Swedish Hexpol Group has acquired rubber compounder Preferred Compounding (Preferred) from US-based Audax Group, for approximately US$232 million, on a cash- and debt-free basis. The acquisition aligns with Hexpol’s market strategy for enhanced global capacity and competence in advanced polymer…
TOP STORY
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 ...
Tyre Sector: Asian tyre sector to amble along with US tariff imposition
The higher than expected trade tariffs imposed by the US may shake up ...
Bridgestone to supply tyres for Kubota’s M7-Gen2 tractors
Japan’s Bridgestone is to supply radial tyres for tractor manufacturer Kubota’s new M7-172 large agricultural tractor, part of their M7-Gen 2 series available from April 2019 onwards. Bridgestone will provide its VT-Tractor tyres for the 170-horsepower model, which boasts efficient…
Omnova to be acquired by Synthomer for US$824 mn; airs optimism amid market uncertainty
Omnova Solutions, a US-based global manufacturer of emulsion polymers, specialty chemicals, and functional and decorative surfaces has entered into a definitive agreement to be acquired by UK-based specialty chemical company Synthomer for US$10.15/share in cash, or cash enterprise of US$824…
Lanxess expands masterbatch range for rubber reinforcement
German speciality chemicals firm Lanxess will be showcasing new masterbatches for manufacturing reinforced rubber parts at K2019, which is taking place in Düsseldorf from October 16 to 23, The pre-dispersed additives from the Rhenogran product series are said to be easy to handle, dust…
Semperit completes plant expansion in Poland
Multinational rubber manufacturer Semperit Group’s (Semperit) Belchatow plant in Poland will be their largest mixing site after a three-year, EUR€17 million expansion project. The plant’s new “Mixer 5” line is expected to add some 30,000 tonnes of rubber compounds to…
Orion to expand specialty CB capacity in Germany
International carbon black (CB) supplier Orion Engineered Carbons (Orion) is to expand its Cologne plant in Germany, for the highly-reinforced Gas Blacks production, in response to global market demands for water-borne and solvent-borne coatings. Orion’s Gas Blacks feature fine and…
Bridgestone to invest US$41m in European smart factory project
Bridgestone is to invest US$41 million on the digitisation of eight European tyre manufacturing plants, to create factories of the future. The investment is to be spread out over the next four years and will enable Bridgestone to meet customer…
Evonik to present process additive for improved rubber recycling
German Evonik Industries is upping the ante on rubber recycling with a unique process additive, Vestenamer, which turns waste rubber into a durable material for applications in road construction, playgrounds, sports tracks and others. The Vestenamer granules, manufactured in Marl…
Trelleborg Lanka orders EnviroCB for tyre production
Trelleborg Lanka, a subsidiary of Trelleborg Wheel Systems (TWS), has placed orders for Enviro’s recovered carbon black (EnviroCB), to be used for production of solid tyres. The three initial orders, worth some EUR€180,000 annually, are slated for serial delivery to…
Elysium Nordic applies for building permit, approval for new plant
Elysium Nordic, an upcoming recycling plant, has applied for a building permit and environmental approval from Nyborg municipality in southern Denmark. The joint project between Windspace and Enviro started just over a year ago after a MoU and lease agreement…