News and week in review on rubberworld.com

1/22/2021 - West Warwick, RI - Guill Tool & Engineering rolled out a new website at www.guill.com. The new site offers a detailed look at the company’s entire product line, which offers a wide-range of standard and custom designed extrusion tooling, including crossheads, in-line heads, rotary heads and extrusion tips and dies. The site includes a full listing of all product and specifications, with calculation tools to compute annual cost of lengthy concentricity adjustments and crosshead replacement analysis, plus calculators to compute draw down, feet per minute and pounds per hour. The website includes charts and tables with detailed data and a full library of downloadable literature organized by industry. Guill markets its equipment worldwide and is currently seeking new representatives in select countries. The Guill website is mobile phone friendly and offers the convenience of allowing users to request a quote online.

1/22/2021 - Barberton, OH - Novation Solutions, LLC (NovationSi), a materials science company that specializes in high quality silicone dispersions, has developed PURmix high consistency rubber (HCR) healthcare compounds that enhance electrical properties of silicone rubber, using patent-pending technologies that incorporate a revolutionary single-wall carbon nanotube (SG101) developed by Zeon Corporation. By effectively dispersing Zeon’s SG101 single-wall carbon nanotubes into NovationSi’ PURmix HCR healthcare compounds, the electrically conductive properties of the cured article are said to be greatly enhanced. A practical application of this novel silicone technology is medical devices that perform neuromodulation therapies on the human body. In fact, the first clinical use of this new silicone compound has already won FDA clearance in suppressing essential tremors and has been released to the medical device market for use on patients under physicians’ care. According to Neuroepidemiology 2019, essential tremors affect 4 percent of the population above the age of 40; for those 65 and older, there is a 20 percent prevalence of the disorder. Clinical trials associated with this study found that many patients showed reduction in tremors in part due to the therapeutic advances made possible by this new technology. “It’s exciting to see this revolutionary silicone technology helping those suffering from neuro-physical diseases,” shared Bob Bradley, president of NovationSi. “Further developments are progressing with these technologies.” “Although this technology is still in its infancy and the scale of our business is small, we would like to contribute to society by taking the patient's standpoint and integrating it with other companies’ technologies,” said Kohei Arakawa, president of Zeon Nanotechnology Co., Ltd. “The possibility that its adoption in medical devices will give momentum to business development for general industrial use is beginning to appear, and significant growth is expected in 2022.” SG101 carbon nanotubes will be sold by Zeon Nanotechnology Co., Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Zeon Corporation. The custom HCR healthcare compounds with Zeon’s SG101 incorporated, will be sold by NovationSi, under its PURmix brand in the United States.

1/22/2021 - Nashville, TN - Hankook Tire is equipping the new Audi RS Q8 with its tires as original equipment. The German car manufacturer’s Q-series is characterized by progressive design and pioneering technology. The Audi Sport vehicle demonstrates the sporting potential of this series with power rating of 591 horsepower/590 ft.-lbs. torque, accelerating from 0 to 60 mph in 3.8 seconds. The performance of the Audi RS Q8 with its quattro all-wheel drive and RS-specific elements is immediately evident. This athleticism is enhanced by Hankook’s original equipment tires the Ventus S1 evo 3 SUV in 295/40 ZR22 112Y XL AO. To ensure safe driving in the cold season, Audi customers can order the winter tires, i*cept evo 2 in the size 275/40 R22 107V XL AO (suitable for snow chains) or optionally the 295/35 R23 108W XL AO. “Hankook has already built up a long tradition of original equipment at Audi. The RS models in particular have long been supplied with Hankook tires,” says Hyunjun Cho, head of the Hankook OE Division. “Of course, it’s always a great honor for our development engineers when Hankook summer and winter tires are also used on top models.” “The tire design for a very sporty, and at the same time majestic, vehicle like the Audi RS Q8 is particularly demanding. As with the other large models in the Q series, higher load capacities generally apply, which must be guaranteed at high speeds,” explains Moonhwa Hong, vice p resident of the Hankook OE Development Department. “That is why the resilience of the tire construction was of particular importance. We have also paid special attention to the performance characteristics of our tires in both wet and dry conditions.” The Ventus S1 evo 3 SUV has significantly increased sidewall strength compared to standard products thanks to “bead packing,” the use of a special nylon material in the sidewall area. The two-layer carcass and the use of an aramid composite material reduce the unwanted expansion of the rolling circumference at high speeds by up to 60 percent compared to previous profiles. The tires therefore have very high driving stability and steering precision, as well as increased durability due to lower overall heat development. The sporty and dynamic performance on both dry and wet roads is further enhanced by a new tread compound using high-performance natural resins. As a result, the Ventus S1 evo 3 SUV achieves a consistently high level of performance across a wide range of temperatures and conditions. The multi-award-winning Hankook Winter i*cept evo 2 with an asymmetrical tread design is the optional winter tire for the Audi RS Q8. The outer side of the tread with its wide block tread pattern provides improved handling characteristics and precise lateral guidance, especially in dry conditions, while the inner side of the tread with its increased number of tread block edges and sipes ensures excellent braking and traction performance on snow, slush and wet roads.

1/22/2021 - Selbyville, DE - According to a recent research report titled, 'North America Tire Market Analysis, 2020,' available from Market Study Report LLC, the North American tire market is projected to attain a valuation of $90 billion by the year 2025. As per the report findings, growing sales of passenger cars owing to rising per capita income, expanding vehicle fleet due to robust growth of logistics sector, and increasing production of automobiles are fueling the growth of the North America tire market. Moreover, growing use of off-road and construction vehicles on account of the increasing number of infrastructure projects, along with presence of a large and widespread network of tire distributors and dealers in the region, are other factors contributing the industry growth. Based on vehicle type, the North America tire market is divided into passenger car, two-wheeler, three-wheeler, light commercial vehicle (LCV), medium and heavy commercial vehicle (M&HCV) and off road tire (OTR). In terms of demand category, the industry is split into OEMs and replacement demand. Considering tire type, the market is segmented into radial and bias. Moving to sales channels, direct sales and online sales are two industry segments. Considering season, the North American tire industry is categorized into all season tires, winter tires and summer tires. Speaking of the rim size, the market is fragmented into 12.1" to 15". 15.1"-18", 18.1"-20", 20.1"-22.5", 22.6"-35", 35.1"-47" and above 47". Considering the regional outlook, United States, Canada and Mexico are the key contributors to the overall industry remuneration. Major players influencing North America tire market trends are Toyo Tire Corp., Yokohama Rubber Co., Pirelli & C. S.p.A., Kumho Tire Co., Inc., Hankook Tire & Technology Group, Sumitomo Corporation, Continental AG, Michelin Group, Bridgestone Corp. and Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co.

1/22/2021 - Akron, OH - Rubber World magazine has compiled a compendium of thermoplastic elastomers articles from 2008-2017. Beginning with an introduction to TPEs and containing 20 articles from our archives, this softback book gives an overview of the research and development in this field from a material scientific point of view, as well as processing. The compendium provides insight into TPE, its behavior and potential. The book is available for $20 plus shipping and handling in the Rubber World bookstore. Click here to order.

1/22/2021 - Rancho Cucamonga, CA - Sumitomo Rubber North America will increase prices in the U.S. and Canada on Dunlop Motorcycle Tires. This increase announced to distributors January 18 of 2-10 percent will have an effective date of February 15. Several factors have driven the neemMarket factors.

1/21/2021 - Paris, France - Arkema announces an investment in CMC (Crackless Monomer Company), a joint venture between Bostik and Taiwanese company Cartell Chemical Co, a leading supplier of cyanoacrylate solutions, to accelerate the development and production of high value-added engineering adhesives. CMC, which will be 51 percent owned by Bostik for an investment of around $11 million, will produce specialty cyanoacrylate monomers on an industrial scale at a competitive cost, enabling Bostik to accelerate the development of high value-added engineering adhesives dedicated notably to the electronics, medical equipment and DIY markets. This investment complements the acquisition of Afinitica in 2018, and enables Bostik to further expand its range of instant engineering adhesives, manufactured through a patented and innovative "crackless" process. The adhesives formulated through this process have unique properties, which offer added comfort to the end-users. This project is perfectly coherent with Bostik's sustainable growth strategy. It fits well with the trend of replacing traditional bonding with cutting edge, environmentally friendly technologies that enable lightweighting.

1/21/2021 - Tokyo, Japan - Bridgestone Corporation announced results of its four-year collaboration with genomic big data solutions company NRGene to further advance the commercialization of guayule, an alternative to natural rubber, as part of the effort to diversify its sources of raw materials. The combined effort focused on analyzing DNA to allow more efficient use of inherent genetic diversity to breed highly productive varieties of guayule, an alternative to natural rubber. Native to the desert regions of the southwestern United States and northern Mexico, guayule is a shrub capable of producing natural rubber and can grow on marginal farmland with minimal fertilizer inputs. Guayule has the physical and genetic characteristics of a desert plant, successfully tolerating arid environments and making its demand for water lower than other commercial crops grown in the region. This is important since dwindling water resources in the Southwest U.S. are demanding that agriculture find ways to reduce water usage and guayule could be a solution. Utilizing NRGene's DeNovoMAGIC system, scientists at Bridgestone and NRGene have successfully assembled a specific guayule genome. This achievement provided a complete description of the genome sequence and all its genes, allowing for the use of additional genomic diversity in the identification of the genetic basis for important traits such as rubber percentage. Furthermore, Bridgestone developed mapping populations that allowed NRGene to construct a genetic and physical map by successfully identifying the correct order of DNA fragments. These maps enable Bridgestone to use the information contained in the genetic code to assist in its breeding efforts. The joint work was successful in constructing pseudochromosomes (i.e. molecules that contain most of the information of the chromosomes) using an approach that combines multiple genomes, marking a historic milestone in guayule research. 'The collaboration between Bridgestone and NRGene will provide important advances for the future of the automotive and rubber industries,' said William Niaura, director, Innovation, Bridgestone Americas. 'The combination of our previous work with the sequencing and assembly of the hevea genome and our current work with guayule uniquely positions Bridgestone to utilize these resources for comparative genetic analysis of the rubber biosynthetic pathways and become a leader in the genetics and improvement of rubber-producing plants.' 'Today we mark another important milestone towards expanding natural rubber resources and reducing production costs,' said Dr. Gil Ronen, founder and CEO of NRGene. 'Using Guayule, Bridgestone could not only meet the critical performance standards for the tire industry but also produce more sustainable products, relying on domestic plant-based resources.' To achieve the company's vision, '2050, Bridgestone continues to provide social value and customer value, as a sustainable solutions company', Bridgestone have set a new environmental mid-term goal, Milestone 2030, to further promote the challenges of 'decoupling' the growth of its business from its environmental impact and increased resource consumption. The company provides solutions through innovation to contribute to safer and more secure transportation, as well as it will further reduce its impact on the environment by contributing to CO2 reduction and realizing the circular economy including expanding renewable resources. Bridgestone will continue to evolve technological innovations by combining our unique rubber knowledge with digital technologies and will co-create value through the work with various partners.

1/21/2021 - Baldwin Park, CA - Freudenberg Medical has expanded injection molding operations at its Baldwin Park, CA, operation, which is focused on thermoplastics. Freudenberg Medical Baldwin Park has added six injection molding machines including three new Arburg molding machines, a workcell for two-shot molding and a Wittmann Battenfeld micro molding machine with in-process visual inspection capability. The machines range in size from 15 to 110 tons. Sven Rosenbeiger, vice president and general manager, GBU Thermoplastics, said: “These added machines will support component production for in-vitro diagnostic test kits for our international customers. Freudenberg Medical is a leading provider of IVD products manufacturing and two-component molding solutions in the U.S. market. Our two-shot processing can help streamline manufacturing, reduce SKUs, improve part quality and reduce costs.”

1/21/2021 - Pune, India - The global Silicone Surfactants market is valued at 2362.2 million US$ in 2020 is expected to reach 3336.6 million US$ by the end of 2026, growing at a CAGR of 5.0% during 2021-2026 according to 360 Research Reports. Silicone surfactants are a class of surfactants in which polydimethylsiloxane is a hydrophobic backbone and one or more organosilicon polar groups are attached to the meta or terminal. Silicone surfactant can be classified to anionic silicone surfactant, amphoteric silicone surfactant, cationic silicone surfactant, nonionic silicone surfactant by their property. Anionic silicone surfactant occupied 51.31% global market share in 2018; Nonionic silicone surfactants occupied 39.31% market share. Amphoteric silicone surfactants and cationic silicone surfactants take 6.15%and 3.23% market share. The major players in the market include Evonik, DowDuPont, Momentive Performance Materials, Wacker Chemie, Innospec, Shin-Etsu Chemical, Siltech, Elkem, Jiangsu Maysta Chemical, Ruijiang Group, Stepan Company, etc.

1/21/2021 - Paris, France - Safic-Alcan announces the implementation of its partnership with Arkema for the distribution of its molecular sieves Siliporite range. Following extensive discussions, Arkema and Safic-Alcan have confirmed their intention to negotiate and finalize a distribution agreement covering U.K. and Ireland, Nordics, Russia, Greece and Southeast Asia. Further countries may also be added to the scope in the second quarter of 2021. The agreement includes Siliporite trademark which provides engineering polyurethane excellence for a wide range of applications, acting by removing residual moisture often present in polyol, solvents or fillers to prevent water from reacting with isocyanate groups. “We are very pleased with the extension of our partnership with Arkema molecular sieve for polyurethane applications and beyond, reinforcing a successful focus in our polyurethane capabilities,” said Yann Lissillour, managing director, CASE and Industrial specialties, for Safic-Alcan Group.

1/21/2021 - Boston, MA - Cabot Corporation has received a platinum level rating in recognition of its sustainability efforts from EcoVadis. The platinum rating, which was established in 2020, confirms that Cabot is ranked among the top 1 percent of companies in its peer group in the manufacturing of Basic Chemicals. Cabot had received a gold rating the previous four years. Gold is awarded to companies that score in the top 5 percent of companies evaluated. The platinum rating was awarded in recognition of Cabot’s global sustainability initiatives. The EcoVadis assessment focuses on four themes: the environment, labor and human rights, ethics, and sustainable procurement. Cabot received a sustainability performance score of “advanced” in each category including environment, sustainable procurement, labor and human rights, and ethics, putting it in the top 1 percent in its sector. “Our steadfast commitment to excellent sustainability performance is not only critical to our long-term success but is a key differentiator in our industry. Receiving a Platinum rating after four consecutive years of Gold ratings is recognition of how we are leading the way with our environmental, social and governance efforts,” said Sean Keohane, president and chief executive officer. “This recognition is a tribute to our dedicated team around the globe, who integrate sustainability into our strategies and our daily work.” EcoVadis is an independent assessment organization that evaluates companies’ sustainability performance in the areas of environment, labor practices and human rights, ethics and sustainable procurement. Their methodology is based on international sustainability standards including the Global Reporting Initiative, United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) and ISO 26000​. The rating follows the announcement of Cabot’s newly established 2025 sustainability goals along with recent accolades Cabot has received for its sustainability performance including being named to “America’s Most Responsible Companies 2021” list by Newsweek for the second consecutive year. Cabot ranked in the top 10 most responsible companies in the materials industry and top 10% of all companies analyzed. Results were derived from publicly available key performance indicators, as well as an independent survey of U.S. citizens. Cabot follows strict and transparent standards regarding the reporting of its sustainability performance. This includes the development of sustainability reports in accordance with the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI); acting as a signatory of the United Nation Global Compact (UNGC); and participating in the American Chemistry Council (ACC) and its voluntary Responsible Care initiative.

1/20/2021 - Colombo, Sri Lanka - GRI began 2021 on a positive note, breaking ground and laying the foundation stone for the second phase of a $100 million project with a new manufacturing facility in Badalgama, Sri Lanka. The facility will expand its specialty tire production capabilities to meet growing global demand for its products. This new factory is the next phase of GRI’s rapid expansion currently underway, including a new mixing facility and will total an overall investment of $100 million. In January 2018, GRI inaugurated a world-class specialty tire manufacturing facility with an investment of more than $40 million. The new factory is an expansion of this facility and is expected to be completed by December 2021. Managing director of GRI, Prabhash Subasinghe, explained that the new manufacturing facility is part of the company’s long-term vision and growth drive. “GRI’s expansion and increase in our production capacity, in such a short time frame, is a result of the overwhelming demand for our GRI branded products in recent years. It has been rewarding to see how our products have been so well received in an extremely competitive market and lauded for its superlative quality, service and innovation; we are well-positioned to carve a niche for Sri Lankan specialty tires in the world market,” observed Subasinghe. In line with local COVID-19 regulations, the company held a closed, intimate ceremony where the senior management broke ground and the youngest members laid the foundation stone for GRI’s new facility. “The new manufacturing facility will be equipped with state-of-the-art machinery and is set to quadruple GRI’s current production capacity bringing it to 750,000 tires per year and a total capacity of 100 tons per day. The new factory will focus on agriculture tires with a large share dedicated for advanced radial agriculture tires. Furthermore, GRI is the only manufacturer in Sri Lanka with radial agriculture manufacturing capability. We will also be doubling employment and will build the GRI team to 500 employees across areas such as production, engineering, quality assurance, advanced technology, research and development,” said Mahesha Ranasoma, CEO of GRI, noting the significance of the new facility. “The new facility will add 11,600 square meters of production area that will take the main tire plant to 22,400 sq. mt. (240,000 sq. ft.) which is equivalent to the size of three football fields. A key feature in the new production plant is that it will equip GRI with the capability to manufacture larger sized agricultural tires. Our maximum tire size now is 50 inches. We will soon be able to manufacture tires up to 60 inches in size in the new production plant to meet growing market demand and cater to our customer requirements,” commented Ananda Caldera, executive director of GRI. “Further, the company will add 22 tire building machines and 36 presses to its current capacity.” GRI’s mandate to embed sustainability as a part of all its operations is further reiterated through its new production facility. The new facility will expand GRI’s solar panel initiative and generate 2.5 mega watts of solar power. The factory will continue to use biomass boilers instead of furnace oil boilers while production at the facility will continue with an environmentally friendly ‘dry’ process, with no emission of gases or liquid disposal and ensuring low material wastage. The new production facility will also extend GRI’s green policies on waste management through rainwater harvesting and an efficient wastewater management system. GRI will also conduct a carbon footprint analysis and work to offset any environmental impact.

1/20/2021 - Akron, OH - The Rubber Division, ACS, announces a call for abstracts for the 2021 International Elastomer Conference, 200th Technical Meeting and Student Colloquium, being held October 5-7 in Pittsburgh, PA. All abstracts received by May 3 will be considered for the program. To celebrate the 200th Technical Meeting, the division is organizing a special "Frontiers" symposia to address the past, present and future of key areas in rubber science. Abstract submissions will be considered on the following topics: Frontiers of Rubber Science: Rubber Synthesis; Frontiers of Rubber Science: Reinforcement of Rubber; Frontiers: Additives and Vulcanization. Abstract proposals will also be considered for basic and innovative research in the following featured topics: Characterization of Elastomers and Raw Materials; Sustainability and Renewable Materials; Non-pneumatic Tires; Elastomers for Healthcare; Advances in Materials and Processes for Tires; Modeling and Simulation; Connectivity, Robotics and AI in the Rubber Industry; New Commercial Developments. Undergraduate and graduate students are also invited to submit abstracts to the Annual Student Colloquium. This separate event includes both oral presentations and a poster session on the expo floor. The colloquium provides a platform for research activities and applied industry experiences of students in rubber/polymer chemistry and processing. Financial prizes will be awarded to the top posters and oral presentations. Abstracts must be received by May 3 in order to be considered for inclusion in the schedule. Technical Paper manuscripts for accepted talks will be due September 3. Contact Chuck Brady at (330) 595-5543 or cbrady@rubber.org for more information.

1/20/2021 - Houston, TX - ExxonMobil has introduced new Santoprene integrated thermoplastic vulcanizate (TPV) system solutions which have the potential to extend the frontiers of performance and recyclability while optimizing costs for glass run channel (GRC) weatherseals. The system solutions are enabled by two new TPV grades which, when used together, are designed to replace EPDM rubber. Santoprene R² TPV includes post-consumer recycled (PCR) material and Santoprene™ High Resilience (HR) TPV offers elastic recovery performance comparable to EPDM, which can be difficult to recycle. For other mechanical properties, both grades deliver a similar performance to EPDM. Santoprene R² TPV, made with PCR material, can help improve its life cycle impact compared to regular Santoprene TPV, while offering an optimized balance of performance and cost-effectiveness for the foot element of the GRC. Santoprene TPV scrap generated during weatherseal manufacture can be melted and remolded, reducing the amount of waste. And, when a vehicle reaches its end-of-life, components made with Santoprene TPV can potentially be recovered and recycled, further contributing to the customer’s circular economy model. “Initiatives like the EU Green Deal and CHINA VI are driving the automotive value chain to constantly consider how new sustainability objectives can be achieved. We are proud to build on our history of innovative solutions for the automotive value chain, working with Santoprene TPV, sustainability can now be instilled throughout the entire lifecycle of your vehicle,” said Dan Moore, Vice President Specialty Elastomers and Butyl, ExxonMobil. Santoprene HR TPV provides enhanced resilience, elastic recovery, and UV resistance for the lips and skins of the GRC. Frame-under-glass GRC, which are popular in Europe and becoming increasingly so in Asia Pacific, are typically made with a metal frame and EPDM (ethylene propylene diene monomer) rubber. Now, frame-under-glass GRC can be made with Santoprene TPV replacing EPDM. Due to its performance properties, Santoprene HR TPV is a viable replacement for EPDM rubber currently used for semi-dynamic weatherseal applications, plus technical and commercial tests are in progress for use in dynamic weatherseals. “In the automotive weatherseals market, Santoprene TPV is acknowledged by the industry as being successful for static and less demanding semi-dynamic applications, while EPDM has been the material of choice for highly demanding semi-dynamic and dynamic seals. That is until now,” said Leslie Chan, global SE&B market development manager, ExxonMobil. “The improved performance properties of Santoprene HR TPV, including resilience and elastic recovery, unleash the potential use of TPV as an EPDM alternative for more demanding dynamic applications.” “In addition to the recycling potential, these system solutions support a reduction in weight for all types of vehicles by replacing metal reinforcement with PP and design flexibility,” said Jessica Vasquez, global SE&B product technology manager. “Material related vehicle weight constraints remain one of the challenges to achieving even greater energy savings.” “Appreciating these changes in the mobility market, ExxonMobil recognizes an opportunity for smart innovation, acknowledging that it takes many years of collaboration across the value chain to deliver shared value,” said Stephen Chan, global SE auto market development manager. “Working with OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers, commercial tests are proving very successful, confirming that Santoprene HR TPV meets OEM specifications for highly demanding semi-dynamic weatherseal applications in a range of vehicles from traditional ICEs to NEVs.”

1/20/2021 - Düsseldorf, Germany - Henkel and InterPRO Additive Manufacturing, a service bureau based in Connecticut, USA, are expanding their partnership to drive the adoption of 3D printing solutions in industrial markets. As part of the collaboration InterPRO will serve as an Application Development Partner, accelerating the commercialization process for large opportunities in additive manufacturing. “We are delighted to announce the expansion of our collaboration with InterPRO,” says Dr. Simon Mawson, senior vice president and global head of 3D printing at Henkel. “With decades of development experience, InterPRO has a deep knowledge in adopting additive manufacturing to reduce the time and cost to engineer, test and manufacture new products. In combination with Henkel’s leading portfolio of photopolymer materials we aim to further accelerate the adoption of additive manufacturing for the production of industrial parts. Over the past two years, we have already worked collaboratively to test new materials, onboard new applications, and convert production work to digital light processing (DLP) based 3D printing technologies.” “The initial collaboration with InterPRO was very successful and promising,” adds Cindy Deekitwong, global head of marketing for Henkel’s incubator businesses. “The Distek application is a great example. Together we were able to help a medical device company leverage additive manufacturing to produce the high quality, low volume parts they needed. Building on that foundation we aim to open new opportunities for many more customers across industries.” Henkel has a longstanding experience in material chemistry. The company’s line of Loctite branded photopolymer 3D printing materials is uniquely positioned to address the needs of customers in many markets. Among other attributes, Henkel’s materials offer similar strength characteristics compared to fused deposition modeling (FDM) processes with a smoother surface finish, making them an ideal choice for use in industrial production. Unlike older resin-based technologies, the printed parts maintain their mechanical properties over time without becoming brittle or changing color. For more than two decades InterPRO has offered an array of additive manufacturing services, utilizing many different technologies including FDM, multi jet fusion (MJF) and large format stereolithography (SLA). In recent years the company also began offering DLP 3D printing on the Origin P3 printer, enabling them to fully leverage the materials portfolio from Henkel. “We have learned over the years that asking our clients to adopt new processes and materials requires a cohesive ecosystem of printers, service and material partners,” says Dan Straka, president of InterPRO. “Henkel has come to the market with an incredible range of engineered materials that push the boundaries of what photo-cured thermosets have typically offered in the past. Between the advanced materials and support, InterPRO has been able to deliver production worthy, customer facing parts that rival traditional methods of production.” With advancements in DLP technology and Henkel’s portfolio of photopolymer resins, more and more industrial customers are considering 3D printing as a viable alternative to traditional manufacturing methods like injection molding and CNC machining. Among its advantages, additive manufacturing’s lower upfront cost reduces risk. Without having to pay for expensive tooling, companies can afford to green-light more ideas and produce small batch parts for niche applications. As an Application Development Partner, InterPRO will assist Henkel in developing new production applications in the medical, consumer, industrial and aerospace markets. Customers will benefit from InterPRO’s knowledge and experience in the additive manufacturing industry. The service bureau will provide engineering services, including Design for Additive Manufacturing (DfAM), in addition to production and finishing services, helping qualify each application from concept to finished part. “We’re excited to grow our relationship with Henkel as an Application Development Partner,” Dan Straka adds. “Our complimentary skills and expertise will better enable both companies to support our clients’ increasing needs in this unprecedented time of challenges and risks.”

1/20/2021 - London, U.K. - Greenergy announces its continued commitment to renewables through an investment in advanced biofuels. Utilizing a combination of existing technologies, the project will create low carbon fuels from waste tire feedstock. The project will utilize pyrolysis and hydrotreating technologies to convert waste tires into renewable drop-in advanced biofuels that can be used in diesel and petrol and qualify as development fuels under the U.K.’s Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation. The plant will also have the capability to produce sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). Processing up to 300 metric tons of shredded tires each day in the first phase, the manufacturing process also creates recovered carbon black, a product that can be used in the circular economy to produce new tires and other industrial rubber products. Christian Flach, Greenergy CEO said, “We have been exploring innovative ways to produce liquid fuels from different waste products to continue to create new forms of development fuels and deliver further carbon savings in the years ahead. This milestone for the project is a key part of our strategy to expand our industry-leading renewables business. Our customers will continue to benefit from our integrated approach to manufacturing and blending of renewable fuels.” The project is at the Front End Engineering Design (‘FEED’) stage and when complete, the project will help to address the UK’s waste tire challenge and meet the growing demand for innovative waste-based fuels under the U.K.’s Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation. The plant is earmarked to be located at Thames Enterprise Park, a Greenergy joint venture near London, subject to planning approval and with a view to commence commercial production in 2025. The conceptual design was developed in Canada by Green Tire Technology Ltd., led by Roman Cintula, and then implemented in the U.K. in partnership with Greenergy. The project will use ThyssenKrupp Industrial Solutions’ advanced thermal treatment technology and Haldor Topsoe’s HydroFlex renewable fuels technology.

1/20/2021 - Nuremberg, Germany - DKT Deutsche Kautschuk Gesellschaft e.V. announces that the German and International Rubber Conference 2021 has been postponed to June 27 - 30, 2022 due to COVID-19. Detailed information will follow soon at https://www.dkt2021.de/en.

1/19/2021 - Dorking, Surrey, U.K. - Wallace Instruments announced that it has signed an agreement with rubber and silicone materials testing and research and development laboratory ACE Products & Consulting LLC, which will become its new North American sales, calibration and service partner for its range of materials testing equipment. ACE will showcase Wallace’s testing equipment at its 22,000 sq. ft. facility in Ravenna, OH, and offer expert guidance on instrument selection, advising customers on the best solutions to meet their requirements. Wallace is said to be one of the most recognized and trusted brands of testing instruments in the rubber industry, and its equipment is used in quality control and research and development laboratories across the world. It has been supplying the rubber and plastics industries with quality testing equipment for almost 70 years across the whole supply chain, from natural rubber producers to rubber product manufacturers from all industry sectors. From its manufacturing operation in the U.K., Wallace Instruments designs and manufactures a wide range of testing equipment, measuring physical properties such as hardness, plasticity, viscosity, cure, compression and many other characteristics. It also manufactures laboratory and aging ovens, as well as specimen cutting press and preparation equipment. It has a reputation for the consistent high quality, accuracy and reliability of its testing instruments that are designed so its customers can effectively manage the cost of quality control. Chris Norval, Wallace Instruments managing director, said, ‘We are delighted to be working with Erick Sharp, president and CEO, and his team at ACE, and have been so impressed with the company’s rapid expansion, values, ambition, and vast technical expertise and experience. This will prove invaluable in supporting us to provide our customers with the highest levels of service in terms of instrument selection, upgrade options and technical support. Just as important are the aftersales services, and I have complete confidence that ACE will provide our U.S. customers with services that are second to none.’ Erick Sharp added, ‘I am so excited to embark on this partnership with Wallace and look forward to being part of the company’s plans to expand its U.S. customer base. From my years of experience working in the global rubber industry, I know that Wallace’s equipment is trusted and relied upon by manufacturers to maximize their productivity in the most cost-effective way. I share Wallace’s commitment to product development and improvement through innovation, and admire its continuing investment in research and development so it can always meet customer expectations and adapt to changing requirements.’

1/19/2021 - Boston, MA - Trends like sustainability and digitalization are going to dramatically change the chemicals and materials industry over the next 20 years. Investing in technology innovations will be critical for companies to keep up. Lux Research has released its annual report, “Foresight 2021: Top Emerging Technologies to Watch.” The new research identifies and ranks 12 key technologies that will reshape the world. The technologies are chosen based on innovation interest scores from the Lux Tech Signal, a composite measure assembled from a variety of innovation data sources, along with input from Lux’s experts. In addition to highlighting the 12 key overall technologies, for the first time ever, this year’s report ranks the top five technologies for the chemicals and materials industry. “The impacts of climate change and digital transformation will be substantial – as the chemicals industry is forced to adapt to the circular economy, waste plastic will become the most valuable feedstock. This will create a more decentralized industry that relies increasingly on economies of multiples. At the same time, digital sales platforms will commoditize customization, eroding the difference between specialty and commodity businesses.” says Anthony Schiavo, Senior Analyst at Lux Research. The top five technologies chemicals and materials leaders should look to in 2021 are: 1. Plastic Waste Recycling: As concerns about plastic waste rise, billions of dollars are at risk. Advanced recycling tech is necessary to tackle this issue and creates opportunities for higher-value products. 2. Materials Informatics: Applying machine learning to materials development can not only improve R&D cost and efficiency but also help enable new business models and greater agility. 3. Digital Sales Platforms: E-commerce and sales automation are coming to chemicals, along with services around customization and product use. 4. 3D Printing: 3D printing provides material firms unique growth opportunities – but firms need to be prepared to move down the value chain to capture their share of profits. 5. Synthetic Biology: Synbio can boost sustainability claims but also enable more flexible, distributed production of chemicals and, in the right cases, can enable new markets and lower costs. “Each year, when we are preparing our annual report, our clients ask us, ‘Which of these are most important for my industry?’” explains Schiavo. “The most critical tech innovations are not the same for every sector. Some technologies that did not make the top of our overall list may be transformational for specific industries. That’s why we’ve expanded this year’s report to cover these additional technologies.”

1/19/2021 - Findlay, OH - Endurica LLC has received the 2020 United States Small Business Administration (SBA) Tibbetts Award. The Tibbetts Award recognizes companies that best exemplify the spirit and intent of the SBA’s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program. Endurica now joins the ranks of past Tibbetts winners, including Qualcomm, 23andMe and Symantec. Of 38 companies recognized nationally this year, Endurica is the only Ohio-based recipient. Company president Dr. William Mars reflected, “I am very proud to receive this prestigious recognition on behalf of our team. We won the U.S. Army as our first paying customer through the SBIR program, and this enabled us to commercialize game-changing tools for analyzing the fatigue performance of elastomers. Over the last decade, we’ve continued to improve our tools and the business. Today, we have a growing user base, six of the top 12 global rubber product producers (by revenue) are using Endurica solutions in their applications, and there are hundreds of trained users globally.” Endurica’s tools and workflows are used by OEMs, by rubber part suppliers and by raw materials suppliers. As part of the honor, Endurica is highlighted on the SBA website which notes, “Endurica was founded to help the industry get durability right by revolutionizing rubber product design throughout the world.”

1/19/2021 - Washington, D.C. - The Center for the Polyurethanes Industry (CPI) is set to resume its Polyurethanes Technical Conference in Denver, CO, October 4-6, at The Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center. The 63rd Polyurethanes Technical Conference, the longest-running polyurethanes conference in North America, will highlight the latest innovative polyurethanes technologies and discuss the most pressing issues facing the industry today. “The annual CPI Polyurethanes Technical Conference is widely recognized for bringing together the very best in expertise, innovation, and networking,” said Lee Salamone, senior director, CPI. “With optimism for the new year, we look forward to continuing the tradition of providing professionals with an exceptional opportunity to learn and collaborate so that they can continue advancing and modernizing polyurethane applications and helping ensure a safe and sustainable future.” CPI is now accepting submissions for technical paper and poster abstracts for the 2021 Polyurethanes Technical Conference. The deadline for submitting paper abstracts is February 3, and the deadline for submitting poster abstracts is August 6. For questions regarding paper and poster abstracts or for a list of topic areas, visit our FAQs for Submitting Papers, Presentations and Posters page. The American Chemistry Council takes the health of its members, staff and the general public seriously. We have been closely monitoring the COVID-19 situation and have been heeding the guidance of local, federal and international health authorities. The 2021 Polyurethanes Technical Conference, scheduled October 4-6, is currently being planned as an in-person event.

1/19/2021 - Seregno, Italy – When it comes to sport, nothing can stop BKT, one of the major global off-highway tire manufacturers. Together with one of its Canadian distribution partners, OK Tire, the group has renewed a sponsoring agreement with Curling Canada, a long-established association governing the national championships in this sport. The two brands, BKT and OK Tire, will be visible in TV spots, around the rink, on the scoreboard, on the ice sheet, and on the players’ jerseys as well as on merchandising items for the 2021 world men’s championship, which will be named after the two main sponsors becoming 2021 BKT Tires and OK Tire World Men’s Curling Championship, which is scheduled for April 3-11 at the Markin MacPhail Center at WinSport's Canada Olympic Park in Calgary, part of Curling Canada’s recently announced hub city series of events.

1/19/2021 - Copenhagen, Sweden - Greenergy has announced that they will invest in Front End Engineering Design (FEED) of a project to produce low-carbon transportation fuels from waste tires. In the first phase, the planned facility will process up to 300 tons of shredded tires each day to produce low-carbon, low-sulfur drop-in fuels that can be blended into diesel and gasoline. A second hydrotreating unit will have the capacity to produce sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). Topsoe’s proven HydroFlex technology has been chosen for hydroprocessing in both units. An estimated 1.5 billion tires are discarded each year worldwide, creating significant waste. This project will be the first of its kind to use waste tires as feedstock for low-carbon, low-sulfur fuel production. The tires will be pyrolyzed to produce pyrolysis oil that can be catalytically converted into fuel using Topsoe’s HydroFlex technology. The process also recovers carbon black that can be reused in the circular economy for the production of new tires and other industrial rubber products. The facility will also have the optionality to include an independent plant that could produce sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). This plant will also use the HydroFlex technology. “We have been exploring innovative ways to produce liquid fuels from different waste products to continue to create new forms of development fuels and deliver further carbon savings in the years ahead. This milestone for the project is a key part of our strategy to expand our industry-leading renewables business. Our customers will continue to benefit from our integrated approach to manufacturing and blending of renewable fuels,” says Christian Flach, CEO of Greenergy. The plant is earmarked to be located at Thames Enterprise Park, subject to planning approval and with a view to commence commercial production in 2025. “We are very happy that Greenergy has selected Topsoe’s HydroFlex technology for this innovative project. We are excited to work closely with Greenergy and their partners to build the world’s first commercial plant to produce low-carbon transportation fuels from waste tires in the near future. This is very much in line with Topsoe’s vision to be recognized as the global leader in carbon emission reduction technologies by 2024,” says Fei Chen, SVP Clean Fuels & Chemicals Technology, Haldor Topsoe.

1/18/2021 - Hsinchu, Taiwan - General Silicones (GS) announces a solution for using hot-melt adhesives (HMA) with silicone rubber sheets during factory mass production. Over the past decades, the use of hot melt adhesives grew in importance for product assembly. A growing number of industries are relying on HMA. Industry forecasts project continuous growth of HMA use for the coming years. Achieving adhesion for silicone rubber with HMA is difficult due to silicone's low surface energy. Allowing HMA to act as an interlayer adhesive, the Compo-SiL silicone rubber offers a deciding innovation for the HMA industry. HMA users can now take advantage not only two bind two dissimilar and lower surface energy material (silicone) but also getting various benefits that silicone rubber provides. GS produces silicone rubber sheets with a thin modified polyurethane (PU) layer bonded to the silicone rubber. The ultra-thin PU layer allows the HMA interlayer adhesive to adhere/bond to the Compo-SiL silicone rubber sheet if given proper process parameters. Heat and pressure in adequate amounts is necessary for strong adhesion and bonding. With the application of heat the HMA melts and adheres to the surfaces properly when it is compressed. Solidification of the HMA interlayer adhesive depends on the amount of heat provided, thus it should be adequate so as to incur proper and faster solidification. Internal tests by GS with various HMA showed exceptional adhesion. Excellent HMA bonding strength with Compo-SiL was demonstrated by reaching either cohesive failure within the silicone layer of Compo-SiL.

1/18/2021 - Hamburg, Germany - Biesterfeld is expanding its partnership with Denka Company Limited by taking on the distribution of Denka ER acrylate rubbers with immediate effect. The new agreement applies to the whole of Europe (except Spain and Turkey), Russia and Brazil. The elastomers in the Denka ER range offer both outstanding stability at high temperatures (up to 190°C) and very good resistance to oil. Their innovative polymer structure enables them to deliver superior resistance to cyclic heat and oil stresses compared with established acrylate rubbers. The fully saturated polymer chain provides not only the good thermal stability but also UV and ozone resistance. The products also offer low-temperature flexibility down to -35°C. With its exceptional properties, Denka ER is primarily used in the automotive industry. It can be used in hoses, such as charge air or transmission oil cooler (TOC) hoses, as well as in engine gaskets. Its excellent temperature and oil resistance also makes it suitable for applications outside the mobility sector, for example in roll covers, seals and hoses. “With the new distribution rights, we are expanding our range of special elastomers and adding acrylate rubbers to our catalogue. We are pleased to be able to offer our customers Denka ER, an innovative range of products from the Japanese manufacturer Denka, with particular emphasis on further developments in high-temperature stability which stresses the high technical expertise of the manufacturer," says Jörn Thomsen, product manager, Specialty Polymers, Biesterfeld Performance Rubber. “The new agreement has now enabled us to expand our many years of successful cooperation with Biesterfeld to the area of rubber products. Thanks to Biesterfeld, we have at our side an experienced and established partner with the expertise to place our products on the market in the best possible way. We are pleased that we can now join forces to drive forward the market launch of Denka ER,” says Shingo Aoki, sales manager, Elastomers, Denka Company Limited.

1/18/2021 - Akron, OH - The Rubber Division, ACS, reminds members that there are many regional Rubber Groups and Affiliated Technical Organizations, both U.S. and international. Membership in these Rubber Groups and Affiliated Technical Organizations provides even more opportunities to learn, network and engage with others in the rubber industry throughout the year. Technical meetings, social events, business opportunities, recognition in the industry and scholarship opportunities are just some of what these groups offer. Local rubber groups in North America include the Blue Ridge Rubber Group; Bourbon Trail Elastomer Group; Chicago Rubber Group; Detroit Rubber Group; Energy Polymer Group; Fort Wayne Rubber & Plastics Group; Los Angeles Rubber Group; Mexico Rubber Group; Michigan Rubber Group; Mid Atlantic Rubber & Plastics Group; New England Rubber & Plastics Group; Ohio Rubber Group; Ontario Rubber Group; Quebec Rubber Group; Southern Rubber Group; and Twin Cities Rubber Group. Affiliated technical groups outside the U.S. include the Brazil Rubber Group - ABTB; Canadian Society for Chemistry; and the Indian Rubber Institute (IRI). Associated technical partners include the Plastic & Rubber Institute of Malaysia and The Society of Rubber Science and Technology, Japan. More information about these groups can be found at https://www.rubber.org/local-rubber-groups, and membership to any of these local rubber groups can be purchased by visiting account.rubber.org/welcome.

1/18/2021 - Gurgaon, India - Apollo Tyres inaugurated a specialized service center for tires in Gurugram, in the northern part of India. This is the first such service center for tires in India, which is independent of a sales outlet, and would be gradually catering to all categories of tires. The company plans to open 10 such service centers across different locations in the country in the next 12-14 months. The customers visiting the service center will get on-the-spot grievance redressal, instead of visiting multiple touchpoints and waiting for solutions. While the service center will be directly monitored by the company, it is owned and operated by the franchise. The technicians employed have been trained and certified by the company to provide all tire related services using calibrated equipment. Commenting on the inauguration of the first dedicated service center for tires, Satish Sharma, president, Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa (APMEA), Apollo Tyres Ltd., said, "Apollo Tyres is committed towards bringing the best of our products and services to our customers. This state-of-the-art service center brings together Apollo’s extensive experience of providing 360-degree solutions to the customers for the entire lifecycle of the product. Being the leaders in the Indian tire industry, such customer-focused industry-first initiatives and a winning product portfolio is what differentiates us from other players.” Apollo Tyres’ service center is equipped with the state-of-the-art facilities and services, including computerized wheel alignment, automatic tire changer, wheel balancing machine, nitrogen gas inflator, specialized two-wheeler tire changer and balancer, mushroom plug for tubeless tire puncture repair, facility for run-flat tires, and a PUC machine. While the tire related services would be charged optimally, the customers also have the option of subscribing to the AMC and doorstep emergency services for their tires. Apollo Tyres chose Sector 17, Gurugram, as the location for its first service center, as Delhi NCR is the largest market for passenger vehicles, and most of the OEMs have their service center in the vicinity.

1/18/2021 - Bangkok, Thailand - TechnoBiz has organized a research webinar on "Future Applications of Natural Rubber: Research Challenge" to be held on on February 4. Dr. Ekwipoo Kalkornsurapranee, assistant professor, Prince of Songkla University, Hat-Yai, Thailand, is presenting the Research & Innovations Webinar. This webinar is organized by TechnoBiz, an International Resource Center for Polymer Industries. It is well known that natural rubber has been used mainly as a raw material for various industrial, engineering and community products due to its unique properties (i.e., high abrasion, elasticity and tear resistance) and environmentally-friendly properties. However, there are many competitors for these natural rubber products in the market. Creating and finding a new value of natural rubber through scientific research by making innovative products is a great option for new entrepreneurs or startups with lesser competition in terms of technology. In this webinar, Ekwipoo will introduce a new value approach to natural rubber, including transdermal patch, slow releasing material and 3D tracing thermoplastic natural rubber. This webinar will discuss potential applications in the medical, agricultural and forensic areas. Registration is free. Register at www.researchandinnovations-webinars.com.

1/18/2021 - Akron, OH - Daniel J. Davis, senior vice president, sales and marketing for Harwick Standard Distribution Corporation, announced his retirement as of January 31. Davis started with Harwick in late 1997 as vice president of the west coast sales office in Pico Rivera, CA. While at the Pico office, Davis managed a sales force, the Harwick west coast sales office, including customer service, accounting and credit, and the warehouse staff. In 2015, Davis was promoted to senior vice president, sales and marketing. He and his wife, Jody, moved to Akron, along with their horses and other animals. Prior to joining Harwick, Davis worked for 3M Company for 15 years, working in fluorochemical and fluoroelastomer research, product development, technical service and sales. After 3M, Davis spent five years at International Seal, where he was in charge of the startup of their Nevada manufacturing plant. Davis graduated from the University of Minnesota with a Bachelor of Science degree in Education. He also earned a Master’s Degree in Administration from Pepperdine University.

1/22/2021 - Selbyville, DE - The latest report about ‘Rubber-internal Mixer market’ Added by Market Study Report, LLC, features recent and future growth trends related to the business besides information on the myriad regions that belong to the geographical spectrum of the ‘ Rubber-internal Mixer market’. In addition, the report further explains significant details pertaining to the demand and supply analysis, market share growth and contributions from leading manufacturers of the ‘Rubber-internal Mixer market’. According to this study, over the next five years the Rubber-internal Mixer market will register a 0.3% CAGR in terms of revenue, the global market size will reach $457.3 million by 2025, from $451.7 million in 2019. The study assesses the key factors positively impacting the overall industry landscape on the basis of market growth and sales acceleration. Moreover, it delivers information regarding the major market trends and their impact on the business space.

1/20/2021 - Selbyville, DE - According to a recent research report titled 'North America Tire Market Analysis, 2020', available with Market Study Report LLC, North America tire market is projected to attain a valuation of USD 90 billion by the year 2025. As per the report findings, growing sales of passenger cars owing to rising per capita income, expanding vehicle fleet due to robust growth of logistics sector, and increasing production of automobiles are fueling the growth of North America tire market. Moreover, growing use of off-road and construction vehicles on account of increasing number of infrastructure projects, along with presence of large and widespread network of tire distributors and dealers in the region are other factors contributing the industry growth. Based on vehicle type, North America tire market is divided into passenger car, two-wheeler, three-wheeler, light commercial vehicle (LCV), medium and heavy commercial vehicle (M&HCV) and off road tire (OTR). In terms of demand category, the industry is split into OEMs and replacement demand. Considering tire type, the market is segmented into radial and bias. Moving to on sales channels, direct sales and online sales are two industry segments. Considering season, North America tire industry is categorized into all season tires, winter tires, and summer tires. Speaking of the rim size, the market is fragmented into 12.1" to 15". 15.1"-18", 18.1"-20", 20.1"-22.5", 22.6"-35", 35.1"-47", and above 47". Considering the regional outlook, United States, Canada, and Mexico are the key contributors to the overall industry remuneration. Major players influencing North America tire market trends are Toyo Tire Corp., Yokohama Rubber Co., Pirelli & C. S.p.A., Kumho Tire Co., Inc., Hankook Tire & Technology Group, Sumitomo Corporation, Continental AG, Michelin Group, Bridgestone Corp., and Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co.

1/20/2021 - Pune, India - The global Silicone Surfactants market is valued at 2362.2 million US$ in 2020 is expected to reach 3336.6 million US$ by the end of 2026, growing at a CAGR of 5.0% during 2021-2026 according to 360 Research Reports. Silicone surfactants are a class of surfactants in which polydimethylsiloxane is a hydrophobic backbone and one or more organosilicon polar groups are attached to the meta or terminal. Silicone surfactant can be classified to anionic silicone surfactant, amphoteric silicone surfactant, cationic silicone surfactant, nonionic silicone surfactant by their property. Anionic silicone surfactant occupied 51.31% global market share in 2018; Nonionic silicone surfactants occupied 39.31% market share. Amphoteric silicone surfactants and cationic silicone surfactants take 6.15%and 3.23% market share. The major players in the market include Evonik, DowDuPont, Momentive Performance Materials, Wacker Chemie, Innospec, Shin-Etsu Chemical, Siltech, Elkem, Jiangsu Maysta Chemical, Ruijiang Group, Stepan Company, etc.

1/11/2021 - Selbyville, DE - Market Study Report LLC recently added a new title on 2020-2025 Global Off the Road (OTR) Tire Market Report from its database. The report provides study with in-depth overview, describing about the Product, Size, Share, and Industry Scope and elaborates market outlook and status to 2025. Global Off the Road (OTR) Tire Market is expected to be around 4% during 2020-25. The growth is expected to peak during 2022-25. COVID-19 has massively impacted the Global Off the Road (OTR) Tire market. The pandemic had brought global construction activities to a standstill in the first half of 2020. Lockdowns, reverse labor migration in APAC and the Middle East, improper logistics support to construction equipment in North America and Europe, etc., massively impacted the construction industry. Further, the downward spiral of crude oil prices and supply glut during the same period choked the construction activities in several economies in the Middle East and Africa eventually, negatively impacting the new orders for OTR tires. The market is expected to exhibit a gradual recovery in the Asia-Pacific led by the resumption of construction activities in India and China in the second half of 2020. The OTR tire sales in Middle East & Africa are set to rally at a considerably slower pace in contrast to other regions. With the proliferation of mining and rising OTR vehicle fleet is expected to gradually fuel the OTR Tire market during 2020-25. Due to the increased machine-hours, the demand for the OTR tires agricultural tractors, construction and, mining equipment is expected to heighten post-2022. Replacement demand is anticipated to completely outperform OEM in the forthcoming years by a substantially wider margin. North America and the Asia-Pacific acquired the majority market share in the Global OTR Tire market due to the presence of several OEMs exporting construction equipment to diverse regions, and continuous rise in number of construction activities. Increased industrial automation is expected to enhance the global OTR tire market from 2020-25. The concentration of the index of the competition in the Global OTR Tire market is moderate in 2020. However, Bridgestone, Yokohama, Goodyear, Michelin, and Continental were the most dominant forces in 2019 with global presence, robust manufacturing and distribution network, in addition to growing direct sales to OEMs such as JCB, Komatsu, Liebherr, Volvo, Hitachi, Case, etc.,

1/11/2021 - Selbyville, DE - Global Automotive Tires Market to reach $575 billion by 2025 according to Market Insight Reports. Global Automotive Tires Market valued approximately $329 billion in 2016 is anticipated to grow with a healthy growth rate of more than 6.40% over the forecast period 2017-2025. The Global automotive tires market is influenced by several factors which impact the growth of the market. High demand for replacement tires, increasing demand for two wheelers and commercial vehicles, higher demand for low rolling resistance tires, higher demand for SUVs, rising production of tires due to rising automotive industry, growth in the number of automobiles per capita ownership especially among middle class consumers, increasing research and technological developments to make tires more efficient in order to satisfy the rising demand for energy efficient and high quality tires, reduction in rubber prices and growing demand for passenger vehicles are few of the many influencers contributing to the growth of the global automotive tire market. Also, there are few factors which pose challenges to the growth of the global automotive tire market, such as, decline in export, incorrect government administration and strict regulations and fluctuations in the availability of raw material and their prices. Emerging trends in the market such as the increased use of bio-oils in the manufacturing process of tires would help to boost the growth in the light of demand for ecological tire manufacturing process. Orange oils, extracted from orange peels, are used in the process to help reduce the amount of petroleum used in tires. In addition, the tire market has also witnessed an increase in R&D investments. The key manufacturers covered in this report: Bridgestone Corporation, Pirelli & C.S.p.a., Michelin, The Goodyear Tyre & Rubber Co., Sumitomo Rubber Industries Ltd., Madras Rubber Factory Limited, The Yokohama Rubber Co.Ltd, JK Tyre & Industries Ltd, CEAT Ltd and so on.

1/11/2021 - Pune, India - The global carbon black market is projected to expand at a CAGR of 4.4% from 2018 to 2026, according to a new research report titled ‘Carbon Black Market – Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast, 2018–2026’ published by Transparency Market Research (TMR). According to the report, in terms of volume, the global carbon black market is expected to reach 18,898.4 kilo tons by 2026. The market is driven by rise in the demand for carbon black from automotive and rubber industries. The carbon black market in Asia Pacific is estimated to expand at a CAGR of 5.1% during the forecast period, owing to presence of a large number of manufacturers of carbon black in the region. Among grades, the reinforced grade segment held a major share of the global carbon black market in 2017. However, the specialty grade segment is expected to expand significantly from 2017 to 2026. This trend is projected to continue throughout the forecast period. Among grades, the reinforced grade segment held a major share of the carbon black market, in terms of volume, in 2017. Use of carbon black of semi-reinforced grade in rubber and automotive industries is increasing in regions such as Europe and North America. Carbon black is largely utilized in the rubber sector. Non-tire applications of carbon black include rubber products such as conveyor belts, flaps, hoses, and gaskets. In the plastics industry, carbon black is used for conductive packaging, semi-conductive cable compounds, and films. As a pigment, carbon black used in a wide range of applications such as printing, carbon paper, inks, paints & coatings, dry-cell batteries, electrodes, and carbon brushes. Several major companies in the market are highly investing in research & development of specialty-grade carbon black in order to meet the rising demand from end-user industries such as paints, high-performance coatings, and inks & pigments. Carbon black is both combustible and explosible. The minimum explosible concentration (MEC) for carbon black dust suspended in air is >50g/m³. This concentration is higher than the current occupational exposure limit. Production of carbon black utilizes carbon-rich feedstock in combination with oxygen. The process emits sulfur and nitrogen oxides and particulate matter, which are hazardous to the environment and also to health of people working in plants. In the U.S. and Western Europe, emissions from carbon black production plants are strictly regulated. These environmental and health-related concerns are hampering the global carbon black market, and especially the market in the U.S. Recovered carbon black (rCB) is carbon black recovered from end-of-life tires (ELTs). The product has recently been introduced in the market in commercial quantities. Unlike virgin carbon black, production of rCB does not result in high emissions of sulfur oxides (SOx), nitrogen oxides (NOx), or particulate matter. There exists a growing concern, as carbon black production plants in the U.S. are being forced to reduce their air emissions. Carbon black recovered from waste tires with improved product quality offers a cost-effective measure to the tire industry to reduce its carbon footprint. Development of carbon black products for green rubber tires is anticipated to create lucrative growth opportunities for the market in the next few years. Asia Pacific held the leading i.e. more than 50% share of the global carbon black market, in terms of volume, in 2017. The carbon black market has witnessed a shift from the West to the East, due to low manufacturing costs and less stringent environmental regulations imposed by governments of countries in the East. A majority of the demand for carbon black comes from China and India, due to expanding tire manufacturing industry and construction sector in these countries. The carbon black market in North America witnessed slowdown in 2017, with low production volume and low demand from the tire industry in the region. In 2012, five major companies producing carbon black in the U.S. were served notices for violation of the Clean Air Act by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) with regard to SOx and NOx emissions from their carbon black production plants. The carbon black market in North America is projected to witness moderate attractiveness even though the demand for specialty-grade carbon black in this region is likely to increase during the forecast period. Western Europe is likely to witness increased penetration of specialty-grade carbon black even though its prices are much higher than those of reinforced-grade carbon black. Thus, Europe and North America are likely to be focused by key market players. The market in Latin America and Middle East & Africa is anticipated to expand at a relatively sluggish rate compared to other regions. Brazil, Mexico, and Argentina account for 80% of vehicles in Latin America. The automotive industry in these countries is projected to expand during the forecast period, which is estimated to propel the carbon black market in the region between 2018 and 2026. The market in Middle East & Africa is projected to witness sluggish growth from 2018 to 2026.

1/11/2021 - San Francisco, CA - The global rubber gloves market size is expected to reach USD 22.1 billion by 2027, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. The market is expected to expand at a CAGR of 14.7% from 2020 to 2027. Rising government expenditures towards the healthcare industry across countries including Germany, Italy, India, Australia, and the U.K., is expected to drive the market over the forecasted period. Natural rubber accounted for 41.2% of the global revenue share in 2019, on account of wide usage in medical and food and beverage industries, and useful properties including high elasticity and chemical resistance The disposable product segment is estimated to witness a CAGR of 15.1% from 2020 to 2027, owing to its less cost and single use property that prevents transmission of pathogens from one patient to another during testing operations The powder-free type segment is estimated to witness a CAGR of 15.8% from 2020 to 2027, as they are ideal to be used in wet conditions and due to presence of strict mandates towards usage of powdered gloves, as they can cause skin allergies Europe accounted for revenue share of 34.8% in 2019, owing to high adoption rate in heavy duty industries, to prevent hand injuries and infection, and high demand in countries such as Italy, Ukraine, France, and Croatia, due to COVID-19 outbreak Strategies adopted by market participants include supply chain development, collaborations, value chain integration, and distribution network expansion to gain a competitive edge in the market Read 181 page research report with ToC on "Rubber Gloves Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Material (Latex, Nitrile, Neoprene), By Type, By Product, By Distribution Channel, By End Use, By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2020 - 2027" at: https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/rubber-gloves-market The market is driven by rising adoption in industries such as automotive, oil and gas, construction, cleanroom, metal and machinery, and chemicals to prevent injuries at workplaces. This can be attributed to the presence of stringent regulations in various countries towards workers safety, such as Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and high costs associated with workplace hazards. The demand for rubber gloves is expected to rise, with growing concentration of industry players associated with the food and beverages industry, such as bakeries, packaged foods, and restaurants, towards making their products free from direct touch. This can be attributed to growing consumers awareness towards hygiene level of foods, and prevent infections caused due to spoilage, and mishandling of foods. The global outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 has resulted in increase in the demand for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), such as gloves, masks, face shields, and gowns. Governments across various countries across the world are collaborating with rubber gloves manufacturers, to maintain proper supply in the market, and prevent further transmission of the virus.