German chemicals firm Wacker Chemie recently commissioned its EUR300 million Etching Line Next, a new production line for the manufacture of ultra-pure semiconductor-grade polysilicon, at its Burghausen production site in Germany. “Ultra-pure polycrystalline silicon is the purest man-made material. Everything…
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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 ...
Tyres: Tyre makers take the wheel to turn the sustainability corner
From landfill to factory, the tyre sector is expanding the circular use of ...
LSR: Silcotech and Momtech partner for baby bottle
Anyone who has ever fed a baby can tell you it’s not necessarily ...
US to slap 93% anti-dumping levy on graphite from China
The US Commerce Department has stated it will impose preliminary anti-dumping duties on imports of Chinese graphite, a key battery component, after concluding that the materials had been unfairly subsidised, according to a Bloomberg report. A trade association representing US…
Sumitomo/NEC to focus on R&D/new opportunities for rubber industry
Japan’s Sumitomo Rubber Industries and NEC Corporation have signed a MoU to focus on building a next-generation R&D base and creating new business opportunities together. The companies aim to change the traditional R&D model in manufacturing. Their goals are to…
Zeon develops new hydrophilic polymer for winter tyres
Japan’s Zeon Corporation has developed Nipol BR1300, a new hydrophilic polymer for winter tyres. This polymer is synthesised using polybutadiene rubber as its structural base, resulting in what it says is “an unprecedented level” of hydrophilicity as a material for…
Bridgestone to sell China TBR plant to Sailun for US$37 mn
Japan’s Bridgestone Corporation is officially exiting the commercial tyre manufacturing business in China, with a deal to transfer all shares of its previously closed truck and bus radial (TBR) tyre plant in Shenyang to Sailun Group for 265 million CNY…
Freudenberg develops improved seals from simulation process
The first pressure seal resulting from entirely simulation-based product development is the outcome of a collaboration between Freudenberg Sealing Technologies and the central corporate research department Freudenberg Technology Innovation. Compared to previous, conventionally developed versions, this new method has enabled…
Dynasol invests EUR72 mn in new SSBR production line in Spain
Dynasol Group’s plant in Gajano (Cantabria), Spain, has launched a new styrene-butadiene rubber (SSBR) production line following an investment of EUR72 million, which will increase the factory’s production by 20,000 tonnes of rubber. The company’s Cantabria plant currently exports 90%…
Sri Trang ties up with Thai R&D institute to further rubber growth
Thailand’s Sri Trang recently signed a MoU with the country’s National Research Council of Thailand (NRCT) to foster what it says will be collaboration between the public and private sectors in advancing research, technology, and innovation in the rubber industry. The…
Michelin wins partial win against EU over raids
French tyre maker Michelin recently won a partial court victory against the EU over last year’s dawn raids looking into a possible cartel, a decision that could reduce the scope of the Commission’s investigation and any potential fines, according to a…
Hanwa invests in Thai tyre recycling firm
Japanese trading firm Hanwa Group that currently supplies tyre chips produced by shredding waste tyres as a low-impact energy source to industrial users in Japan, is now investing in the pyrolysis process, since it has become the dominant recycling method in…