The Tire Industry Project (TIP), a global tyre forum focussing on sustainability, has launched its first Open Call for Projects (OCP) initiative. TIP is a voluntary CEO-led initiative that consisting of 10 leading tyre companies, which represent more than 60 percent of the world’s tyre manufacturing capacity. 

The idea is to promote new research fields and agendas to drive sustainability practices and environmental stewardship within the tyre industry at a global scale.

Larisa Kryachkova, Executive Director, TIP, said, “The Open Call for Projects attests to TIP’s commitment to supporting high quality scientific research and evidence-based progress focused on the mitigation of tyre wear emissions and their diverse impact. We are reaching out to further broaden TIP’s relationships with researchers and experts in this field.”

To support the OCP, TIP states it intends to provide financial assistance to research projects focusing on –

• The assessment and measurement of tyre wear emissions, i.e., material produced during the use phase of a tyre. 
• The development of mitigation measures, advancing the evaluated technologies towards demonstration in the relevant environment. 

The eligible projects will need to bring novel research concepts, which can preferably be published in peer-reviewed scientific journals. Furthermore, these concepts are expected to be integrated in activities such as field sampling, chemical and particle characterisation of emissions, data analysis and modelling of tyre wear emissions distribution in the environment and development of TRWP and leachate mitigation measures and/or advancing the evaluated mitigation technologies.

The entries will be evaluated by a committee consisting of TIP members and external experts.

Representational image courtesy: Oxford Indices

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

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.

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

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.”

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

German tier 1 supplier Continental has announced the sale of its ContiTech group sector to an affiliate of Lone Star Funds for EUR 4 billion. The transaction includes components of up to EUR 250 million dependent on performance.

Following the sale, Continental will sharpen its focus on tyre manufacturing. The transaction is expected to result in a cash inflow of approximately EUR 3.1 billion. Continental plans to use EUR 2.5 billion of these proceeds for a special dividend or a combination of a special dividend and share buybacks. Lone Star Funds will assume responsibility for all ContiTech business operations.

Sabrina Soussan, Chair of Continental’s Supervisory Board, said, “With the sale of ContiTech, the Supervisory Board approved the final step in Continental’s realignment. We are convinced that both companies will be better positioned to develop as independent businesses than as part of the same group. This strategic focus will make them both even stronger.”

Christian Kötz, CEO, Continental, said, “The sale of ContiTech not only marks the final step in our strategic realignment, but also the beginning of a new era as a pure-play tyre manufacturer. As announced, our shareholders will participate in the proceeds from the sale. We will also continue to improve our solid capital structure.”

Donald Quintin, CEO, Lone Star Funds, said, “ContiTech is a well-positioned industrial company with outstanding technological capabilities and extensive expertise in materials, making it one of the leading providers in its industries. We are convinced of ContiTech’s significant potential. As a global investor with a track record in the industrials sector, we look forward to working closely with the management team and employees around the world to further develop the business – through operational improvements and targeted investments in attractive growth markets.”

ContiTech reported sales of EUR 4.4 billion in the 2025 fiscal year and employs approximately 22,000 people. Its portfolio includes conveyor and drive systems, fluid management solutions, and damping and surface applications.

For Continental, the tyre business remains its core operation, supported by 19 tyre plants and 55,000 employees. Passenger-car tyre sales accounted for 77 percent of tyre revenue in 2025. The company’s realignment follows the spin-off of its Automotive sector in September 2025 and the sale of ContiTech’s Original Equipment Solutions business area in February 2026.

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

European premium tyre brand Pirelli has acquired a 24.99 percent equity stake in RIDEsense, a start-up originating from the University of Naples Federico II and the MegaRide Group.

The agreement grants Pirelli a licence to use RIDEsense’s virtual sensor technology and includes an option for Pirelli to increase its holding to 100 percent of the company’s share capital.

The partnership aims to integrate Pirelli’s physical tyre sensors with RIDEsense’s virtual sensor algorithms. This integration is intended to expand the functionality of the Cyber Tyre ecosystem, particularly for ADAS and autonomous driving systems, by improving tyre and vehicle diagnostics and strengthening safety features such as aquaplaning detection.

The Pirelli Cyber Tyre system collects data from sensors embedded in tyres to transmit information to vehicle electronic systems in real time, supporting functions such as ABS, ESP and traction control. RIDEsense provides physics-based algorithms that model vehicle and tyre behaviour, available as software for electronic control units or as hardware through its Kymes platform.

Piero Misani, Chief Technical Officer, Pirelli, said, “More than 20 years ago, we embarked on the journey that led to the integration of data collection and transmission capabilities into tyres, giving rise to Cyber Tyre technology. Our agreement with RIDEsense will further expand the potential of this ecosystem by strengthening its software component, which lies at the very heart of Cyber Tyre.”

Flavio Farroni and Aleksandr Sakhnevych, Chief Executive Officers, RIDEsense, said, "This is a significant agreement for Italy. It brings together Italian research and industry to take a project that began more than ten years ago in Naples, within the Vehicle Dynamics Group at the University of Naples Federico II, and supported by the University's technology transfer structures, onto Pirelli's production lines. As mobility becomes increasingly connected, technologies capable of delivering greater safety, efficiency and driving quality are essential. This is the objective we share with Pirelli."

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!