This year, the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) has focused on the Southeast Asian region, which accounts for 85% of the world’s natural rubber (NR) output . Its purpose is to ensure that the region employs the…
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Gloves Sector: Malaysia’s gloves sector holds its place in a volatile market
As a main exporter of gloves globally, Malaysia is handling suitably geopolitical pressures ...
LSR stretches its industrial footprint
Liquid silicone rubber, or LSR, is an advanced elastomer that has gained traction ...
Tyre Sector: Setting in motion the wheels of change
Once liabilities and eye sore on landfills, end-of-life tyres have now become assets ...
Tyres: Space’s the limit for rubber tyres
Innovative rubber tyres are entering the era of space missions: as a catalyst ...
Medical: Flexible artificial muscles from liquid crystal elastomers
In Canada, an international team led by researchers at the University of Waterloo ...
Evonik/Wynca Chinese fumed silica plant goes on stream
The joint venture between Evonik and the Chinese company Wynca – Evonik Wynca (Zhenjiang) Silicon Material Co. is starting-up its new fumed silica plant. Located in the Zhenjiang New Material Industry Park in Jiangsu province, the plant is Evonik’s first…
Orion enters Into US$650 mn sustainability-linked term loan
US carbon black supplier Orion Engineered Carbons has entered into a US$650 million-equivalent seven-year sustainability-linked Term Loan B, across Euros and US Dollars. With this transaction, Orion has replaced its existing Term Loan B that was scheduled to mature in July 2024…
Synthos to build 120 kt/yr butadiene unit
Polish chemical firm Synthos has made a final investment decision for the construction of a new butadiene extraction unit with associated logistic infrastructure to be built in Plock, Poland. The commissioning of the butadiene extraction unit and first production are scheduled…
Vittoria invests US$20 mn to double bicycle tyre capacity in Thailand
Italian bicycle tyre maker Vittoria Group says it is constructing a new factory in Thailand. The US$20 million investment will see its local subsidiary Lion Tyres Thailand (LTT)’s factory premises grow from 36.000 to 52.000 sq m in the Bangpoo…
Bridgestone consolidating auto seat pad plants in Japan
In line with its restructuring plan, tyre maker Bridgestone Corporation says that it will consolidate its plants for automotive seat pads in Japan, which are now manufactured in four plants owned by its group companies, out of which three plants are owned…
BKT trials OTR tyre production in new facility
Indian tyre maker BKT has announced the start of trial production at a new facility in Waluj, in the Indian state of Maharashtra, following an investment of US$65 million. Spanning an area of 22 acres, BKT’s latest plant is situated…
Nokian to use wind-powered electricity for Finnish facility
Finland’s Nokian Tyres has signed a ten-year agreement with the Nordic energy company Gasum to supply renewable wind energy for the electricity used in the Finnish factory and in Vianor operations in Finland. The power will be produced by a new…
Michelin to decarbonise French tyre plant
French tyre firm Michelin has tied up in a ten-year contract with low-carbon utility company Engie to optimise energy consumption at its tyre factory in Clermont-Ferrand, central France. In addition to utilities management, the ten-year contract provides for the design and operation…
TAIF, Sibur merger finalised; fifth global producer
Russian petrochemical firms Sibur and TAIF have entered into an agreement finalising the creation of a combined entity that will leverage the facilities of PJSC SIBUR Holding. The move follows an announcement in April that the firms had initiated steps to…