ZF Friedrichshafen, Germany’s third largest automotive supplier and among the top ten worldwide, has confirmed reports that it is in the early stages of discussions to sell its rubber and plastics (R&P) unit. ZF says it has been approached by…
Category: Industry News
Sibur starts up its Voronezh TPE facility
Russian petrochemicals supplier Sibur has launched production of styrene-butadiene thermoplastic elastomers (TPE), to be used for the road building industry and roof coatings, at its Voronezh-based facility. The production facility reached its full design capacity of 50,000 tonnes/year. The process…
Mesnac buys US testing equipment supplier
Chinese tyre equipment manufacturer Mesnac has purchased a majority interest in US-based Test Measurement Systems (TMSI) for an undisclosed amount. The TMSI brand and identity will be retained. TMSI CEO Dr. Jerry Potts and other senior management staff will remain…
Invista and SilicoLife to develop bio-derived butadiene
US chemicals firm Invista and Portugal-based computational biology company SilicoLife are collaborating to develop new technologies to enable bio-derived processes for the production of industrial chemicals like butadiene. The two companies are collaborating in order to further co-develop their technology…
Bridgestone to make conveyor belts in Thailand
Japanese tyre maker Bridgestone will begin production of conveyor belts at its existing plant in Rayong, Thailand. Total investment of the project will be approximately 3 billion yen and production is scheduled to begin in the first half of 2015.…
Indian tyre makers worry over shortage of NR
The Indian tyre industry has sought easing of natural rubber availability due to acute shortage being faced in the domestic market. The ongoing lean season compounded by incessant rains in Kerala had hampered the tapping of rubber. In a communication…
Yokohama Rubber supports beekeeping in China
Japanese firm Yokohama Rubber is supporting environmental protection activities, described as “,” launched in Heyuan, an ethnic minority village in the Laojun Mountain Nature Reserve in Lijiang, Yagriculture development and evolutionunnan Province, China. The activities are being implemented as part…
Lanxess moves hq to Cologne
German speciality chemicals company Lanxess is relocating its headquarters from Leverkusen in Germany to Cologne and will officially manage its global operations from there as of August 1, 2013. The new domicile of the company is the Lanxess Tower in…
Asahi Kasei Corp opens SSBR plant in Singapore
Japanese firm Asahi Kasei Chemicals held a grand opening ceremony on July 11, 2013, on Jurong Island, Singapore, for a new plant for solution-polymerised styrene-butadiene rubber (S-SBR) which began commercial operation in April 2013. The first line installed has a…
Lanxess committed to Asia with BR plant in Singapore
German speciality chemicals firm Lanxess recently inaugurated its EUR400 million 1,000 kilotonnes/year butyl rubber plant on Jurong Island in Singapore, its highest investment to date. The plant will create about 160 highly qualified new jobs that will mainly be filled locally. The…