UK-headquartered materials company Synthomer has started up its RM270 million nitrile latex expansion at its Pasir Gudang facility in the southern state of Johor in Malaysia. The company has added on 90,000 tonnes/year of new capacity, which is a 50%…
Wearable ultrasound silicone patch for continuous blood pressure monitoring
Researches led by the University of California San Diego have invented a new wearable ultrasound patch that monitors blood pressure in arteries deep beneath the skin. The non-invasive method could help with the detection of cardiovascular anomalies. The work, published…
Versalis (Eni) opens new EPDM rubber production plant in Ferrara
The new facility, which will mainly supply rubber to the automotive industry, is a reindustrialization of an Italian production plant. The project was financed with over EUR 250 million, and involved constructing a new production line on a land which…
Continental debuts a new production hall in Czech Republic
Continental recently inaugurated their new production hall of their molds and container manufacturer A-Z Formen- und Maschinenbau GmbH (AZ) in Horsovsky Tyn. Guests from local authorities, Vaclav Mothejzík – Mayor of Horsovsky Tyn, Josef Bernard– Regional Council President, Jan Latka…
India cracks down on China’s FKM imports; countervailing duty probe ongoing
India has initiated a countervailing duty probe into increased imports of fluoroelastomer (FKM), a fluorocarbon-based synthetic rubber from China, following a complaint from Gujarat Fluorochemicals (GFL), a part of the $3 billion INOX Group of Companies, and India’s largest producer…
Evonik to expand hydrophobic fumed silica capacities
Germany’s Evonik Industries is expanding its capacities for refinement fumed silica in Rheinfelden (Germany). The group will invest an amount in the low double-digit million euro range to expand its Rheinfelden facility, which further processes hydrophilic silica to a hydrophobic…
Black Bear’s ingenious solution to the global waste tyres problem
Every year, 1.5 billion tyres reach the end of their life. The vast majority get dumped or incinerated, releasing massive amounts of carbon dioxide, and destroying highly valuable resources. To solve this waste tyre problem, Dutch company Black Bear has…
Hexpol acquires Kirkland Rubber for US$46m
Hexpol has recently acquired of the business of Kirkhill Rubber from the founder Edward Reker, his family and co-owners. Kirkhill as a company with experience in aerospace, automotive, medical, and other demanding industry segments, had started expanding into silicone and…
Trelleborg opens a new sealing centre in Germany
Trelleborg Sealing Solutions has celebrated the inauguration of its newly constructed Innovation Centre in Stuttgart, Germany. The centre would host the business’s global headquarters, its German headquarters and various global support departments, as well as a significantly extended R&D area…
Sharp dip in India’s natural rubber output
India is forecasting a decline in natural rubber output by 18 to 20% this year that will negatively impact the tyre industry, says ICRA Ltd., an investment information and credit rating agency. The floods in Kerala, due to unusually high…






