The 14th edition of TyreXpo Asia, held from 12 to 14 March 2025 at the Sands Expo and Convention Centre in Singapore, took the event to a new high. Organised by Informa Markets, the top-tier event boasted more than 250 participants and more than 6,000 industry experts from over 90 countries and established itself firmly as one of the prominent events for the world’s tyre, automotive repair and maintenance businesses.

CENTRAL POINT OF INDUSTRY INNOVATION AND NETWORKING

TyreXpo Asia 2025 was a vast platform to showcase the most recent developments in tyres, car repair equipment, tools, parts and accessories. The exhibition grounds had innovative start-ups, established companies and industry leaders who unveiled ground-breaking technologies transforming the world tyre business. Visitors had the opportunity to experience these innovations firsthand, see the latest trends and stay ahead in a competitive business.

The significance of the event was driven by its host city’s prime position in Southeast Asia’s auto cluster leader Singapore. World-class infrastructure and access ensured that world-class international buyers, together with regional players, found the platform the ideal one-stop shop. The event was a resounding success at its last staging with near 5,000 executives from 91 countries represented, and it was addressing every aspect of the tyre, vehicle and related industries. This year, the organisers saw an even larger response, which shows how more and more important the Asia-Pacific region is to the global tyre market.

EXHIBITION HIGHLIGHTS AND PARTICIPATING BRANDS

The gigantic 15,000 square metre exhibition space hosted over 500 international tyre firms, including renowned entities such as Alves Bandeira, American Pacific Industries, Davanti, Deestone, Evergreen, Guizhou Tyre Co. Ltd., Hubei Aulice Tyre Co. Ltd., JGL Worldwide, LingLong Tire, Max Rubber, Momo Tires, Nexen Corp, Ozka, Petlas, Prinx Chengshan, Stamford Tyres, Tercelo, Transamerica, Roadone, Armour, Yongsheng, Wholesale Tire Distributors, ZC Rubber and Zodo Tire.

These exhibitors presented a great variety of products, ranging from passenger car radial tyres to truck, bus and off-the-road tyres, tyre accessories and maintenance tools. The event provided the participants with a complete overview of the latest products and services that supply the market, enabling business development and collaboration between manufacturers, distributors and inventors.

CONFERENCE PROGRAMMES AND KNOWLEDGE SHARING

In addition to the exhibition, TyreXpo Asia 2025 also featured a robust conference programme designed to facilitate knowledge sharing and industry information. The Tyre Technical Seminar delved into tyre technology advancements and industry innovations, closing the knowledge gap in downstream technicalities with dedicated tracks. The Tyre Business Forum also featured sessions on market trends, sustainability, digitalisation and mobility’s future.

These sessions provided attendees valuable information on the rapidly evolving tyre manufacturing and design developments. The experts discussed advances in artificial intelligence, 3D printing and new material sciences that were transforming tyre performance. The event was centred on enabling industry participants to gain the necessary knowledge to remain ahead of the change and take advantage of the new opportunities.

NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES AND BUSINESS MATCHING

TyreXpo Asia 2025 placed a major emphasis on forging genuine connections in the global tyre industry. Networking sessions were a part of the event that helped bring together distributors, manufacturers, retailers and innovators, allowing them to exchange knowledge and form strategic partnerships. A business matching platform powered by AI was available through web and mobile app, simplifying meetings and maximising business interaction before and during the show.

The Hosted Buyer Programme was also an element, welcoming 120 international hosted buyers, from fleet managers to purchasing directors, wholesalers and distributors, to meet with key decision-makers. The programme supported buyers by pre-paying travel expenses, ensuring a hassle-free and affordable experience that fostered business growth and collaboration.

COMMITMENT TO SUSTAINABILITY AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

TyreXpo Asia 2025 demonstrated its dedication to corporate social responsibility with activities, such as the Flip Tyre Challenge, for the benefit of the Singapore Children’s Society. The activity was not only to highlight endurance and strength but also to build community. For every SGD10 collected per tyre flip, the people involved were supporting the Singapore Children’s Society directly, further making the event about doing good beyond the industry.

Sustainability was a recurring theme throughout the event, with recycling, equipment and retreading being addressed. The recycling sector witnessed positive interest, with Eldan Recycling and Gradeall experiencing high interest in their products, reflecting the growing demand for recycling and waste management in the region. With the sector under pressure to be more sustainable, TyreXpo Asia 2025 aimed to provide a comprehensive platform for addressing these pressing issues.

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Kumho Tyre UK Ltd is continuing to invest in its truck and bus tyre operations with the expansion of its sales leadership team. The company has promoted Tony McHugh to the role of Sales Director for the TBR division, having previously worked with the business on a consultancy basis. In a parallel move, industry veteran Stewart Little has been appointed as TBR Sales Manager.

Little brings over four decades of tyre industry expertise to the position. Beginning his career in 1983 at branch level, he has since built a comprehensive understanding of the commercial sector through hands-on experience in retail, wholesale, and sales management. Prior to joining Kumho, he spent eight years at Giti, where he served most recently as UK Sales Manager following a five-year period in wholesale. His career also includes a 26-year tenure at National Tyres, equipping him with deep operational insight.

McHugh’s elevation to Sales Director recognises his strategic input into Kumho’s truck tyre development and signals the company’s growing confidence in its TBR product range. Together, these changes reinforce Kumho’s commitment to strengthening its position in the commercial vehicle tyre market through both internal progression and targeted external recruitment.

Little said: “I am extremely proud to be joining Kumho Tyre. It is a brand with a well-established reputation as a premium mid-range manufacturer, offering reliable performance and outstanding value to both dealers and end users. Kumho is a name that needs very little introduction, and I am looking forward to contributing to the continued success and enthusiasm of the team. Having spent my career working across all areas of the trade, I’m excited to bring that experience into the business at a time of such positive growth.”

Welcoming both announcements, Richard Lyons, Managing Director at Kumho Tyre (UK) Ltd, said: “We are delighted to congratulate Tony on his promotion to Sales Director (TBR) and to welcome Stewart to the Kumho team. These appointments demonstrate our ongoing investment in people as we continue to strengthen our position in the truck tyre market. Kumho now offers one of the most robust and competitive TBR ranges available, combining performance, durability and value. With Tony’s leadership and Stewart’s extensive industry experience, we are well positioned to support our customers and drive the next phase of growth for the brand.”

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Finorchem Limited, a notable player in the speciality chemicals sector, has announced a key leadership appointment aimed at strengthening its operational and technological capabilities. The company has named R B Vishwanath as the Business Head – Manufacturing & Technology, based at its Kolkata Head Office.

This strategic move brings over four decades of chemical process industry expertise to Finorchem, with a particular emphasis on the rubber chemicals segment where Vishwanath has contributed for more than 20 years. The appointment signals Finorchem's commitment to advancing its manufacturing excellence and technological innovation.

Vishwanath is a graduate of the University of Madras with professional training in Chemical Technology. He further honed his leadership skills by completing a Post Graduate Program in Chief Operating Officer from the University of Kent's Kent Business School, in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Management, Visakhapatnam (IIM-V).

His distinguished career began in 1986 at Parke Davis in the Process Development Lab. He later spent 15 impactful years at Resonance Specialties, rising to the position of General Manager – Operations. In this role, he was instrumental in piloting, commissioning, and managing advanced vapour phase catalytic continuous flow production units for Pyridines and higher homologous Pyridines.

Subsequent senior roles saw him drive operational excellence at Arch Pharmalabs Ltd. as Assistant Vice President – Operations, overseeing the manufacture of sophisticated products including lipid-lowering intermediates, BOC products using Diazomethane and organophosphorus chemicals. His journey in rubber chemicals deepened significantly from 2003 onwards with a pivotal stint at Merchem Limited, before he brought his expertise to Finorchem as Vice President & Site Head.

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Kraton Corporation, a leading global producer of speciality polymers and high-value bio-based chemicals derived from pine wood pulping co-products, has named Sangwoo Ryu as its new Chief Executive Officer. Ryu possesses over 25 years of leadership in finance and operations within international markets. He is currently the CEO of Cariflex Pte Ltd, a former Kraton spin-off now under DL Chemical, where he initially served as Chief Financial Officer starting in February 2020. He assumed the Cariflex CEO role in April 2025 following the promotion of its former CEO, Prakash Kolluri, to President of Kraton's Polymer business.

Ryu’s deep expertise in financial strategy, investment controls and operational planning is expected to strengthen Kraton’s standing as a reliable leader in global Pine Chemical and Polymers markets. In his new position, he will collaborate with Kraton’s Executive Leadership, Board of Directors and Cariflex Leadership to guide strategic decisions and operational excellence, reinforcing the company’s commitment to sustained growth and organisational stability.

Ryu said, “I want to express my gratitude towards the members of the Board of Directors and the Kraton Leadership Team for their unwavering dedication to Kraton’s success. I’m looking forward to leading Kraton into the next era of excellence, building upon the strong foundations and principles set forth in our vision and values.”

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As part of its strategic growth into Central Europe, FORNNAX TECHNOLOGY, a global leader in recycling equipment manufacturing, has established a new sales partnership in Germany. The company has appointed industry veteran Dieter Jerschl as its representative for the region to drive the promotion and implementation of its recycling systems. Jerschl’s extensive expertise, built over two decades with prominent firms like BHS, Eldan and Vecoplan, encompasses a deep understanding of diverse waste streams such as tyre, cable, municipal solid waste and e-waste.

This collaboration, initially targeting Germany, Austria and adjacent countries, is designed to be flexible and scalable. Its primary aim is to cultivate a strong project pipeline and solidify FORNNAX’s regional footprint. The partnership extends beyond sales to include comprehensive technical support, with Jerschl’s team providing vital value-added services like installation, maintenance and spare parts assistance. This local service framework is intended to ensure efficient project execution, minimise operational downtime and elevate customer satisfaction.

By leveraging Jerschl’s profound market insight and established networks, FORNNAX seeks to accelerate the adoption of its high-performance shredding and pre-processing technologies. The move underscores the company’s global strategy of embedding local expertise within key markets, which it deems crucial for developing technically sound solutions tailored to specific regional waste challenges. This initiative reinforces FORNNAX’s dedication to innovation and environmental stewardship, advancing its mission to deliver sustainable recycling solutions worldwide.

Jerschl said, “I’ve known FORNNAX for over a decade and have followed their growth closely. What attracted me to this collaboration is their state-of-the-art technology; it is powerful, sustainable, and economically viable. There is great potential to introduce FORNNAX’s innovative systems to more markets across Europe, and I am excited to be part of that journey. We are committed to increasing market awareness and establishing new reference projects across the region. My goal is not only to generate business but to lay the foundation for long-term growth. Ideally, we aim to establish a dedicated FORNNAX legal entity or operational site in Germany over the next five to 10 years.”

Jignesh Kundaria, Director and CEO, FORNNAX, said, “We see tremendous potential in the Central European market. Partnering with someone as experienced and well established as Jerschl gives us a strong foothold and allows us to better serve our customers. This marks a major milestone in our efforts to promote reliable, efficient and future-ready recycling solutions globally.”

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