The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company announced that Ryan Waldron has been named president of the company’s Americas business unit, reporting to Chief Executive Officer and President Mark Stewart. He succeeds Steven R. McClellan, who retired on April 1.

The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd., announced that it is supplying its GEOLANDAR X-CV (pattern number: G057) and GEOLANDAR A/T G31 tires as original equipment (OE) to Toyota Motor Corporation for use on the automaker’s new SUVs , the 250 series Land Cruiser, which launched worldwide in April 2024. The new SUVs are being fitted with two sizes of GEOLANDAR X-CV–245/70R18 110H and 265/60R20 112H–and two sizes of GEOLANDAR A/T G31–245/70R18 110H and 265/65R18 114V.

EPFL researchers are targeting the next generation of soft actuators and robots with an elastomer-based ink for 3D printing objects with locally changing mechanical properties, eliminating the need for cumbersome mechanical joints.

EIBINGER announces the developed a special ink for cable marking and meter marking of extruded goods, one that adheres reliably to PVC materials. This ink is resistant to plasticizers which means it can prevent the effect described above of accidental transfer prints. With a Blue Wool Scale (BWS) ranking of 8, it also possesses exceptional UV stability.

Lianda Corporation recently added rubber cure accelerator DOTG (Di-ortho-tolyl guanidine) to its specialty chemical lineup.

A Lianda customer reached out for help due to unavailability of DOTG. The Lianda source team was able to utilize its sourcing network and quickly identified a reliable source for DOTG. Emergency shipments are being arranged to help the customer maintain production.

The Commercial Managing Director of Klöckner DESMA Elastomertechnik GmbH, Mr. Siegfried Köhler, has left the company at his own request as of 15.04.2024. Salzgitter AG had appointed Mr. Köhler as Managing Director for Service and Sales until 1.10.2023. Due to unexpected private circumstances, Mr. Siegfried Köhler feels compelled to cease his activities as Managing Director of DESMA Elastomertechnik with immediate effect.
Dr. Michael Zaun, Managing Director of DESMA since September 2022, will take over Mr. Köhler’s business responsibilities on an interim basis until a successor is appointed.

The ENGEL Group concluded the fiscal year with a slight decline in turnover of approx. -6% compared to the previous year. “The volume in the injection molding machine market has fallen by up to -40% according to various association figures. ENGEL has succeeded in gaining shares in a shrinking market – a trend consistent with observations from previous economic contractions,” comments Stefan Engleder, CEO of the ENGEL Group, on the turnover of around 1.6 billion EUR. The Business Units Medical and Packaging made a significant contribution to this development. Demand for the production of diabetes therapy products remains high, especially in the American region, while the packaging industry is experiencing a boom in Europe due to new regulations. The after-sales business also manifested positive growth, with a surge of almost +15% compared to the previous year.

Following Elkem’s annual general meeting on 18 April 2024, the board has decided to elect Bo Li as the new Chair. Bo Li is also Chair of the board of China National Bluestar (Bluestar), Elkem’s majority shareholder, and a subsidiary of Sinochem.

Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd. held a groundbreaking event on April 15 for its new consumer/light truck tire plant at the Alianza Industrial Park in Saltillo, Coahuila, Mexico. The event was well attended by a crowd of state and local officials, as well as management from Yokohama companies, including YRC Chairman and CEO Masataka Yamishi; Yokohama Corporation North America (YCNA) CEO Shinichi Takimoto; and Yokohama Tire Corporation (YTC) President and CEO Jeff Barna.

Ansell announced it has entered into a binding agreement to acquire 100% of the assets that constitute Kimberly-Clark’s Personal Protective Equipment business (KCPPE) for US$640 million.

The Acquisition is expected to complete by September 2024, subject to satisfaction of antitrust approval and other customary closing conditions.

Colombo, Sri Lanka – In line with constant efforts to uplift and empower stakeholders within the natural rubber industry in

As President of Mack Molding’s Northern Division, Pang will be responsible for the Company’s four Vermont facilities, as well as Mack Prototype, a prototyping and low-volume manufacturing facility in Massachusetts, and Synectic Product Development, an engineering services group in Connecticut. Mack Molding is part of Mack Group, which includes global provider of complex electronic manufacturing services, Mack Technologies, and is led by President and CEO Will Kendall. Pang will be reporting to Kendall, along with Mack Molding Southern Division President Bryan Campbell.

Michelin received the “Global Living Wage Employer” certification at the beginning of 2024 from the NGO Fair Wage Network, a globally recognized NGO, attesting that all of the Group’s employees receive remuneration at least equivalent to the “living wage”.

This “living wage” or decent salary is defined as the remuneration allowing each employee to provide for the essential needs of their family (food, housing, transport, education of children, health costs, etc.) but also to constitute precautionary savings and to acquire consumer goods. Fair Wage Network takes into account the fixed elements of remuneration enjoyed by an employee. In most cases, the “living wage” references provided by Fair Wage Network are above the legal minimum wage.

The digital edition is now available online.

UTH GmbH develops and applies new technologies for mixing, extruding and fine mesh straining of silicone rubber compounds. Silicone rubber compounds are in demand in many industrial sectors, especially in the technical, sealing and medical industry, where high standards of product quality and performance are required. To meet these demands, sustainable and automated production processes are needed, which enable a gentle but process-reliable material processing, and at the same time conserve resources.

SHOKLESS™ polyurethane systems are generally compatible with a number of different manufacturing methods such as open- and closed-pour (injection) and cold-cure molding. Certain products in the range can also be dispensed with high pressure equipment. Huntsman also offers simulation and modeling capabilities that can help customers customize and optimize processing parameters, and the structural and thermal performance of the materials, so they can get the very best out of the SHOKLESS™ system they select.

Firestone Airide recently opened new distribution centers at two U.S.-based manufacturing facilities: Williamsburg, Kentucky and Dyersburg, Tennessee. The total investment of approximately $26 million will enhance the company’s ability to serve its customers and increase operational efficiency. Additionally, having the distribution centers located next to the manufacturing facilities will help reduce the company’s carbon footprint by eliminating the transportation of goods from the two manufacturing facilities to a third-party operated distribution center in Indianapolis.  

Mars Mineral has announced the shipment of a Model 26D100L stainless steel pin mixer to LD Carbon (LDC), a leading producer of recovered carbon black (rCB). LDC, based in Seoul, South Korea, will receive the pin mixer at its new manufacturing facility in Dangjin. This plant, slated to open during the second quarter of 2024, will be the largest end-of-life 􀆟re (ELT) pyrolysis and rCB operation in Asia.

The Rubber Division ACS announces the following May Learning Opportunities.

May 9 – Webinar: How to Extend Lifetime of Elastomers & Rubber Products
May 15 – Course: Mixing & Testing for Compound Consistency
May 16 – Course: Setting Up a Rubber Molding Process
May 21 – Webinar: How to Create & Follow Your Professional Development Plan
May 21-24 – Endurica Workshop: Application of Rubber Fatigue Analysis with Endurica Software
May 22 – Course: Understanding Your Data
May 23 – Webinar: Managing Scientists & Engineers
May 29 – Webinar: Fundamentals of Machine Vision for the Inspection of Rubber Seals

Alpha Technologies announced the launch of its next-generation tensile solution, the AlphaFlex10™ Tensile Tester. This state-of-the-art tensile tester adds destructive physical property testing to Alpha’s line of rheology instruments.
The AlphaFlex10 tensile tester seamlessly integrates with the trusted software and service support of rheology equipment products that are an integral part of Alpha’s comprehensive solutions for rubber and elastomer material testing needs.

Ernest Pouttu, President and CEO of Harwick Standard announced the following promotions effective April 1, 2024. William M. Knezevich has been named Vice President Marketing and Rodney L. Crowell has been promoted to Vice President of Sales.

Mississippi Lime Company has launched a new global brand platform and will begin operating under the name MLC. The transformation of the company’s identity reflects MLC’s progress as an international lime solutions partner with an unwavering commitment to safety, sustainability and service.  

As of 2023, the TPEE market is worth more than $292 billion worldwide and is anticipated to grow in the following years. Globally, the dominant market is the Asia Pacific with China at the forefront. The latter obtains the most significant share owing to the great performance of the local automobile and electronics sector, which are the principal TPEE customers. The thermoplastic polyester elastomer market share would generate revenue of USD 542 Billion by 2036 end and grow at a CAGR of 6% from 2024 to 2036 according to Research Nester

2024 marks a significant milestone for Continental’s tire manufacturing operations in the United States. Three key plants celebrate their anniversaries: 5 years in Clinton, Mississippi, 10 years in Sumter, South Carolina, and 50 years in Mount Vernon, Illinois. With an annual production capacity of more than 16 million tires and a team of more than 6,700 local manufacturing employees, Continental is amongst the top tire manufacturers in the U.S.. In the last decade alone, the company has invested more than $1.5 billion USD in its American tire manufacturing operations. Continental is committed to premium product quality, innovation, and growth in the U.S. market. Thus, the premium tire manufacturer is continuously investing in the expansion of its tire plants.

Christoph Kowitz, currently head of WACKER’s Corporate Research Department, takes charge of the Group’s U.S. subsidiary Wacker Chemical Corporation (WCC) at the beginning of May. He succeeds David Wilhoit who has been responsible for WACKER’s North and Central American business since 2015 and is now retiring.

The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd., announced that it is supplying its GEOLANDAR A/T G015 tires as original equipment (OE) to Toyota Motor Corporation for use on the automaker’s new CROWN CROSSOVER RS “LANDSCAPE”, a special edition of CROWN CROSSOVER. The new vehicle was launched in April 2024 in Japan.

General Silicones Co., Ltd. (GS), to participate in Hannover Messe 2024, showcasing a spectrum of innovative silicone products. From April 22-26, visitors can explore GS’s cutting-edge solutions at Hall 3, Stand A64-12, including their hallmark Compo-SiL® silicone decorative film

Thin, flat sheets of paper covered in silicone or another release agent are called paper release liners. They are employed in the protection and separation of adhesive materials, such as labels and tapes, to prevent adhesion during application, storage, and transit. The growing need for pressure-sensitive adhesives (PSAs) and other adhesive technologies across a range of industries, including automotive, electronics, healthcare, and food and beverage, is the main driver of the paper release liners market. Furthermore, the market is expanding because to the rising need for environmentally friendly, biodegradable, and sustainable release liners.

Synthomer plc announced an agreement to divest its latex compounding operations to Belgian company Matco NV, a leader in compounds, water-based adhesives, and solutions for various industrial applications, for consideration of c.€27.5m.

TechnoBiz is accepting delegate registrations for the upcoming “RUBBER WEEK 2024” during 22-26 April 2024 in Bangkok, Thailand at Century Park Hotel. It has 3 specialized conferences and 9 short training courses aimed for rubber industry professionals across the world. This is a Hybrid Program. Participants can choose either in-person participation or online participation.