AUSTRIAN firm Semperit Group reported to have achieved significant revenue and earnings growth in the first quarter 2013, which the company says is its strongest ever. Amidst a tight market, its revenue increased by 6.6% from EUR 201.8 million in…
Evonik to set up new silica plant in Brazil
GERMANY-based Evonik Industries has started basic engineering for a precipitated silica production plant in Brazil. The project, which is subject to the approval of the responsible bodies, is targeted for completion in 2015 to market precipitated silica in the South…
Increased attendance at the IRC 2013 noted
THE INTERNATIONAL Rubber Conference 2013 held 20 to 22 March at the Palais des Congres, Porte Maillot in Paris, France had seen a surge of visitors this year compared to last year’s edition. Last year’s event, held in South Korea…
Cycling arm gear made with antibacterial elastomer
UK BASED company, Stantovelo has developed cycling arm warmers to protect wearer drom road rash. The patent-pending design of the Stantovelo arm warmers use lightweight, antibacterial elastomer along the forearm and elbow. Stanton, the inventor of the warmer says that…
Group denounces rubber firms’ Cambodia, Laos land grab
UK/US-headquartered Global Witness, an environmental non-governmental organisation (NGO) campaigning against natural resources exploitation and poverty , alleges that at least two Vietnamese rubber firms have illegally seized parcels of land in Cambodia and Laos, in collusion with Government authorities. Naming…
Venture capitalist buys Industrial Latex Compounds
Amin Amiri of a2e Venture Catalysts has acquired a majority controlling stake in UK-based Industrial Latex Compounds (ILC) that has a turnover of circa £16 million. ILC, originally part of Dow Chemical, is a “veteran” of the latex industry, boasting…
Yulex funds university’s 5-year rubber research on Guayule
THE UNIVERSITY of Arizona (UA) receives a US$3 million grant from Yulex Corp for research on breeding the guayule plant to produce biorubber for medical and other applications. The 5-year grant will be used to apply classical breeding along with…
Thailand district rubber plantation encroaches forest reserve
A FOREST reserve in the Wang Thong district is reportedly on the brink of being spoiled, as an approximately 2,000 rai of land in the vicinity of the district’s river basin forest is being developed into a rubber plantation. Allegedly,…
Liberty denies Kumho’s claims on recalled tyres
LIBERTY Tire Recycling L.L.C. refutes claims by Kumho Tire U.S.A. Inc. that it sold thousands of recalled tyres as used tires, instead of recycling them. It furthered that Kumho did not notify the company that the tyres had been recalled…
Kenda produces prototype tyre from new plant in China
KENDA Rubber Industrial Co. Ltd. has produced its first prototype tyre from its new factory in Tainjin, China. The company’s second automotive factory within the last five years, will be producing tyres for the European, African and Asian markets. Kenda’s…