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…
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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 ...
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…
Momentive acquired by KCC consortium for US$3 bn
US-based silicones company Momentive Performance Materials is to be acquired by a consortium led by South Korean building materials firm KCC Corporation, private equity fund SJL Partners, and semi-conductor equipment maker Wonik QnC Corporation in a transaction valued at approximately…
Dow to spur investments in silicones globally; to add on capacity for products/intermediates
US-headquartered chemicals company Dow Chemical says it is investing in new low capital intensity, high return investments in its upstream and downstream silicones franchise to accelerate innovation and support global customers’ demand in high growth markets, such as high performance building,…
Pirelli withdraws from Venezuela after 28 years
Italian tyre maker Pirelli has closed down its car tyre factory in Guacara, Venezuela, and has ceased all activities in the country after 28 years. Previously, the plant had temporarily shut down after the Venezuelan economic reforms. The decision comes as the…