THE RUBBER industry has had its share of ups and downs, as well as positive developments, through the years, according to Smithers Rapra, the organiser for the upcoming Latex & Synthetic Polymer Dispersions 2013 conference that will be held on September 10-11 at the Renaissance Hotel, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Several speakers who are experts in their fields will be presenting at the said conference.
In an exclusive interview, Rapra asked one of the conference presenters , David Hill of UK-based David Hill & Associates, International Latex Consultancy and an experienced latex scientist and technical manager with over 26 years of work experience in companies within the latex segment, to share his insights on the industry.
RAPRA: David, the rubber industry has, in the past, been accused of being slow to change. You have been working in the rubber industry for over 30 years now; how have you seen the rubber industry evolve during this time?
HILL: The rubber industry, especially the natural rubber industry, still has the aura of something of the “black art”, and as such is perceived as being slow to change. In certain areas this is possibly correct. But when I look back at my sector of the industry these are some of the advances I have seen:
- the development of powder-free surgical gloves
- the improvement in the range of safe accelerators and antioxidants available
- the massive improvement in the quality of condoms, paralleling, even leading, the improved requirements in condom standards
- the development of effective nitrosamine-free accelerators
- the availability of de-proteinised natural rubber latex
- the development of soft nitrile latex exam gloves
- the development of synthetic polyisoprene latex as a viable glove and condom material, and many other innovations.
I don’t think this supports the “slow to change” viewpoint. Outside of my sector? Just look at the advances made in car tyres.
RAPRA: The consumption of natural rubber has been steadily increasing over the last 25 years. To what would you attribute this growth and is it sustainable?
HILL: Natural rubber is a remarkable material, and as such is still difficult to replace satisfactorily with a synthetic alternative. Therefore the consumption is bound to rise, as the motor industry expands. Add in the increased consumption of NR products in the emerging markets of Brazil, China and India, and the increase is perfectly understandable.
The production of NR in the “newer” areas such as India, Sri Lanka, Guatemala, China, Vietnam etc. is increasing, and I would think that the long-term future is reasonably secure, although short term demands will mean price fluctuations.
RAPRA: What do you view as the greatest threat to world rubber and its consumption over the next 20 years?
HILL: I do not know enough about latex plantations to comment on the threats posed by climate change and the emergence of new pests. In other areas, I would be concerned about major health scares on rubber accelerators or latex proteins, although I think that the industry has sufficient technical resources to meet and overcome any such threats.
RAPRA: The Asia Pacific region now dominates world rubber production and consumption. In your view, how can the Western world stay competitive in such a market?
HILL: In the short to medium term, I do not think it can. The cheap labour offered by the Asia Pacific region could be endured by the west as long as the west had the scientific and technical know-how to control the industry. However, I believe that, in general, the technical ability now evident in the Asia Pacific region surpasses anything the west can offer.
RAPRA: In a time of rising oil and feedstock prices and economic uncertainty what messages of hope can you provide for the rubber sector?
HILL:Rubbers – both natural and synthetic – are materials essential to the world’s economy. The current economic climate will cause uncertainty and cost fluctuations, but I see no way that the industry will not endure.
RAPRA: You have been involved with Smithers Rapra’s Latex conference for many years now. Why do you feel that the conference is still topical and what are you hoping to gain from your participation at this year’s event?
HILL: I think that the fact that two regular latex conferences – Akron and Smithers Rapra – are still going strong shows that there is still the thirst for knowledge within the industry, and still the innovation to address that thirst.
What am I hoping to gain from it? Its the re-assurance that the industry where I have spent the majority of my working life still has the capacity to surprise me and satisfy my intellectual curiosity.