Michelin Connected Fleet has integrated an artificial intelligence (AI) assistant into its MyConnectedFleet platform, enabling fleet managers to query operational data through natural language to retrieve fuel consumption reports, driver performance analysis, and vehicle maintenance status. The tool is now…
GMG starts up 2nd generation graphene plant in Australia
Australia’s Graphene Manufacturing Group (GMG) says that it has completed the construction and started up its Generation 2.0 graphene manufacturing technology plant, which is expected to produce 10 tonnes/year of graphene once remaining works are completed and the plant is…
Pirelli acquires stake in tyre sensor start-up firm
Italian tyre maker Pirelli has acquired a stake in Ridesense, a start-up spun out from the Department of Industrial Engineering at the University of Naples Federico II and the MegaRide Group, which specialises in the development of advanced technologies for…
Toyoda Gosei/Tohoku University launch materials lab in Japan
Japan’s Toyoda Gosei and Tohoku University have set up a joint research centre at the Graduate School of Engineering, Tohoku University. The aim of the lab is to focus on developing high-performance rubber, plastic and other functional materials. Known as…
Wanli/Berjaya tie-up for RM1 bn tyre plant in Malaysia
Chinese tyre manufacturer Wanli Tire plans to construct a tyre manufacturing plant in Selangor, Malaysia, in a tie-up with Malaysian property giant Berjaya Group. The planned tyre manufacturing plant will be in Hulu Selangor, and this will be Wanli’s second…
Elkem Silicones renamed as Blusestar Silicones
Elkem Silicones has announced its rebranding as Bluestar Silicones, marking a major milestone in the company’s transition following the closing of the acquisition by Chinese silicone producer Bluestar Group of the majority of Elkem’s silicones division on April 30, 2026. The…
Wacker opens specialty silicones site in Czech Republic
German chemical firm Wacker has officially opened a new production site for silicones in the Czech Republic. After just two years of construction, the first production line officially went on stream in Karlovy Vary. Here, customised silicones for the automotive,…
Evonik’s Turkish silica plant ISCC Plus certified
German chemical firm Evonik, together with the Egesil Kimya team, has obtained ISCC Plus certification for its precipitated silica plant in Adapazari, Turkey – its first certified silica site in the EMEA region. With this certification in place, the site…
Freudenberg develops elastomer-based battery cell caps
Freudenberg Sealing Technologies says it is developing the next generation of battery cell caps for prismatic and cylindrical cells with moulded rubber. Cell caps occupy a considerable portion of the cell volume – space that both the manufacturer and the…
Arlanxeo/Covestro advance on sustainable rubber
Synthetic rubber materials producer Arlanxeo and German materials maker Covestro are strengthening their collaboration to advance more sustainable solutions in synthetic rubber production. By transitioning to the use of ISCC Plus-certified chlorine from Covestro in its chloroprene rubber (CR) production,…






