Amidst higher costs and lower demand, South Korea’s top three tyre manufacturers: Hankook Tire, Kumho Tire and Nexen Tire, have reported mixed financial performances in the third quarter. While Hankook and Kumho managed to post strong profits, Nexen struggled amid…
Category: Industry News
Michelin to downsize; shuttering plants in France
Against the back of a challenging automotive sector in Europe, French tyre maker Michelin (plans to close two of its French factories, affecting 1,254 workers. The 135-year company cited high costs, worsening competitiveness of Europe, notably due to inflation and…
Birla Carbon to build US$1 bn graphite anode plant in US
India’s Birla Carbon, a unit of Indian multinational company Aditya Birla Group, is investing US$1 billion to construct a plant in South Carolina, US, to produce graphite anode materials, according to a statement by state Governor Henry McMaster. “Birla Carbon’s…
Lotte to liquidate PBR jv in Malaysia
South Korean petrochemical firm Lotte Chemical Corp. says it plans to liquidate its rubber joint venture in Malaysia to scale back its basic chemicals business while selling stakes in its overseas units to raise nearly US$1 billion to cut debt. Lotte Chemical has…
Betolar/Hycamite to test carbon nanofibres as additive for concrete
Finland’s Betolar Oyj and Hycamite TCD Technologies Oy have signed a commercial agreement to assess the applicability of carbon nanofibres for enhancing the strength properties of concrete and reducing its carbon footprint. The usability of Hycamite’s low-carbon carbon nanofibers as…
Calamities may dampen NR supply – ANRPC report
Global natural rubber (NR) production rose by 3.2% in the first nine months of the year, reaching 9.9 million tonnes, while global demand saw a more modest increase of 1.4%, reaching 11.3 million tonnes over the same period. However, the…
Pirelli unveils first FSC-certified bike tyres
Italian tyremaker Pirelli has introduced the P Zero Race TLR RS, the cycling industry’s first tyre featuring FSC-certified natural rubber, sourced responsibly to preserve biodiversity and support local communities. Manufactured at Pirelli’s updated Milan-Bollate plant, this tubeless-ready tyre represents a…
Unigloves and KluraLabs introduce new antimicrobial nitrile glove with 99.99% germ elimination in 60 secs
UK-headquartered Unigloves and KluraLabs have launched CrossGuard, an antimicrobial nitrile glove that eliminates 99.99% of bacteria in just 60 seconds, ideal for healthcare, lab, and food industries. The glove, free of active ingredients and tested by third parties, offers quick,…
Bridgestone to pilot sustainable butadiene production with DOE grant
Bridgestone Americas has received a grant from the US Department of Energy (DOE) to develop a pilot plant for converting ethanol to butadiene, a key synthetic rubber component in tyres, with a lower carbon footprint. Partnering with Pacific Northwest National…
ZC Rubber expands global footprint with first all-steel radial tyre from Indonesian plant
Zhongce Rubber Group (ZC Rubber) announces that its Indonesian subsidiary, PT Matahari Tire Indonesia (MTI), has produced its first all-steel radial tyre. This milestone, celebrated at an official ceremony in MTI’s 500,000-sq m facility in Kendal Industrial Park, marks a…