On Monday, September 28th at the Global Polymer Summit being held in Louisville, KY, the Rubber Division will honor the 2026 Science & Technology award winners. Afterwards, the division will feature a special session bringing together the award recipients to demonstrate how scientific discovery is driving next-generation performance, manufacturing, and sustainability across the rubber industry. Presentations will span fundamental research in rheology, polymer physics, network topology, and processing, alongside innovations in durability modeling, advanced manufacturing, sustainable materials, and greener tire technologies.

Pirelli has developed two dedicated tire fitments for the new Bentley Supersports, the coupé engineered to deliver the ultimate driving experience. They are the P Zero Trofeo RS, designed to enhance the car’s sporting character, particularly on track, and the P Zero, developed for everyday driving. To mark the centenary of the “Super Sports” name, first introduced in 1925, the Crewe-based manufacturer has once again chosen Pirelli as its partner to harness the capabilities of a car that is radically different from any previous Continental GT: rear-wheel drive for the first time in the model’s history (excluding the Continental GT3 race car), curb weight below two tons, and 666 hp, 800 Nm twin-turbocharged V8 powertrain.

Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation has decided to commercialize a new negative thermal expansion filler (contracts when heated) developed for semiconductor packaging materials. We will begin selling pilot products by the end of FY2026, proceed with customer evaluations and certifications, and launch sales of mass produced products in the second half of FY2027.

Zeon has begun construction of a production facility for single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) at its Tokuyama Plan. The new facility, scheduled to begin full-scale operation in 2028, is expected to boost the Tokuyama Plant’s production capacity to tens of times its current level, strengthening Zeon’s presence in the SWCNT market amid growing demand, particularly for lithium-ion batteries, while further enhancing its capabilities to ensure a stable supply. This project has been certified by Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) under its Ensuring Supply Plan for Storage Batteries.

PT Bridgestone Tire Indonesia (Bridgestone Indonesia), a group company of Bridgestone Corporation, Japan, commemorated its 50th anniversary at a ceremony held in Jakarta on August 24, bringing together key stakeholders and recognizing the invaluable contributions of partners who have played an instrumental role in the company’s growth over the past five decades.

NEXEN TIRE announced that it is accelerating its shift to renewable energy at its Korean production sites. As part of this push, the company has signed a Direct Power Purchase Agreement (DPPA) for its Yangsan plant in Korea and is expanding solar self-generation at its Changnyeong and Yangsan plants, with the aim of raising the share of renewable energy used in its manufacturing operations and strengthening its sustainability commitment.