Japanese chemical company, Asahi Kasei has recently relocated its Asahi Kasei Europe R&D Centre, originally sited at Chempark Dormagen, to Düsseldorf Harbour, Germany. By uniting European sales, marketing and R&D activities, the Japanese technology company further enhances its business approach…
Guizhou Tyre begins tyre production in Vietnam plant
Chinese tyremaker Guizhou Tyre ( formerly Guizhou Tyre Factory) has produced its first tyre at its Vietnam plant on 1 April. It will also start product testing and certification processes. Located in the industrial park of Long Giang in the province of Tien Giang, the factory would have a production capacity of 1.2 million/year units of tyres for…
Synthomer unveils new Asia Innovation Centre in Malaysia
Synthomer has recently launched its Asia Innovation Centre (AIC) at iPark near Senai Airport, Johor Bahru despite the pandemic. The 6,000+ sq m flagship facility that is now fully operational and ready to offer research and development services for Performance…
Shin-Etsu launches new website for silicone products for India
Japan-headquartered Shin-Etsu Chemical Co. Ltd. has recently opened a website for silicone products for the Indian market. The website has two key parts: silicone products and application examples, and company introductions. The website also has e-commerce functions. Silicone, a high-functional…
Toyoda Gosei invests in med device startup Genial Light; to construct new plant in Miyagi
Toyoda Gosei Co, Ltd, a manufacturer of plastics and rubber automotive components, safety systems, and LEDs invests in Genial Light Co, Ltd., a Japanese startup that develops testing equipment and other devices for medical institutions. Genial Light has worked with…
IRSG announces World Rubber Summit virtual event to be held on 8-11 June
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…
Hexpol acquires Unica; expected to strengthen grip on Spain, EU markets
Malmö-headquartered polymers company Hexpol is acquiring 100% of Unión de Industrias CA, SA. (Unica) from Espiga Capital, a Spanish based Private Equity firm for an estimated EUR48 million. Unica is a significant player in Rubber Compounds in Spain, supplying several…
Russian OG company Tatneft to produce crude rubber, road bitumen in Kazakhstan
Russian oil and gas company, Tatneft has signed an agreement to produce crude rubber and road bitumen in Kazakhstan for the Butadiene Project and the Agreement of Intent on the Implementation of the Road Bitumen Production Project. The signing took…
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…
Guayule, a renewable resource for polyisoprene
Guayule is also found to be a potential source of natural polyisoprene (PI), according to a study led by Amandine Rousset ( Avignon University and GuaTecs), Ali Amor (CIRAD and CTTM), Serge Palu (CIRAD), Teerasak Punvichai (Prince of Songkla University), Sandrine Perino…







