With the theme, “Facing the Future: Inclusiveness, Sustainability and Growth for the Next Normal”, the International Rubber Study Group (IRSG) has announced the World Rubber Summit (WRS) virtual event will be held on 8-11 June 2021. (Related article: World Rubber Summit postponed…
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HeveaConnect, SNV to jointly develop training modules for Indonesian rubber smallholders
Singapore-headquartered digital marketplace HeveaConnect (HC) joined forces with Dutch non-profit SNV Netherlands Development Organisation to develop the HeveaGROW digital agronomy training modules in video formats for rubber smallholders in Indonesia. The initiative aims to make agronomy training accessible to more rubber smallholders and…
PTT to venture into nitrile gloves production; new jv established to enter medical device market
Thai state-owned oil and gas company PTT’s subsidiaries, IRPC and Innobic (Asia) establish a joint venture, Innopolymed Company Limited, to produce non-woven fabric from the melt-blown process, and which are raw materials for the filtration in medical masks, N95 respirators,…
Sumitomo Rubber to boost US plant capacity with US$122 mn investment
In response to the increased demand driven by strong sales of SUV and light truck high-performance tyres in the North American market, Sumitomo Rubber Industries (SRI) is investing US$96 million to nearly double its capacity in its US factory’s daily…
Bridgestone divests Firestone Building Products to Holcim
Bridgestone Americas, a subsidiary of Bridgestone Corporation, has completed the sale of Firestone Building Products to Holcim Participations (US) Inc, a subsidiary of LafargeHolcim. The transaction, valued at US$3.4 billion, will enable Bridgestone to focus on its core tyre business and…
Traton ramps up e-mobility with EUR 1.6 bn investment in R&D by 2025
German commercial vehicle manufacturer and Volkswagen subsidiary, Traton, is investing a total of EUR1.6 billion in research and development for e-mobility by 2025. At the same time, Traton says it is scaling back investments in conventional drives of these to…
Mighty Earth urges CBI to delist Michelin “Green Bond” amid allegations of industrial deforestation
Environmental campaign organisation Mighty Earth recently filed a formal complaint with the UK-based investor-focused not-for-profit body Climate Bonds Initiative (CBI) calling for Asia’s first corporate “Sustainability Bond”, which had been issued in 2018 for investors in French tyre maker Michelin’s natural rubber joint venture in…
Cooper issues major recall of defective light truck tyres
Finland, Ohio=headquartered Cooper Tire & Rubber Co is recalling over 430,000 light truck tyres in the US on tyre failure risk from sidewall bulges. The recall, which is expected to commence March 25, covers certain Discoverer, Evolution, Courser, Deegan, Adventurer,…
Eco USA builds first US silicone recycling facility
New Jersey-headquartered Eco USA, has just completed the first phase of the development of its first silicone rubber recycling plant in the US. The silicone polymer recycler can recycle approximately 500 tonnes of silicone/month and plans to increase their output to…
Yokohama Rubber taps own AI tech to predict rubber properties; expands tyre mould subsidiary in Thailand
Tokyo-headquartered Yokohama Rubber Co, Ltd is now using the latest AI technology it developed to design rubber compounds for its tyres. The proprietary system, which was developed under Yokohama Rubber’s new AI utilisation concept, HAICoLab (Humans and AI ColLaborate), and…