast change over time) in the global tyre market that is worth USD 256 billion.” He said eliminating the accumulator from the calendering process delivers superior quality control and a basis for automation.

Karsten Jung of Troester GmbH & Co. KG addressed EV mobility as a megatrend driving stiffer, higher-silica compounds. “An acquisition (SC OTOMASYON) made last year is helping push automation, involving an autobook system, truck tyre spraying line and more,” Jung said. Saravana Kumar S, Managing Director of Troester India, described the company’s regional push on extrusion performance. “Much regarding regional integration is being done in terms of extrusion performance, including refurbishment, retrofitting etc.,” the MD of Troester India said.

SESSION THREE: ADVANCEMENTS IN TYRE MANUFACTURING

Chaired by Ravin Kurian, Senior GM of Product Development at MRF, this session started with the presentation of Dr Robert Hula of Vipo a.s. on bead and apex solutions, which he called among the most important components in a tyre since its inception. “Precision manufacture as a new standard is paving way for intelligent bead manufacturing and predictive maintenance process with the use of greener materials,” he said.

Robert Thomas Irwin, Vice President of Sales & Marketing at The Steelastic Company, traced the industry’s evolution from bias to radial to EV to high-performance and premium tyres. “The shift from bias tyre to radial tyre to an EV tyre to a high-performance and premium tyre is creating a need to integrate extrusion tech with conventional calendaring,” he said, citing quicker changeovers, reduced work-in-process, better traceability and labour optimisation as benefits.

SESSION FOUR: GOING GREEN & SUSTAINABLE

This session, chaired by C Harimohan, Head of Corporate R&D (Materials and Compounding) at Yokohama OHT, opened with Colin Clarke of Schill+Seilacher (Struktol), Director – Technical Sales, Schill+Seilacher (Struktol) GmbH, who argued that emerging vehicle concepts, energy-efficiency demands and higher load-bearing requirements are driving major shifts in compounding formulations. “The use of resins is increasing relative to oils in certain applications and products such as Struktol VP 1831 are witnessing growing demand as they provide excellent Silica dispersion and superior metal release,” he said.

Ralph Boehm, Senior Manager, Kuraray Europe GmbH, described the company’s liquid rubber as “a reactive plasticiser that reduces Mooney viscosity while maintaining high quality and performance,” noting two new silane-modified butadiene rubber grades suited to silica-based tread compounds and truck-and-bus radial tyres for summer and winter use.

Dr Roberto Blanco Trillo, Global Business Development Manager, Allnex, discussed sustainable cord adhesion. “The Allnex Alvonol PN870 resin enhances rubber-brass adhesion and enables excellent cord adhesion without cobalt and resorcinol to be a truly sustainable solution,” he informed.

Srikanth Chakravarthy, Managing Director of Eonix, representing China’s Zenith Steel Group, described it as operator of the world’s largest steel-cord facility. “The Zenith Steel Group in China has the biggest steel cord facility in the world with continuous capex. It is highly competitive with strong economies of scale and focusing on efficiency through vertical integration, making steel cords. It is investing in highest level of automation, making steel cords through intelligent manufacturing encompassing six plants.”

DAY TWO, SESSION FIVE: AI INTEGRATION IN THE TYRE INDUSTRY

Dr Sujith S Nair, Vice President of R&D at CEAT’s Centre of Excellence, chaired this session. In his presentation on the subject ‘In the tyre market, evolution never stops’, Marcel Berkers, VP Global Sales Tyre & Rubber, VMI Group, framed technology evolution as fundamentally about smarter machines enabling efficient use of material and energy. “The practical approach of VMI is lowest cost-per-tyre within spec,” Berkers said.

Peter Haan argued that AI in the tyre industry still has considerable distance to travel, with challenges spanning shop-floor integration and scaling across visual quality inspection, anomaly and object detection, automation programming, process optimisation and predictive maintenance – challenges he said Siemens’ shop-floor AI industrial suite is designed to democratise and scale.

Harsh Vardhan, Global Head of Digital Innovation at Apollo Tyres, spoke on industrial AI’s path from automation to autonomy. “Continuous RoIs are being registered as humans and AI collaborate,” he said, adding that “AI is set to be a force multiplier in terms of business value, CFT collaboration process, governance fusion, AI and deep-tech diffusion, and RoI.” He noted Apollo has assembled a dedicated team to integrate and scale AI, with the real competition now centred on scale versus speed – measured in cycle-time reduction and energy savings.

SESSION SIX: THE ART OF TESTING

This session, chaired by Unnikrishnan P K, Global Head of R&D Tyre Testing at Apollo Tyres, featured Dr Shaun Immel of Ametek’s MicroPoise Measurement Systems on autonomous tyre-defect detection through X-ray image analysis. “The processing works in real plants with most X-ray machines using AI and deep learning to find defects and classify a tyre objectively,” he said, citing faster setup for new defect types, clearer colour-coded visualisation of tyre structure and improved air-bubble detection that lowers misclassification and cost.

Informing that his company has over 480 installations and offers offline profile inspection (with high precision for tyre companies using laser sensor), online profile inspection, extrusion (non-contact and high precision inspection suitable for tread) and width sensor for non-contact and high precision width measurement, Lubos Hodal, Head of Sales Department, Micro-Epsilon, said on the subject ‘New technology in tyre inspection’ that they also have mould inspection system for curing, avoiding noise and blind spots; letter completeness inspection during curing; final finishing solutions such as a central marking line, colour marks on sidewall and tread and retrofit programmes for PCR and TBR. Pragnesh Mori, Managing Director of Micro- Epsilon India, said, “We are designing measuring systems and software through our Indian assembly facility in Pune. The application team there works with the European team to develop new solutions.”

Michael Mueller, Senior Sales and Key Account Manager, ZF, addressed high-speed uniformity measurement and its bearing on quality and comfort in R&D and virtual tyre development. “High speed uniformity measurement marks a new trend in terms of comfort that includes typical HSU tests, the properties gained, the effect of speed ramp versus constant speeds, resonant frequency and different road conditions,” he said. He also said that ZF developed an advanced 2026 HSU solution accounting for tyre noise, vehicle weight, road conditions, user expectations and virtual simulation.

SESSION SEVEN: SUSTAINABILITY WAY FORWARD

Chaired by Dr Sarat Ghosh, Vice President of R&D and Technology at Birla Tyres, this session opened with Anil Nair of HF Group on electrical tyre curing. Curing demands are rising alongside tyre size, he said, and EV tyres in particular require low rolling resistance, spurring innovation. “The USP of electric curing is independent control, a key advantage in terms of de-coupling temperature from pressure. The electric curing press promises higher profit,” he said.

Aki Nurminen of Black Donuts spoke on manufacturing costs, describing cost as historically a unit-economics problem, now increasingly shaped by raw materials, maintenance, fixed costs and depreciation. “Boiling down to sustainability, cost and market reality where about 90 percent of the 600 tyre industries globally are over 19 years old, the implications in terms of automation or the lack of it, the lack of efficiency and how the new entrants are taking advantage of better tech that ensure lower costs are beginning to show up in an addressable market for tyres that is growing,” he said, noting Black Donuts’ Nemus bio-based pre-mix filler.

Priyank Potnis of Planex, the Indian partner of Regom, addressed circularity and traceability for end-of-life tyres. “Regom’s technology identifies tyre specs for end-of-life tyres, including automatic evacuation of a good tyre,” he said, adding that the company has developed two machines supporting traceability, circularity and ESG compliance amid the disposal of an estimated three million tonnes of end-of-life tyres under a rapidly evolving regulatory landscape.

SESSION EIGHT: PROCUREMENT UNDER PRESSURE

The closing panel, moderated by Chakravarthy, brought together Nikhil Puri, Senior Vice President of Direct Procurement at Yokohama, and Ramanan Balasubramanian Venkat, Vice President of Procurement at Ascenso Tyres, to discuss the pressures facing tyre-maker procurement teams.

“Retaining control over the supply chain remains a constant challenge, necessitating a need for pro-active engagement, both internally and externally, with various stakeholders to ensure agility and responsiveness,” Venkat said. AI and data-driven analytics increasingly shape procurement decisions, he added, though the open question is how much reliance those tools warrant given how quickly situations can shift in ways analytics may not anticipate. He described India’s tyre ecosystem as uniquely positioned given the investment underway, arguing the industry needs a long-term perspective, close collaboration and a supplier base both locally rooted and globally capable – while flagging the shortage of natural rubber as reason to accelerate adoption of greener, sustainable alternatives.

“Dividing into pre-Covid and post-Covid eras as supply chains underwent a real litmus test leading to a fundamental shift in mindset, forcing companies to go back to the drawing board and rethink their sourcing strategies, reliance on a sole supplier has been largely abandoned and new relationship built to enhance resilience,” Puri said. The ability to modify supply chains at short notice, he added, became a critical post-pandemic capability, driving regional diversification, stronger risk management and mapping of vendors’ own supply chains, with AI now positioned to take procurement further – including predicting disruptions such as weather events.

Puri also pointed to digital twins as improving understanding of container load capacity and logistics efficiency, and suggested AI combined with augmented reality could further improve warehouse operations. He framed India’s position as a sweet spot, backed by a young population and strong growth potential, pointing to the country’s diversification of crude-oil sourcing as an example of a broader ‘glocal’ strategy – one that includes friend-shoring, or sourcing from trusted, friendly nations to build more resilient supply chains.

Not only the conference delegates but GTRC also witnessed a significant increase in the exhibitors’ participation. The exhibition area consisted of 37 stalls, with some of the participating companies taking multiple booths and some of them sharing them with their overseas principles. The response was overwhelming and marked a surge over the last edition of the conference, cementing the GTRC as a global tyre event.

Conference chairman Tom Thomas closed proceedings by thanking speakers, delegates and stakeholders and acknowledged the event’s sponsors. The next edition of GTRC will be held on 23–24 June 2027 at the Chennai Trade Centre in Chennai, India.  

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Toyo Tire Corporation will implement organisational changes and leadership reassignments from 1st  October  2026, as part of efforts to strengthen execution of its medium-term business plan.

The restructuring is designed to reinforce strategy execution under the direct supervision of the president, in line with priorities set out in the company’s Mid-Term ’26 Plan.

Under the changes, the Americas Sales Division will be elevated to the Americas Business Headquarters and placed directly under the president. The division’s sales department will be renamed the Americas Business Development Department and transferred to the new structure.

The company will also move its ESG Promotion Department from the Corporate Infrastructure Division to the Corporate Strategy Division to align sustainability initiatives more closely with business strategy. In addition, the investor relations department will shift to the Corporate Administration Division.

Toyo Tire Corporation confirmed changes to executive responsibilities, including the appointment of Tatsuo Mitsuhata as Senior Corporate Officer And Vice-President of the Americas Business Headquarters. He will also continue to serve as representative Director And Chief Executive of Toyo Tire Holdings of Americas Inc. and President And Chief Executive of Toyo Tire North America OE Sales LLC.

Further personnel changes include Kunihiro Matsumoto becoming Deputy Division General Manager of the Corporate Administration Division, while Nobuo Yoshida will serve as General Manager of the Corporate Strategy Division.

Miho Okamoto and Junji Hirose will assume roles within the Corporate Strategy Division, overseeing ESG-related functions, while Hiroshi Ito will take responsibility for the investor relations department under the Corporate Administration Division.

Kenji Kubo has been appointed General Manager of the Americas Business Development Department.

Additional appointments include Misaki Nagao as General Manager of Quality Assurance Department No.1, while Wataru Matsumoto will assume the role of General Manager of the Commercial Tire Technical Service Department from November 1 2026.

At subsidiary level, Keiko Brockel will become President And Chief Executive of Toyo Tire Holdings of Americas Inc., while Angelo Naval will be appointed President And Chief Executive of Nitto Tire U.S.A. Inc.

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Tom Pemberton never set out to build an audience. He set out to document a Tuesday, filming the quiet, unglamorous reality of running a working farm in Lytham St Annes, Lancashire. Years later, that instinct has turned him into one of the most recognised faces in British agriculture, the man behind Tom Pemberton Farm Life.

At the LAMMA Show 2026, that instinct collided with a very different kind of machine: the global manufacturing engine of Maxam Tyre Europe, a division of the Sailun Group. The result is a new partnership under which Pemberton will fit MAXAM agricultural tyres to his own machinery and share, unfiltered, how they perform. Harry Wang, General Manager of Sailun Group Europe, points to Maxam’s credentials – testing by DLG, the German Agricultural Society, and its role as an original equipment partner to CASE IH and New Holland – as the backdrop to the deal. “Now is the time to further develop the brand and spread the word within the farming community. We feel privileged that Tom has agreed to work with the Maxam brand – and we really like his style and share the same passion for farming,” he says.

FROM A PHONE IN A FIELD TO A FOLLOWING

For farming influencer Tom Pemberton, known for his popular Tom Pemberton Farm Life digital channels, none of it was planned. “I never expected any of this when I first started putting videos online. At the beginning, it was literally just me filming bits of day-to-day farm life and showing the reality of it, the good days, the bad days and everything in between. I think people connected with that because it wasn’t polished or overthought, it was just real,” Pemberton says.

That word, real, threads through almost everything he says about his career. He never sat down with a grand plan for what the channel might become; it began with picking up a phone and filming the day’s work, whatever that happened to be. What changed everything, he believes, was honesty. “I’ve never tried to make farming look perfect because the reality is it isn’t. Some days are brilliant, and some days are stressful, exhausting and frustrating, but that’s real life in agriculture, and people appreciate honesty,” he says.

What has surprised him most is not the loyalty of the farming audience but the appetite from everyone else – a public curiosity about where food comes from that goes far beyond agricultural circles. Social media, he believes, has thrown open the doors of a world that used to keep largely to itself. “Farming used to be quite a closed world in many ways, but now people are sharing ideas, machinery, problems and experiences instantly. It’s opened the industry up massively and given people a real insight into modern farming,” Pemberton says.

That openness has reshaped his own life too. He still describes himself, first and foremost, as a farmer, but one who has found himself combining the daily rhythm of the farm with content and with brand partnerships he says he genuinely believes in. Pemberton adds. “I’m passionate about the industry, and if I can help showcase farming in a positive way whilst having a bit of fun along the way, then that’s a pretty good position to be in.”

WHY TYRES MATTER MORE THAN PEOPLE THINK

It is against that backdrop that tyres, of all things, enter the story. To an outsider, a tyre might seem like the least glamorous component on any piece of farm machinery. Pemberton sees it very differently.

“People sometimes underestimate just how important tyres are on a modern farm. They’re one of those things that can make a massive difference to productivity, efficiency and downtime, especially with the size and weight of modern machinery now,” he says.

Reliability, for him, is measured in hours lost during the exact weeks of the year when there are no hours to spare. “When you’re in the middle of summer harvesting, or trying to beat the weather, the last thing you need is machinery standing still because of tyre issues. Downtime costs money and also adds stress and pressure at the busiest times of the year,” Pemberton says.

Over time, the YouTuber has also come to appreciate the quieter ways tyres shape a farm’s performance and its footprint, from traction and fuel consumption through to the condition of the soil itself. “The right tyre setup can genuinely improve how a machine performs in the field and on the road,” Pemberton says, and it is precisely that intersection of performance and technology that drew him toward Maxam in the first place.

HOW THE MAXAM RELATIONSHIP BEGAN

His account of how the relationship began is notably unsentimental about brand marketing and notably specific about people. What attracted him first, Pemberton says, was attitude rather than advertising – a willingness on Maxam’s part to work directly with farmers and to actually listen to the people using the tyres, day in and day out.

“From the first conversations, it felt like they genuinely cared about performance and real-world applications rather than just selling a product,” Pemberton says. Since then, running the tyres has only reinforced that impression, with build quality, traction and comfort standing out under the kind of workload modern machinery now routinely demands. “Farming conditions are tough, and tyres have to cope with a huge mix of road work, heavy loads and field work, so reliability is a massive thing for me,” he says.Above all, though, he returns to a single condition for any partnership: authenticity. “For me, it’s important that any partnership feels authentic and that I can honestly talk about the products I’m using on the farm, and that’s something that’s worked really well with Maxam. If I’m going to work with a brand and put my name to something, I want to properly understand the people behind it, the quality of the product and what goes into developing it,” Pemberton says.

He is candid about why that matters so much in farming specifically: farmers are practical people who can spot inauthenticity almost immediately, which means trust has to be earned through real experience rather than through marketing language.

THE FARM VISIT THAT SEALED IT

The turning point came when the Maxam team travelled to his farm in person, a moment Pemberton returns to with evident warmth.

“The real ice breaker for me was when the guys from Maxam came over to the farm to talk things through, see the place and meet me and my family. I genuinely felt like they would have happily gone straight to work on the farm that day. That made a real impression on me and showed they genuinely cared about the partnership,” Pemberton says. Learning more about the manufacturing and testing behind the tyres only deepened that confidence, revealing an engineering effort behind agricultural tyres he suspects most people never stop to consider.

Ask him about the specific technology that has impressed him most, and Pemberton points to a campaign Maxam has been running in UK under the banner ‘More Pull. Less Fuel’, which draws on the brand’s DLG test results. It is a bold promise, he acknowledges, tackling two problems that sit at the top of almost every farmer’s list simultaneously: productivity and fuel costs. “I was curious if they could really make that stretch of increasing productivity and saving fuel at the same time, a pain point for all farmers,” Pemberton says.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS FROM THE FIELD

As for how the tyres are performing on his own machinery, Pemberton is careful not to overstate an early verdict. “To be honest, we have just started, so it’s a bit early to give some in-depth analysis. But my gut feeling from the first weeks out on the fields is very good. No traction issues even in the muddy and ultra-wet areas,” Pemberton says, adding with the kind of dry humour familiar to anyone who follows his channel that the tyres look rather good on his Maxxum too.

SOIL, SUSTAINABILITY AND THE WEIGHT OF MODERN MACHINERY

Beneath the light-hearted asides sits a more serious concern that has come to define much of modern farming: what machinery does to the ground beneath it. Soil compaction and sustainability, Pemberton says, are now unavoidable topics in agriculture, and rightly so.

“The right tyres and pressures can make a huge difference when it comes to reducing compaction, improving flotation and protecting soil structure, especially with modern machinery becoming bigger and heavier every year. Healthy soil is everything in farming and once you damage it, it can take a long time to recover,” Pemberton says. It is a subject he has grown more attentive to over the years, one that now sits alongside traction and durability rather than behind them.

None of this, in Pemberton’s mind, can be judged from a spec sheet. “You can read specs and brochures all day long, but until a product is out working in proper conditions, carrying weight, travelling on the road and dealing with different weather and soil types, you don’t really know how it’s going to perform,” he says.

Farmers, Pemberton adds, listen to other farmers above almost anyone else, which is exactly why he tries to share honest, unvarnished feedback rather than polished endorsement. For Pemberton personally, the metrics that matter most over time are simple: reliability, durability and consistent performance. “Farming is hard enough without equipment letting you down,” he says.

STAYING TRUSTWORTHY WHILE WORKING WITH BRANDS

It is this instinct for honesty that also explains how Pemberton has managed to work with commercial partners without losing the trust of an audience built on authenticity in the first place. The answer, he suggests, is refreshingly uncomplicated: only work with brands you actually believe in. “My audience would spot straight away if I was promoting something just for the sake of it, and that’s never been what my content is about,” Pemberton says. Whatever machinery or products appear on his channel are there because he is genuinely using them and genuinely curious about how they perform, a distinction that matters enormously to viewers who have followed his farm through years of unscripted reality.

That trust, he says, has been reinforced rather than tested by how closely Maxam and Sailun have worked with him. It began, again, with that farm visit, and it has continued since. “They really listen. Like I said earlier, they came out to the farm, spent time with me and the team here, and didn’t just leave after a quick look around. For me, that says a lot. I already feel like I know the people behind the brand personally rather than it feeling like just another partnership. That’s the true ‘in real life’ view that makes all the difference. You don’t always get that. That’s the sort of thing that builds trust and makes partnerships feel genuine rather than just business,” Pemberton explains.

WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE FROM HERE

So what does success look like from here, for a partnership that is only just getting started? Pemberton’s answer is less about targets and more about continuity – the relationship staying genuine and mutually beneficial as it grows, with him continuing to show his audience how the tyres perform in real working conditions and giving honest feedback drawn from daily farming life, because that, he believes, is what people relate to most. He also wants to keep expanding the content itself, offering his audience more behind-the-scenes insight into modern farming, machinery and the challenges the industry faces.

From the partnership’s side, he sees success in terms of relationships that deepen over time rather than a single campaign that fades. Farming, he points out, is changing constantly, and social media is only becoming a bigger part of how the industry communicates. There is one particular ambition on his list that captures the curiosity running through the whole partnership: a visit to see Maxam’s factories in person, to understand, as he puts it, how they do their magic.

It is a fitting note to end on. For Pemberton, this was never going to be a partnership built on a logo stitched onto a jacket or a scripted line delivered to camera. It is built on the same principle that built his channel in the first place: show the real thing, and let people decide for themselves. For a company the size of Sailun, betting its Maxam brand’s UK farming credibility on that principle is a considerable act of trust. For Pemberton, it is simply how he has always worked.

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