Cooper Tire and Sailun Vietnam celebrate first tire at joint venture plant
12/3/2019 - Findlay, OH - Cooper Tire & Rubber Company and Sailun Vietnam Co., Ltd. recently celebrated production of a first tire at ACTR, their joint venture (JV) facility located near Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Cooper owns 35 percent of ACTR, which will produce truck and bus radial (TBR) tires for global markets. The ceremonial first tire was the centerpiece of a special event held at the facility on November 18 to celebrate construction of the plant. The plant is expected to be operational and producing tires on a commercial level by early 2020. At full capacity, production is expected to be approximately 2 million tires annually. “Cooperation between Cooper and Sailun has been outstanding, and we thank our partner Sailun for working so closely with us over the past several months to construct this facility,” said Brad Hughes, Cooper president and chief executive officer. “This is another important step in Cooper’s strategy to expand and diversify our TBR production globally, giving us additional capacity to supply quality Roadmaster TBR tires to customers worldwide.” Zhongxue Yuan, chairman and president of Sailun Group Co. Ltd., said, “ACTR is a highly modern tire production facility with the latest technologies to drive quality and efficiency. We thank Cooper and all of those involved in the construction of the facility for their excellent support and cooperation. We look forward to many years of successful operation together with Cooper at ACTR.”
Conductive Silicone Rubber Market is estimated to reach $8.68 Billion by 2026 - click to expand
7/7/2020 - New York, NY - The Conductive Silicone Rubber Market is estimated to reach USD 8.68 Billion by 2026, according to a new report by Reports and Data. This can be mainly associated with the rising demand for lightweight automobile parts because of improved fuel efficiency and reduced emissions in various industries globally. Based on statistics, increased significance of anti-static packaging for the purpose of dust control during electric charge is expected to become the most common growth factor globally in the coming years. High customer requirements and increase in demand from the automotive industries are also significant factors stimulating market demand.
APAC accounts for the largest market share of 28.30% in 2018. Rising economy coupled with increase in purchasing capacity in countries such as India, China, and South Korea are responsible for the growth of electrical, electronic, and automotive industries. This, in turn, has resulted in an abundant increase in the conductive Silicone rubber market.
The research study includes the latest updates about the COVID-19 impact on the Conductive Silicone Rubber sector. The outbreak has broadly influenced the global economic landscape. The report contains a complete breakdown of the current situation in the ever-evolving business sector and estimates the aftereffects of the outbreak on the overall economy.
Key participants include: Dow Corning, Momentive Performance Materials, Wacker Chemie, Chemical Industrial Group Co., Ltd., Shin-Etsu, China National Bluestar Silicones, KCC Corporation, Reiss Manufacturing, Mesgo SpA, Zhejiang Xinan Specialty Silicone Products.
Safic-Alcan opens South African subsidiary - click to expand
7/7/2020 - Johannesburg, South Africa - Safic-Alcan announced that it has formed a new subsidiary, Safic-Alcan Southern Africa, for servicing the South African market and its neighboring countries, effective immediately. Safic-Alcan Southern Africa is based in Johannesburg and will manage warehouse locally. In order to support the new office, Safic-Alcan hired its first employee, Ronald Marshall, who will be responsible for sales and development. Marshall, a polymer engineer, will hold the position of general manager, and will initially be in charge of the performance products market in Southern Africa (CASE, PU, rubber and plastic). Prior to his current position, Marshall enjoyed a long experience in technical, sales and business development with renowned companies such as Kluber Lubrication and Dunlop Africa. "We are delighted with the opening of this new subsidiary in Johannesburg. We will bring innovative solutions to local customers, and serve our existing and future principals in the best possible way," stated Philippe Combette, CEO of Safic-Alcan.
Halcyon Agri receives $25 million sustainability-linked loan from Deustsche Bank for rubber plantations - click to expand
7/7/2020 - Hong Kong, China - Deutsche Bank and Halcyon Agri Corporation are partnering on sustainability through an innovative new loan. Deutsche Bank’s corporate bank announced that it has provided a $25 million sustainability-linked loan facility with a three-year tenor, and an accordion feature to upsize the facility to $75 million, to Corrie MacColl, a subsidiary of Halcyon Agri Corporation (Halcyon), to finance the company’s capex investments for its rubber plantations in Cameroon and Malaysia. The proceeds of the loan will be used for the maintenance of Halcyon’s rubber plantations while promoting its Cameroon Outgrower Program, which aims to provide additional food security and boost the income of 13,000 local smallholder farmers. The borrower group will be required to comply with the mutually agreed sustainability framework developed by Environmental Resources Management (Singapore) Pte. Ltd. (ERM), throughout the life of the loan. Compliance will be assessed and/or verified by ERM appointed by Deutsche Bank AG, Singapore Branch as consultant on the Framework. ERM will be responsible for reviewing the key performance indicators of the loan, which will complement and enhance the borrowers’ existing sustainability strategy and objectives, and is another step for Halcyon to drive ESG standards as the market leader in sustainability. ERM has also set the sustainability performance targets embedded in the framework of the financing facility. While ESG conditions attached to loan rates are not unusual in corporate lending facilities, it is the comprehensive nature of the KPIs that will set a new standard for the rubber industry, making this commercial loan unique. Halcyon is one of the world's leading rubber franchises with an integrated global network spanning plantations, processing and distribution of quality rubber. Being at the forefront of sustainability, Halcyon developed its HeveaPro rubber processing standards in 2014, and released their Sustainable Natural Rubber Supply Chain Policy in 2018, which includes a no deforestation commitment, a first for the industry. In 2019, the group became a signatory of the United Nations Global Compact and was awarded the second most transparent rubber company by the Zoological Society of London’s SPOTT analysis. In the same year, Halcyon launched BOUNCE, the world’s first rubber sustainability movement anchored by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Halcyon is a founding member of the Global Platform for Sustainable Natural Rubber.
Arlanxeo goes virtual for its first global Technical Marathon - click to expand
7/7/2020 - The Hague, The Netherlands – Arlanxeo announced the successful completion of its first 24-hour online Technical Marathon. Twenty-four Arlanxeo professionals deployed an equal number of world-class presentations during a live interactive discussion with a vibrant, knowledgeable international audience. From 06:00 CET on June 30 to 06:00 CET on July 1, every hour, on the hour, an expert from a different region, product line and Arlanxeo site, offered a detailed technical presentation merging know-how, innovative developments and Arlanxeo solutions in synthetic elastomer manufacturing. This unique Technical Marathon saw an overwhelming demand of more than 2,000 participants from around the globe. "Arlanxeo is constantly keeping in contact with customers, even more so during this unprecedented time. It's important to us that our customers know we are here for them through thick and thin," said Christian Widdershoven, executive vice president, high performance elastomers, at Arlanxeo. “This technical marathon provides a broad variety of topics including different applications of all of our Arlanxeo rubbers.” "The interactive virtual space opens the door for more customers, distributors, academia and our employees to participate”, said Li Birnie, global head of corporate communications. “This affords attendees more flexibility to customize their experience and a great way to address a wide range of customers’ concerns and their future needs, demonstrating Arlanxeo’s commitment in responding to our customers’ expectations at all times.” Speakers and themes varied, but the overall subject of Arlanxeo Technical Marathon remained constant: what are the latest changes impacting synthetic rubber technologies and industry, and how do Arlanxeo professionals navigate the current uncertainty and future challenges. The 24-hour online Technical Marathon was an opportunity to showcase best practices and solutions that create synergies and sustainable value for our customers. It underlined our commitment as an innovative company, a key-player and trend-setter within Industry 4.0.
Lianda launches new website in preparation for 25th anniversary - click to expand
7/7/2020 - Twinsburg, OH - Lianda Corporation announced the launch of a redesigned website for the Specialty Polymer and Chemical distributor. The new website is being rolled out in preparation for its 25th Anniversary later this year, and provides increased visibility for the products and principals Lianda represents. With new products being developed and added regularly, the new site features regular updates allowing for the most up-to-date information to be available and for product line cards to always be current. The easy to navigate site highlights the company's offerings of CPE, CSM, CR, HNBR, FKM, ECO and curatives along side the newly expanded offerings of HCR and LSR silicone gums and bases, along with FredColor pigment and additive dispersions for both rubber and silicone compounds.
Bridgestone donates emergency response trailer to Wilson County, Tennessee - click to expand
7/7/2020 - Nashville, TN - Bridgestone Americas, Inc. made a special delivery to the Wilson County Emergency Management Agency in Lebanon, TN, on June 30 with a 53-foot fully enclosed emergency response trailer. The Wilson County Emergency Management Agency and the Wilson County Sheriff's Office will utilize the command trailer to conduct command operations on large-scale events. This donation underscores Bridgestone’s corporate social responsibility commitment, Our Way to Serve, which supports safe and sustainable mobility. This donation promotes safer communities through prevention and readiness for emergency situations. The unit will be utilized by the command staff’s work in developing incident action plans, and the trailer’s canopy can be used for operational briefings for all responders. Additionally, the trailer will be used by the Wilson County Emergency Management Agency during major incidents within the county, as well as special events and mass gatherings across Middle Tennessee. “The Wilson County Emergency Management Agency, along with the Wilson County Sheriff's Department, is grateful to have a company like Bridgestone to help support the community and emergency responders by donating this gracious asset to be utilized in future events,” said Jeremy Hobbs, fire chief and deputy director of the Wilson County Emergency Management Agency. “The capabilities of having this command trailer, along with trained personnel to operate it, at large disasters and events will be a valuable resource for the citizens and businesses of Wilson County and surrounding communities. We cannot thank Bridgestone enough for their generous dedication and donations to supporting public safety response nationwide.”
Cabot Corporation publishes 2019 Sustainability Report - click to expand
7/6/2020 - Boston, MA - Cabot Corporation published its 2019 Sustainability Report, highlighting the accomplishments and progress made throughout 2019. The company also unveiled its 2025 Sustainability Goals, an expanded set of goals that address Cabot's highly material topics. "This year, we are excited to use our sustainability report as an opportunity to not only reflect on our progress over the past year, but also revisit our broader sustainability agenda by establishing a set of goals that will challenge us to accomplish even more between now and 2025," explained Martin O'Neill, senior vice president, safety, health and environment, and government affairs. "As an industry leader, we understand our responsibility to continuously improve our sustainability performance. We are proud to expand our goals past a strictly environmental focus and include areas such as product development, suppliers' sustainability, diversity and inclusion, community involvement and more under the broader umbrella of sustainability." Cabot's 2025 Sustainability Goals are focused in three key areas: Caring for people and communities includes a set of goals to further Cabot's commitment to its people and the communities in which they operate through advancement in occupational health and safety, process safety, community engagement and retention, development and diversity. Acting responsibly for the planet includes a set of goals that builds upon Cabot's previously established goals for greenhouse gases, SO2 and NOX emissions, and energy. Newly established goals will address waste and spills, water use and environmental compliance. Building a better future together includes a collection of goals that will help to ensure Cabot's focus on the future by generating economic value, connection between the company's product development and innovation and sustainability, and collaborating with suppliers. "As a leading global player in the chemical industry, we understand that we have an obligation to lead by example in our industry," added Sean Keohane, president and CEO. "Part of that obligation includes setting ambitious goals to inspire our teams to advance our sustainability performance. I am immensely proud of the work our team has accomplished to date and look forward to continuing to collaborate across our global network to push ourselves and our industry to innovate for a more sustainable future."
Cooper Standard’s Fortrex technology enables PolyOne launch of next-generation elastomer - click to expand
7/6/2020 - Northville, MI - Through a licensing agreement with PolyOne Corp., Cooper Standard's Fortrex chemistry platform has enabled the launch of Barricade elastomers, the newest addition to PolyOne's specialty elastomer portfolio. Based on Cooper Standard's Fortrex chemistry platform, this crosslinkable elastomer offers high-temperature compression set performance, easier processing and a lighter weight solution when compared to conventional thermoplastic vulcanizates (TPVs), silicones and thermoset rubbers. According to PolyOne, Barricade solutions are lighter in weight and show improved tear strength over general-purpose TPV and silicone materials. Together with elevated compression set performance for high-temperature applications, this combination of properties expands design freedom and processing ease for tubing, hoses, seals, gaskets, grommets and other components within consumer, healthcare and industrial markets. The naturally translucent material can be colored press-side or formulated in a custom pre-colored version. "We congratulate PolyOne on their launch of Barricade™, their latest material innovation that leverages our Fortrex technology," said Jeffrey DeBest, executive vice president and president Advanced Technology Group, Cooper Standard. "As an improved, high-performance elastomer, Barricade offers a new level of performance for a number of applications in key growth industries. Cooper Standard's Advanced Technology Group is eager to witness Barricade's™ success and looks forward to supporting additional future material developments with PolyOne." Cooper Standard's Advanced Technology Group (ATG) works to accelerate and maximize the value stream of Cooper Standard's manufacturing expertise in the Company's core process types for applications in diverse industrial and specialty markets. This business also drives growth through the Company's applied materials science offerings, which include the Fortrex chemistry platform. Fortrex is an innovative chemistry platform used to create lightweight elastomeric materials that offer significant performance advantages over EPDM synthetic rubber, TPV and many other materials in terms of weight reduction, compression set, weathering and durability. Fortrex, which won the 2018 Automotive News PACE Award and was a 2018 and 2019 Society of Plastics Engineers Innovation Award finalist, can take on many forms, including dense extrusions, foams and membranes that can be tuned for an endless list of applications and performance solutions.
Cooper Tire adds winter drive tire RM258 for regional haulers - click to expand
7/6/2020 - Findlay, OH - Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. has added a winter drive tire for regional haulers, the RM258 WDTM, to its Roadmaster truck tire brand. Featuring an open shoulder design with four rows of lugs, the tire carries the industry's Three-Peak Mountain Snowflake certification for winter traction. The tire has shoulder notches and chevron grooves and comes in 11R22.5 and 11R24.5 sizes with load range H. "This Roadmaster tire is all about traction," Gary Schroeder, executive director of Cooper's global truck and bus tire business, said, calling it Roadmaster's "best performer in the snow and other adverse conditions for regional operators." The tire features a new tread pattern and curb guards, coupled with enhanced compounding, to ensure overall performance around town, including when hitting curbs as well as while on the interstate. A deep tread (26/32nds-inch) along with full-depth 3D siping in the lugs help the tire connect with the road for improved traction, the company said. Tie bars in the shoulders keep the tread from squirming, to help with uniform wear, and stone ejectors in the tread grooves help keep small rocks from drilling into the casing, improving casing life. The tire features four steel belt construction, which allows for multiple retreads. It comes with a six-year, two-retread warranty.
Pirelli introduces tire with temperature adapting compound - click to expand
7/6/2020 - Milan, Italy – The new Pirelli Cinturato P7, a high-performance summer tire, is said to deliver increased safety, efficiency and sustainability. It follows on in the great tradition of the Cinturato, with 70 years of history behind it, as well as capitalizing on all the lessons learned from the continuous development of the previous-generation P7. This new tire is already on sale in preparation for summer, making its debut in all European and Asian markets. The latest generation of Pirelli Cinturato P7 highlights what the biggest priorities are for today’s modern motorists: safety and efficiency. Pirelli’s engineers, through an intense program of research and development, have come up with a product featuring high levels of technology able to overcome the typical compromises associated with tires. The new technologies created for the Cinturato P7 are capable of reconciling conflicting requirements, such as performance in the wet and low rolling resistance, achieving a new technological standard to satisfy drivers and carmakers all over the world. The technical innovations on the latest Cinturato include a new compound equipped with a type of ‘mechanical intelligence’ that can change according to ambient temperatures: a bit like having two compounds in one. Safety is the key characteristic of the new Pirelli Cinturato P7. As well as improving on the dry handling of its predecessor, Pirelli’s new tire for premium cars also greatly improves wet handling, aquaplaning and braking in particular: taking four meters less to come to a stop from 100kph. The innovations introduced by Pirelli’s engineers also improve acoustic comfort (thanks to less road noise) and ride comfort, with the new tire better able to absorb bumps in the road. Overall tire life increases by six percent, meaning that tires have to be changed less frequently. Rolling resistance also goes down by an average of one class (minus 12%), improving fuel consumption by four percent (measured on the WLTP cycle) as well as CO₂ emissions. The new-generation Cinturato P7’s innovations start with the key element to every tire: the tread pattern, which is contact with the road. The tread pattern specifically created for the new Cinturato P7 is enriched with silica and specific resins that help to increase grip and enhance the function of the tire’s polymers. These are synthetic elastic materials that are chemically modified to improve the interaction with silica – and these polymers can change according to the tire’s working temperature. This means that the new compound benefits from a sort of ‘mechanical intelligence’ thanks to better distribution of the silica particles and more effective interaction between them. As a result, the tire’s characteristics can alter according to driving and temperature conditions, giving the driver an extremely wide optimal working range.
Bridgestone wins trademark dispute against Brazilian retread company New Tyre - click to expand
7/6/2020 - Tokyo, Japan - - Bridgestone Corporation announced it secured a victory in its trademark and trade dress infringement lawsuit against Brazilian retread company New Tyre Remoldadora de Pneus (New Tyre), in the São Paulo Court of Appeals. In January 2015, Bridgestone filed a lawsuit claiming that New Tyre's manufacture and sale of tires featuring the Turanza trademark and Turanza ER300 tread pattern infringed Bridgestone's trademark and trade dress rights. In December 2016, the São Paulo Court of Appeals ruled in favor of Bridgestone and ordered New Tyre to cease infringing and pay damages. The quantification phase ascertaining the figures owed by the defendant was concluded in March 2020. This decision is very important leading case for the recognition of the trade dress infringement of tires by the Brazilian Courts. Bridgestone takes the unauthorized use of its intellectual property very seriously, and will continue to vigorously enforce its rights against infringers. Through its enforcement activities, Bridgestone seeks to protect and enhance the company's goodwill and hard-earned brand value.
Book of the Day - Resistance and Stability of Polymers - click to expand
7/3/2020 - Akron, OH - A new book is offered in the Rubber World book store: Resistance and Stability of Polymers. The stability and resistance of polymeric materials determine whether they can be utilized in a given application. Authoritative and reliable material information is needed during the material selection process, and this information must consider the influences of material manufacturing, compounding and stabilization, processing, part design, use and subsequent disposal/recycling. This book is based on a review of more than 1,200 literature sources and represents a comprehensive overview of the current know-how regarding the stability and resistance of thermoplastics, thermosets and elastomers, as well as the most commonly used reinforcements and additives. Extensive tables document material resistance to given media, facilitating appropriate material selection or stabilization for a given application. Volume 1 covers principles of aging, testing methods, stabilization, processing, applications, mechanical behavior of fiber reinforced plastics. Volume 2 covers plastics, rubbers and their acronyms. Other abbreviations, tables of chemical resistance, a bibliography and an index are included. Author: Gottfried Ehrenstrein and Sonja Pongratz; ISBN: 978-1-56990-456-5; two volumes, 1,436 pages; 2013, hardcover; $499.95 USD + SH. Visit
http://www.rubberworld.com/RWbookstore.asp for more information.
Trinseo announces 2030 sustainability goals - click to expand
7/3/2020 - Berwyn, PA - Trinseo announced its 2030 sustainability goals. Reaching a milestone celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, Trinseo believes it is high time to embark on an ambitious, measurable and achievable longer-term sustainability journey. “We are proud to announce Trinseo’s sustainability goals for the next decade that will drive long-term, positive change for our organization, our customers, this generation and the next,” said Frank Bozich, president and chief executive officer, Trinseo. “Our commitment to sustainability is embedded into our company culture through our operations and our commitment to deliver innovative and sustainable technologies. By partnering with like-minded customers, suppliers and other stakeholders, we are creating sustainable changes.” This ambitious plan includes 15 long-term goals under five main categories that target climate change, sustainable products, supplier responsibility, responsible operations and sustainable workforce. These goals were created, in part, from a critical assessment of the company’s capabilities, as well as valuable feedback from customers and suppliers. “Given the many challenges our industry and society face, we believe that we must strive to be a driver of sustainable solutions,” said Walter van het Hof, global industry affairs and sustainability leader, Trinseo. “We have a responsibility as a company to contribute to making the world a better place, by solving significant problems with our technologies and promoting a culture that is true to our core values.” Using inspiration from the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) framework for sustainability reporting, Trinseo has committed to taking a deeper and more holistic look at its material topics and related impacts, based on the priorities of its stakeholders. Through that analysis, the company is setting a foundation to drive meaningful change across all areas of business. View all 15 Sustainability Goals at trinseo.com/sustainabilitygoals. Trinseo’s sustainability program was recognized by Newsweek in its list of America’s Most Responsible Companies 2020 (ranked #5 in the materials industry), as well as receiving positive ratings from EcoVadis and CDP (formerly known as the Carbon Disclosure Project).
Michelin hires eight youth apprentices for full-time positions at Starr, SC, facility - click to expand
7/3/2020 - Greenville, SC - Michelin, in partnership with Anderson County Schools, recognized its 2019-2020 class of Michelin Youth Apprenticeship students at a collegiate-style “signing day” event. Among the class of 10 high school students, eight accepted full-time positions at Michelin’s rubber mixing facility in Starr, SC. “Michelin is honored to congratulate and celebrate the first class of manufacturing youth apprentices at our Starr manufacturing facility,” said Steve Miles, plant manager. “We look forward to working with the students who plan to continue their manufacturing careers at Michelin.” The celebration reaffirms Michelin and Anderson County Schools’ shared mission of investing in education, training and career readiness to support and advance careers in manufacturing. This hands-on learning experience provides a minimum of 2,000 paid hours of on-the-job training with a Michelin mentor in a Michelin manufacturing facility, in addition to 240 hours of customized instruction at a career center. In addition to the Youth Apprenticeship program, Michelin offers a Tech Scholar program that partners with local technical colleges to introduce high school seniors and graduates to opportunities available in advanced manufacturing. Michelin offers tech scholars a full scholarship, covering tuition, fees and books. Upon graduation, interested and qualified students join Michelin as reliability technicians, earning salaries comparable to graduates with four-year college degrees. In 2019, Michelin’s Youth Apprenticeship program achieved national certification from the U.S. Department of Labor. Both programs are part of Michelin’s workforce development initiatives to advance opportunities for employment.
Lanxess to hold virtual annual stockholders' meeting August 27 - click to expand
7/3/2020 - Cologne, Germany - Specialty chemicals company Lanxess will hold its annual stockholders' meeting on August 27. Due to the corona pandemic, the board of management and the supervisory board of Lanxess AG have decided to hold the annual stockholders' meeting in virtual form instead of physical presence. The protection of the health of employees, stockholders and the service providers involved is a top priority for Lanxess. Registered stockholders can submit their questions in advance and follow the event online. They can exercise their voting rights by postal vote and proxy until the online voting starts via the Lanxess stockholders' portal. Stockholders will receive the login data for the portal in advance by mail. The board of management and the supervisory board of Lanxess AG have also confirmed their dividend proposal of March 11. They continue to propose a dividend of EUR 0.95 per share to the annual stockholders' meeting. This would be around 6 percent more than in the previous year.
Dow launches MobilityScience platform - click to expand
7/3/2020 - Midland, MI - Dow announced its MobilityScience platform designed to enhance the customer experience by tailoring technologies, products and services from across Dow businesses to the transportation industry. The platform is pursuing accelerated growth by addressing mobility mega-trends with material science innovation, and enabling a seamless experience for Dow’s customers and partners. Dow MobilityScience is expected to enhance the customer experience by improving service, accelerating innovation, reducing complexity and more effectively connecting customers to Dow’s extensive breadth of products and capabilities. The transportation industry is undergoing its most significant transformation in more than 100 years. Digital technologies and the pressing need for a low-carbon economy have disrupted traditional value chains and present a new frontier for material science and innovation, where lighter weight, longer range, greater comfort, enhanced safety and lower carbon footprint are the ultimate objectives. That is where Dow science, know-how and people step in, working closely with customers to create the materials that bring possibilities to life. Dow’s transportation solutions include a wide range of polyolefin, polyurethane, acrylic, specialty chemical and silicone technologies for electric vehicles, hybrids and internal combustion powertrains. “Society is emerging from a global pandemic that reduced movement of people and goods to the bare essentials,” said Tim Boven, MobilityScience growth director. “We expect the transportation industry to recover with even more emphasis on sustainability. Dow’s material science and innovation expertise are uniquely positioned to advance lower-carbon and digital solutions across transportation value chains.” For more information, visit dow.com/mobilityscience.
Global silicone coating market forecast with a CAGR of 7 percent - click to expand
7/2/2020 - New York, NY - ReportLinker states that the global silicone coating market size is projected to grow at a CAGR of around 7 percent during the forecast period 2025 owing to the growth in manufacturing and end-use industries across the globe. Moreover, an upsurge in activities in the construction sector coupled with continuous product developments are some other factors driving the growth of the global silicone coating market. Additionally, surging use of products which are eco-friendly and help in conservation of energy is further estimated to spur the growth of the silicone coating market through 2025. The global silicone coating market is segmented based on composition type, technology, application, region and company. Based on composition type, the market can be segmented into silicone polymers, 100 percent silicone, silicone water repellents, and others. Out of these, the 100 percent silicone type segment held more than 33 percent of the market share until 2019, and is anticipated to maintain its lead during the forecast years, as well, which can be accredited to its long-lasting properties when compared to other types of coatings. In addition to this, it offers numerous benefits such as resistance to ultraviolet light exposure, ease of application and resistance to water damage, which is anticipated to boost the segment growth over the course of the next five years. Moreover, the silicone water repellents segment is forecast to grow at the highest CAGR over the coming years on account of its applicability over various surfaces and applications. Silicone water repellent does not need solvents, and thereby contains very low volatile organic compounds, which makes it quite suitable for use in energy-efficient buildings and for indoor air quality improvement. Therefore, increasing demand for green buildings is expected to create a high growth potential for this product segment over the years to come. Major players operating in the global silicone coating market include Wacker Chemie AG, Momentive Performance Materials Inc., Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd., Dow Corning Corporation, KCC Silicone, Evonik Industries, BASF SE, Humiseal, BYK-Chemie GmbH, ACC Silicones and others. The companies are developing advanced technologies and launching new products in order to stay competitive in the market.
Siempelkamp announces departure of CEO Christoph Michel - click to expand
7/2/2020 - Krefeld, Germany - A change of management is taking place at G. Siempelkamp GmbH & Co. The current CEO and spokesman of the board of directors, Christoph Michel, is leaving the technology corporation Siempelkamp in order to take on new tasks and challenges outside of the group. Dr. Martin Stark, chairman of the advisory board, will fill the position of CEO as interim manager with immediate effect until further notice. During this period, Dr. Stark will suspend his mandate as chairman of the advisory board of Siempelkamp. The advisory board is currently looking for a suitable candidate to fill the position at the helm of the renowned Krefeld-based company for the long term. Dr. Martin Stark was appointed chairman of the advisory board of Siempelkamp in 2017. He took over the position from Dr. Dieter Siempelkamp, who had chaired the advisory board since resigning from Siempelkamp’s board of directors in 2003. Dr. Martin Stark has many years of expertise as a successful business leader and supervisory board member, and until 2013 was a member of the management board of the global technology group Freudenberg. Along with the company executives, Christoph Michel has set the business course of Siempelkamp since 2018 in order to further position the company in its development and orientation in the relevant markets and adjust it to current market requirements. “The advisory board of Siempelkamp GmbH & Co. KG thanks Christoph Michel and wishes him all the best for the future. Business continuity and reliability are central success factors at Siempelkamp. In Dr. Stark we have gained a top manager as CEO who will successfully continue on the company’s established path until we have found a suitable successor,” says Dr. Dieter Siempelkamp, honorary chairman of the advisory board.
Repligen to acquire Engineered Molding Technology - click to expand
7/2/2020 - Waltham, MA - Repligen Corporation announced that it has entered into an agreement to acquire Albany, NY-based Engineered Molding Technology (EMT), an innovator and manufacturer of single-use silicone assemblies and components used in the manufacturing of biologic drugs. EMT's standard and custom molded and over-molded connectors and silicone tubing products are key components in single-use filtration and chromatography systems. Tony J. Hunt, president and CEO of Repligen, said, "The acquisition of EMT expands our line of single-use ProConnex flow paths, streamlines our supply chain for ATF, and gives us more flexibility as we scale and expand our single-use and systems portfolios." He continued, "The EMT portfolio also enables us to offer bioprocessing customers faster lead-times on single-use flow path solutions and to provide biopharmaceutical and CDMO customers with a more fully integrated and complete product offering in filtration and chromatography." Michael Pandori, co-founder of Engineered Molding Technology, said, "Over the last ten years, EMT has grown to become a key player in the supply of extruded and molded silicone products into the bioprocessing industry. We are at a transition point now where it makes sense to join forces with Repligen, who has an impressive history of scaling companies to the next level. For EMT, this means taking our products global, expanding our commercial footprint and integrating select EMT technologies into Repligen product lines while continuing to innovate." The proposed acquisition is expected to close during Repligen's third quarter of 2020. Financial details were not disclosed. Perella Weinberg Partners LP is acting as financial advisor, and Goodwin Procter LLP is serving as legal counsel to Repligen.
Bosch Rexroth hosts free virtual Explore the Factory of the Future event - click to expand
7/2/2020 - Grove City, OH - Bosch Rexroth has gathered experts from across the global Bosch organization to present topics that take attendees on an exploration of the factory of the future. This event will take place over four days, July 13-16. Each day a new topics will be explored. This free virtual event welcomes participants to the new world of versatile, customer-orientated manufacturing. It is said to be a world of promise and ambition, and a world of greater intelligence, flexibility and cost-effectiveness. Once registered, participants can join as many sessions as they want that fit into their schedule. For more information and to register for this free four-day event, go to www.boschrexroth-us.com/exploreFotF.
Royal DSM appoints Zhou Tao as DSM China president - click to expand
7/2/2020 - Shanghai, China - Royal DSM announced the appointment of Zhou Tao (Joe) as president of DSM China, effective July 1. Zhou succeeds Dr. Jiang Weiming, who has helmed DSM China since 2007. Weiming will continue to serve at DSM as special advisor to the global co-CEOs. Zhou’s responsibility includes driving DSM’s growth in China, focusing on innovation and sustainability, and reinforcing a talent pool of capable and skilled workforce. He will also spearhead DSM’s purpose-led, performance-driven strategy and align this with the sustainability goals of China’s 13th five-year plan, and the ‘Healthy China 2030’ blueprint. Zhou joined DSM China in January 2020 and has since worked closely with Weiming to ensure a smooth transition and efficient onboarding, including spending time at DSM’s headquarters in the Netherlands and deepening his understanding of DSM’s diversified portfolio of businesses. Geraldine Matchett and Dimitri de Vreeze, co-CEOs of Royal DSM, said, “Joe Zhou’s rich experience and successful track record running multinationals in this market make him the ideal person to lead DSM in China. He has all the strengths and capabilities to deliver on our commitment of creating a brighter world for all to the local market. We’d like to also express our sincere gratitude to Dr. Jiang Weiming for his extraordinary leadership and contributions over the last 13 years, which has laid a solid foundation for DSM’s continued success under Joe’s appointment.” Zhou brings a wealth of knowledge and business acumen from his previous roles, including 19 years with Alcatel Lucent in Australia and China. There he held various positions including commercial, operations, strategy, and general management. Zhou was instrumental in the establishment of a major joint venture, Alcatel Shanghai Bell, and continued to lead its successful international business unit. In 2008, Zhou joined Eaton as China president before taking on regional leadership responsibility as Asia Pacific president for its Aerospace group. He went on to serve as the China president of the combined company after Eaton’s acquisition of Cooper Industries. He was the China president at Arconic before joining DSM. Zhou said, “DSM is uniquely positioned in the market as a global leader of innovative and sustainable solutions that brighten people’s daily lives through science. My priorities as China president will be to fulfill DSM China’s commitment to innovation and sustainability, with purpose-led strategies to create value across the areas of people, planet and profit to all our stakeholders. I am equally committed to providing effective leadership that empowers our talent to realize our goals together.” As Weiming continues to provide strategic counsel on the China and Asia Pacific markets as special advisor to the global co-CEOs, Royal DSM wishes to thank him for his outstanding contributions as DSM’s China president since 2007, when China was prioritized as a key emerging market. Led by Weiming, DSM China grew steadily and significantly increased its product portfolio, expanding its local footprint while deepening the company’s commitment to sustainability. Under his leadership, during the COVID-19 health crisis, DSM affirmed its commitment to China by actively supporting the frontline fight against the spread of the pandemic with its health and nutrition expertise.
PolyOne launches OnColor WC Choice for wire and cable applications - click to expand
7/2/2020 - Cleveland, OH - PolyOne launched OnColor WC Choice, a line of cost-effective colorants that are said to reliably achieve the performance levels required in a range of wire and cable applications. Compatible with ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) and polyethylene (PE), a portfolio of 12 standard colors allows for lower minimum order quantities and shorter lead times. “We’ve launched the line of OnColor WC Choice colorants to help our customers be more cost competitive without sacrificing quality or convenience,” said Jayson Humble, marketing leader, PolyOne. “These economical solutions typically ship same day, and are supported with the world-class performance, regulatory assistance, and testing services synonymous with PolyOne.” OnColor WC Choice colorants are commercially available in North and South America, with additional global availability pending. They are suitable for use in telecommunications, energy and power, and automotive applications.
Trinseo strengthens CASE team with two new hires - click to expand
7/2/2020 - Berwyn, PA - Trinseo announced that, effective this month, Mike Christy and Rob Holmes have been appointed as technical service and development specialists, CASE (coatings, adhesives, sealants and elastomers). Christy most recently served as a technical account and business development manager at Resinate Materials Group, Inc., working his way up from a chemist. He began his career as a laboratory technician at the Dow Chemical Company. He has a decade of experience in the chemicals industry with particular expertise in polymer chemistry, research and development, and customer service. Holmes most recently worked as an independent consultant. He has more than three decades of experience in the chemicals industry, most of which were spent with Omnova Solutions, where we worked his way up from principal technician to associate applications engineer, global tape and adhesives segment. He has particular expertise in polymers, adhesives and coatings.
Global thermoplastic elastomer market forecast with a CAGR of 5.6 percent through 2025 - click to expand
7/1/2020 - New York, NY - Reportlinker.com reports that the global thermoplastic elastomers market is expected to grow with a CAGR of 5.6 percent over the forecast period from 2019-2025. The study on the thermoplastic elastomers market covers the analysis of the leading geographies such as North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and the rest of the world for the period from 2017 to 2025. The report on the thermoplastic elastomers market is a comprehensive study and presentation of drivers, restraints, opportunities, demand factors, market size, forecasts and trends in the global thermoplastic elastomers market over the period from 2017 to 2025. Moreover, the report is a collective presentation of primary and secondary research findings.
Bridgestone teams with Microsoft on intelligent tire monitoring system - click to expand
7/1/2020 - Brussels, Belgium - Bridgestone is collaborating with Microsoft to develop a world-first monitoring system for detecting tire damage issues in real time. These issues are said to be a serious matter, contributing to some 30 percent of all car accidents caused by technical failure. Tire issues take four main forms: inadequate pressure, fatigue, irregular wear, and lastly, damage from curbs, potholes or items on the road. Fortunately, most of these issues can already be reliably mitigated against. TPMS (tire pressure monitoring systems) have been mandatory in all cars built since 2012, and help motorists avoid low-pressure problems. Regular service and replacing tires in time will guard against wear and fatigue. The exception, and safety gap, has been tire damage, which often cannot be detected without close, manual inspection, and which can potentially occur at any time. Damaged tires can lead to accidents. They can also adversely affect other vehicle components, such as causing damage to the wheels, and thus create a further source of potential danger to motorists. Now that gap can be closed. Bridgestone’s tire damage monitoring system delivers real time awareness of damage. It uses MCVP’s cloud framework, together with existing sensor data from hardware that is already installed, and uses algorithms to detect events affecting the tire surface and carcass. The driver can then be immediately notified of the hazard and act accordingly to remedy the situation. There is currently no other equivalent monitoring system available in the market. Alternatives would require extra hardware to be installed. This tire damage monitoring system has other valuable applications. The system not only understands when damage has occurred, but also where. It thus allows broader insight into road conditions and infrastructure, which can be used to alert the agencies responsible for road damage issues to the presence and location of potholes and other hazards. Future autonomous vehicles could also be beneficiaries of the system, as vehicles pass information about local hazards to others in the vicinity, as well as cloud data stores. Currently, Bridgestone’s new tire damage monitoring system is available to all vehicle fleets and OEMs that use MCVP. The partnership with Microsoft also enables Bridgestone to further develop its solution to meet the requirements of fleets and key OEM partners around the world. MCVP provides one consistent, cloud-connected, horizontal platform across digital scenarios on top of which customer-facing solutions can be built, including in-vehicle infotainment, advanced navigation, autonomous driving, telematics and prediction services, as well as over-the-air updates (OTA). It includes the enterprise-grade global availability and scale that comes with Microsoft Azure. MCVP will provide Bridgestone with a digital infrastructure that will accelerate its delivery of connected mobility solutions, providing access to a multitude of Microsoft Azure cloud, AI and IoT capabilities. In turn, working with Bridgestone helps Microsoft grow its ecosystem of supporting partners, and enables MCVP’s customers to integrate these partner solutions into their own offerings. Laurent Dartoux, CEO and president of Bridgestone EMIA, says: “Digital is such a huge part of what we do today at Bridgestone; it’s imperative that we work with industry-leading partners who can support our needs today and in the future. By teaming up with Microsoft we have the opportunity to bring our tire damage monitoring system to millions of drivers, offering them better safety and peace of mind.” “Microsoft partners with mobility companies to support their transformation into smart mobility services providers. With the Microsoft Connected Vehicle Platform, our mission is to help businesses accelerate the delivery of safe and personalized connected mobility experiences. Using MCVP, Bridgestone has created the tire damage monitoring system that offers a remarkable contribution to road safety and proves how the collaboration between industry leaders can unlock new business opportunities ahead,” said Tara Prakriya, general manager, Azure Mobility and Microsoft Connected Vehicle Platform at Microsoft.
Hankook Tire named GM Supplier of the Year by General Motors - click to expand
7/1/2020 - Nashville, TN - Hankook Tire was named a GM Supplier of the Year by General Motors during a virtual ceremony honoring the recipients of the company's 28th annual Supplier of the Year awards on June 24. During the event, GM recognized 116 of its best suppliers from 15 countries that have consistently exceeded GM's expectations, created outstanding value or introduced innovations to the company. The awards ceremony was originally scheduled as a live event to be held in March, but was postponed due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The recognition is for supplier performance in the 2019 calendar year. "Our suppliers play a key role in delivering the products, services and experiences our customers deserve, and these award-winning suppliers went above and beyond our expectations," said Shilpan Amin, GM vice president, global purchasing and supply chain. "We also believe it's important at this point in time to thank our entire supply base for their efforts the last few months to mitigate the impacts of COVID-19," added Amin. "Not only have we been able to safely restart our manufacturing operations, our suppliers played a key role in assisting our initiatives to increase the supply of ventilators and personal protection equipment (PPE) for frontline health care workers to help save lives and keep communities safe." The Supplier of the Year award winners were chosen by a global team of GM purchasing, engineering, quality, manufacturing and logistics executives. Winners were selected based on performance criteria in product purchasing, global purchasing and manufacturing services, customer care and after sales, and logistics. "Hankook is honored to be recognized by GM as a Supplier of the Year," said Hyunjun Cho, head of the Hankook Tire OE Division. "We are grateful to have the opportunity to build top-quality, innovative tires for GM products, and look forward to a longstanding relationship together."
Nokian Tyres invites drivers to enter their favorite road trips - click to expand
7/1/2020 - Nashville, TN - Nokian Tyres is inviting drivers to enter their favorite road trips on a custom website created to celebrate the start of the summer driving season. One lucky U.S. driver who enters a road trip will win a set of tires from the tire manufacturer, and several runners-up will receive secondary prizes. The website, NokianTires.com/Journey, features an interactive map of popular road trips across the United States and Canada, as well as a user-friendly way for drivers to add their own favorite journeys. Visitors to the website can click on any journey to learn more about key stops and access a detailed map. “Many avid travelers will hit the road closer to home this summer instead of flying,” said Nokian Tyres Americas director of marketing, Hans Dyhrman. “We want to connect drivers, each sharing and exploring their favorite road trips and routes to explore, while also learning how to find the right tires for their journeys.” Nokian Tyres has also built a list of great road trips every U.S. state and many Canadian provinces, along with a detailed blog post about each trip. The website also offers a set of articles with tips for finding the right tires, preparing for a camping trip, and other road trip essentials. Drivers simply have to submit a road trip, a name and e-mail address to enter to win the free set of tires. The winner will be randomly selected and informed at a later date. Only drivers who live in the United States will be eligible to win. The campaign is the latest of several initiatives Nokian Tyres has launched this year to inform and entertain drivers. Its Tread Trends video series answered tire questions sourced from the company’s social media followers, while its Fresh Start campaign helped drivers keep their cars fresh while many sat idle in the garage during the challenging spring season.
Total Cray Valley introduces aliphatic resin - click to expand
7/1/2020 - Exton, PA - Developing formulations for low polarity systems is said to be a challenge. The newest product offering from Total Cray Valley, Wingtack 102, is an aliphatic resin with a high softening point and lower molecular weight distribution than typical 100˚C hydrocarbon resins. This is said to provide excellent compatibility with many aliphatic polymers, resulting in formulations with superior stability. Wingtack 102 has 35 percent lower volatiles than other similar hydrocarbon resins, giving it exceptionally low odor and low product volatility. Coupled with its low color and novel softening point/molecular weight relationship, Wingtack 102 can improve the performance of pressure sensitive and hot melt adhesive applications. For rubber applications, Wingtack 102 acts as a low-volatile processing aid. It can also be used for belts, hoses and tire applications as an effective replacement for aromatic-containing oils. Wingtack 102 has low volatility, low chlorides and low ash, making it ideal for use in more demanding applications such as wax investment casting, according to the company.
Rubber Division and Endurica partner on rubber industry training opportunities - click to expand
7/1/2020 - Akron, OH - The Rubber Division, ACS, and Endurica have partnered to bring two new training opportunities to the rubber industry, including Strength and Endurance in Rubber, and The Fatigue Limit of Rubber. Also, as part of this partnership, four additional online workshops by Endurica have be added to the Division's training line-up. Strength and Endurance in Rubber will be held August 18 from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. EDT, and will be instructed by Dr. William V. Mars, P.E., president of Endurica LLC. This course is designed for industry professionals wanting an “on-ramp” to the vast subject of managing the strength and durability of elastomeric materials and products. A technical background is helpful, but not required. The Fatigue Limit of Rubber will be held August 19 from 9:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. EDT, and will be instructed by Dr. Christopher G. Robertson, materials expert and sales director, Endurica LLC. This course will introduce industry professionals to the concept of fatigue threshold in elastomers and how to use this material parameter to develop highly durable rubber products. A technical background is recommended, or start with the Strength and Endurance course. For more information, visit https://www.rubber.org/upcoming-training.
Stahl partners with CHAMPION project to replace conventional polymers - click to expand
6/30/2020 - Waalwijk, The Netherlands – Stahl will be one of the partners in a research and innovation action aiming to replace conventional polymers with novel bio-based polymers for their application in coatings, textiles, home care uses and structural adhesives, named CHAMPION (circular high-performance aza-Michael polymers as innovative materials originating from nature). Polymer-based products are essential to our modern lifestyle. CHAMPION, which will launch its activities for three and five years starting in June 2020, is geared towards making them better suited to modern expectations in terms of their sustainability credentials. The project has been awarded Horizon 2020 BBI JU funding, and includes 14 partners from six European countries coordinated by the University of York. Professor James Clark, coordinator of the CHAMPION project, said, “The current approaches to polymer production are not compatible with the EU’s circular economy and green ambitions; the CHAMPION project will develop suitable, even superior replacements.”
The majority of conventional polymers are not fit for recycling and end up being incinerated or landfilled. Some of the chemicals used in their production may result in toxic emissions, depending on the end of life process they go through. These characteristics stand in contrast to the EU’s green credentials and its ambitions to create a circular economy. Novel CHAMPION bio-based polymers result from the aza-Michael addition reaction, and are expected to be suitable replacements for polymers used in resistant kitchen counter coatings, laundry detergents and other home care products, car interior surfaces and structural adhesives. Recovery, chemical recycling and organic recycling (with the option of controlled energy recovery) are the end-of-life options planned for the design of products using CHAMPION polymers. The CHAMPION project receives funding from the Bio-Based Industries Joint Undertaking under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under grant agreement no. 887398.
Safic-Alcan extends distribution partnership with Momentive Quartz Technologies - click to expand
6/30/2020 - Paris, France - Safic-Alcan announced that it has extended its distribution partnership with Momentive Quartz Technologies across Europe for its boron nitride range. Momentive Quartz Technologies, with its boron nitride powders, is said to be recognized globally in the field of lubrication applications, such as oils, greases, lubricants (liquid or dry), metal processing and release agents. The agreement with Safic-Alcan will cover these applications. This new agreement further strengthens Safic-Alcan’s reputation in the field of industrial specialties. It builds on the longstanding partnership between Safic-Alcan and Momentive, and marks new beginnings since the establishment of the Quartz Technologies entity on January 1. “We are delighted with this agreement across our territories with Momentive Quartz Technologies, and look forward to a fruitful collaboration,” said Philippe Combette, CEO of Safic-Alcan.
Cabot completes placement of all major air emission control equipment at Louisiana site - click to expand
6/30/2020 - Boston, MA - Cabot Corporation, the first carbon black producer to collaborate with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in connection with the EPA’s national enforcement initiative to control air emissions from carbon black manufacturing facilities, announced a significant milestone in its project in Franklin, LA. As of June 2020, all major emission control equipment has been received and placed into final position on site. The project has completed 90 percent of the estimated person hours required, and remains on track to finish ahead of the industry’s April 2021 EPA deadline. “We are proud of our continued leadership in cleaner air emissions across the world and the significant investment we are making in Louisiana, and even more so that we have been able to continue to progress despite the challenges caused by Hurricane Barry and COVID-19,” explained Bart Kalkstein, president, Reinforcement Materials segment, and president, Americas region. “Our deep experience deploying best-in-class pollution control technologies at sites all across our global network gives us a clear understanding of the technical, operational and patent landscape. We are leveraging this experience to assure successful implementation of proven technologies in Louisiana, unhindered by operational or intellectual property concerns.” At the Franklin plant, Cabot will reduce NOX emissions by 90 percent through the use of selective catalytic control and SO2 emissions by 95 percent using wet gas scrubbing. These robust and well-established technologies are in use today at several of Cabot’s sites across the world. Applying its best practices of these technologies, these systems will reduce the annual emissions of NOX and SO2 by nearly 900 and 6,500 tons per year, respectively, at its Franklin plant. The equipment placement milestone and other progress at the Franklin site build on Cabot’s earlier success with another emissions control project at its facility in Pampa, TX. That work was completed in 2017 and has reduced NOX emissions by 67 percent, eliminating nearly 1,500 tons of emissions over the last three years. “We remain committed to acting responsibly for the planet, and part of this includes doing our part to upgrade older facilities with investments in new technology,” noted Kalkstein. “We are proud of our ability to implement these controls while continuing to provide our customers with a consistent supply of carbon black, and we will continue to work diligently to project completion. Safety continues to be our number one priority on site with a particular focus on COVID-19 prevention controls to ensure the well-being of our employees and contractors. We want to thank our employees and contractors who have worked extremely well through a very challenging period to not only complete the project on schedule but to do so safely.”
Global OTR tire market anticipated to reach $26.4 billion by 2027 - click to expand
6/30/2020 - Newark, NJ - As per the report published by Fior Markets, the global OTR (off-the-road) tires market is anticipated to grow from $18.32 billion in 2019 to $26.45 billion by 2027, at a CAGR of 4.7 percent during the forecast period 2020-2027. The rise in demand for agriculture equipment vehicles and tractors in farming, the rise in demand for construction vehicles and the increase in infrastructural development in developing countries are some of the factors fueling the OTR tires market. OTR tires have deep and robust treads that can be used for any type of vehicle. These are made from durable compounds which provide better grip on mud, sand and rough surfaces. They are designed keeping in mind to be used in tough and in an adverse environments, such that even in severe conditions, they provide safety, performance and quality. They are broadly used in machinery at mines and also in construction sites, where there are no roads. They are commonly used on dump trucks, bulldozers, graders, mobile cranes, container handlers, scrapers, etc. High research and development expenditure is acting as the major restraint for the market. The efficient work in tough and adverse conditions, and the high research and development expenditure required, add to the cost of the tires. It is increasing the price of the OTR tires. Also, cheap Chinese tires are hampering the growth if the OTR market. People who are not much aware of the security concern tend to buy cheap tires from the unorganized sector rather than expensive OTR tires, which are better in quality. This factor is also restricting the market. Key players for the global OTR tires market include Bridgestone, Goodyear, Sumitomo, Alliance Tire Group, MRF, Yokohama, Continental, Michelin, Pirelli and JK Tyre & Industries Ltd, among others.
Bridgestone announces voluntary salary reduction for Japan-based corporate officers - click to expand
6/30/2020 - Tokyo, Japan - Bridgestone Corporation announced it will initiate a voluntary reduction in compensation for its Japan-based corporate officers, effective immediately. The company continues to take a thoughtful and measured approach in protecting the long-term health of the company, while minimizing the adverse effects to its employees and business, as a result of the COVID-19 global pandemic. These voluntary measures will remain in place until the end of 2020. This latest action is aligned with similar measures taken by Bridgestone officers throughout the company's global operations. Bridgestone will continue to monitor the COVID-19 situation and its impact on employees and operations around the world. The company will adjust its response plans as necessary and take appropriate action to promote the well-being and safety of its employees, while also addressing the needs of customers.
Kuraray America, Inc. launches nonprofit corporation to support its communities - click to expand
6/30/2020 - Houston, TX - Officials with Kuraray America, Inc. (KAI) announced the company has launched the Kuraray Foundation of America, Inc. (KFA). A fully independent entity, this 501 (c)(3) nonprofit corporation will support KAI’s employees and their communities in the wake of natural disasters and other significant events, as well as oversee the company’s process of ongoing charitable contributions and sponsorships. KAI recently contributed $10,000 to KFA, which in turn, donated this amount to various organizations supporting COVID-19 relief efforts. Each recipient operates in locales where Kuraray employees live and work. They were selected by an internal independent committee appointed by KFA’s board of directors. “Our hearts go out to those who continue to experience the impact of COVID-19, whether it be on their health or on their livelihood,” said Hitoshi Toyoura, president of KFA. “The Kuraray Foundation of America allows us to more seamlessly do our part to keep communities safe and healthy.” Beyond providing financial assistance during natural disasters, KFA plans to focus future general charitable donations in the areas of STEM education, health, safety and the environment, and Japanese cultural initiatives. KAI first proposed the establishment of KFA in November 2018, following the city of Houston’s recovery from Hurricane Harvey. In May 2020, the Foundation officially received initial funding to support COVID-19 relief efforts around the country. “Establishing the nonprofit foundation serves as a visual reminder to the community of Kuraray’s ongoing commitment to philanthropy,” Toyoura said.
Market Reports
Global fluoroelastomer market forecast at $1.8 billion by 2025 - click to expand
7/7/2020 - Pune, India - The global fluoroelastomers market size is projected to grow from USD 1.6 billion in 2020 to USD 1.8 billion by 2025, at a CAGR of 2.5% between 2020 and 2025 according to Markets and Markets. The demand for fluoroelastomers can be attributed to its growing use in various end-use industries due to their superior properties and stringent emission norms.
Various automotive automobile manufacturers are changing their vehicle designs and focusing on lightweighting through the substitution of materials to cope up with the growing demand for more fuel-efficient vehicles. IHenceHence, vehicle manufacturers are reducing the size of powertrain, engine, and engine compartments. Apart from these, the advanced air management system is also integrated to improve fuel efficiency. These changes result in issues, such as elevation of temperature and involvement of corrosive fluids and fumes. These factors reduce the life of components made from elastomers, such as o- - rings, gaskets, and hoses.
Environmental sustainability is one of the major concerns for the fluoroelastomers industry. Fluoroelastomers are non-biodegradable chemicals, as they consist of the fluorine atom in their molecular structure. Fluoroelastomers’ high resistance to moisture, heat, and common chemicals, has proven to be advantageous in terms of industrial performance. However, these properties also make them non-biodegradable, thereby damaging the environment. Thus, they are likely to be considered a threat to humans, animals, and the overall environment.
Application areas requiring materials with extreme resistance to heat and chemicals are expected to drive the usage and development of fluoroelastomers during the forecast period. The developments existing fluoroelastomers for better performance are expected to be the emerging opportunities in the field. Many companies have started to manufacture pharmaceutical- and food-grade fluoroelastomers, certified by respective authorities. For instance, in 2019, AGC Chemical acquired Food Contact Notifications from the US FDA (Food and Drug Association) for three of its fluoroelastomer products: namely AFLAS Series 100S, 100H, and 150P
Fluoroelastomers are relatively expensive specialty polymers, in comparison to other elastomers. The high cost of fluoroelastomers limits their use in many applications. Consequently, attempts have been made to provide less-expensive compositions that have performance characteristics like those of fluoroelastomers. For instance, the blending of fluoroelastomers with hydrocarbon elastomers. However, the properties of such compositions are not satisfactory, as the two classes of elastomers are essentially incompatible
Global automotive flooring markets forecast at $1.32 billion by 2027 - click to expand
7/6/2020 - New York, NY - The Global Automotive Flooring Market is projected to reach USD 1.32 billion in 2027. The fast-growing automotive industry across the globe is expected to drive overall growth in the market. Additionally, the increasing customer preferences towards improved passenger comfort and vehicle aesthetics are expected to fuel market growth over the forecast period.
Increasing the use of insulating mats and related items in passenger cars for carpet safety, comfort, and aesthetics is expected to boost demand for the product soon. Over the forecast era, the growing importance of noise reduction and thermal insulation is also likely to have a positive effect on product demand. The aesthetically pleasing design and easy maintenance are features expected to drive the popularity of automotive flooring.
The demand for flooring carpets in automobiles for floor protection is directly proportional to vehicle demand. Rising production of vehicles in Asia Pacific is expected to drive product demand, mainly due to the presence of developing countries. The global automotive flooring market is guided by players implementing strategies such as better growth plans, successful alliances, product releases, joint ventures, diverse branding, investments, mergers & acquisitions, and R&D.
The pandemic COVID-19 is likely to interact in some degree with industry production. Significant players in the industry are uncertain of the market's prospects and continue to change their approaches to sustain this tough situation. The pandemic has had a serious impact on the automotive industry, and most large automakers have had to stop both production and other operations. The shortage of manpower in many parts of the world is attributed to frequent lockdowns. The foreign exchange, exports and imports is impacted by COVID-19 and the demand in the industry has subsequently decreased considerably. The key firms on the market seek to clear their stocks and concentrate on maintaining their cash flow. In the wake of this bleak pandemic, the sector will still have a chance to develop as consumers become more mindful of safety and health, concentrating on embracing environmentally sustainable and fuel-effective cars. The real discretionary income for consumers will potentially decline and suppliers are seeking to find creative ways to satisfy consumer demands at considerably reduced prices.
Key participants include DuPont, Toyota Boshoku Corporation, The 3M Company, AGM Automotive LLC, Faurecia SA, Apache Mills, Inc., Derby Fabricating Solutions, LLC, HP Pelzer Automotive System Inc., Corry Rubber Corporation, Freudenberg Performance Materials, among others.
Global OTR tire market forecast to reach $8.14 billion by 2026 - click to expand
7/6/2020 - Hong Kong, China - Global OTR Tires Market is expected to rise from its initial estimated value was USD 5.51 billion in 2018 to an estimated value of USD 8.14 billion by 2026, registering a CAGR of 5.00% forecast to 2026. Increased automation in the industrial processes is also estimated to influence the OTR tires market according to databridgemarketresearch.com.
Key players are involved in mergers and acquisitions to strengthen their market position. Owing to increasing competition frequent innovations are taking place in the market. Some of the companies operating the industry are:
Continental, Bridgestone Corporation, Michelin, The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, THE YOKOHAMA RUBBER CO., Nokian Tyres plc., Apollo, and others
Conductive Silicone Rubber Market is estimated to reach $8.68 Billion by 2026 - click to expand
7/6/2020 - New York, NY - The Conductive Silicone Rubber Market is estimated to reach USD 8.68 Billion by 2026, according to a new report by Reports and Data. This can be mainly associated with the rising demand for lightweight automobile parts because of improved fuel efficiency and reduced emissions in various industries globally. Based on statistics, increased significance of anti-static packaging for the purpose of dust control during electric charge is expected to become the most common growth factor globally in the coming years. High customer requirements and increase in demand from the automotive industries are also significant factors stimulating market demand.
APAC accounts for the largest market share of 28.30% in 2018. Rising economy coupled with increase in purchasing capacity in countries such as India, China, and South Korea are responsible for the growth of electrical, electronic, and automotive industries. This, in turn, has resulted in an abundant increase in the conductive Silicone rubber market.
The research study includes the latest updates about the COVID-19 impact on the Conductive Silicone Rubber sector. The outbreak has broadly influenced the global economic landscape. The report contains a complete breakdown of the current situation in the ever-evolving business sector and estimates the aftereffects of the outbreak on the overall economy.
Key participants include: Dow Corning, Momentive Performance Materials, Wacker Chemie, Chemical Industrial Group Co., Ltd., Shin-Etsu, China National Bluestar Silicones, KCC Corporation, Reiss Manufacturing, Mesgo SpA, Zhejiang Xinan Specialty Silicone Products.
Global silicone coating market forecast with a CAGR new 7 percent - click to expand
6/29/2020 - New York, NY - ReportLinker states that the Global silicone coating market size is projected to grow at a CAGR of around 7% during the forecast period 2025 owing to the growth in manufacturing & end-use industries across the globe. Moreover, upsurge in activities in the construction sector coupled with continuous product developments are some other factors driving the growth of global silicone coating market.
Additionally, surging use of products which are eco-friendly and help in conservation of energy is further estimated to spur the growth of silicone coating market through 2025.
The global silicone coating market is segmented based on composition type, technology, application, region and company.Based on composition type, the market can be segmented into silicone polymers, 100% silicone, silicone water repellents and others.
Out of these, 100% silicone type segment held more than 33% of the market share until 2019 and is anticipated to maintain its lead during the forecast years as well, which can be accredited to its long-lasting properties when compared to other types of coatings.In addition to this, it offers numerous benefits such as resistance to ultraviolet light exposure, ease of application, and resistance to water damage, which is anticipated to boost the segment growth over the course of next five years.
Moreover, silicone water repellents segment is forecast to grow at highest CAGR over the coming years on account of its applicability over various surfaces and applications.Silicone water repellent does not need solvents, thereby contains very low volatile organic compounds, which makes it quite suitable for use in energy - efficient buildings and indoor air quality improvement.
Therefore, increasing demand for green buildings is expected to create a high growth potential for this product segment over the years to come.
Major players operating in the global silicone coating market include Wacker Chemie AG, Momentive Performance Materials Inc., Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd., DOW Corning Corporation, KCC Silicone, Evonik Industries, BASF SE, Humiseal, BYK-Chemie GmbH, ACC Silicones and Others. The companies are developing advanced technologies and launching new products in order to stay competitive in the market.
Global thermoplastic elastomer market forecast with a CAGR of 5.6 percent through 2025 - click to expand
6/29/2020 - New York, NY - Reportlinker.com reports that Global thermoplastic elastomers market is expected to grow with a CAGR of 5.6% over the forecast period from 2019-2025
6% over the forecast period from 2019-2025. The study on thermoplastic elastomers market covers the analysis of the leading geographies such as North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW for the period of 2017 to 2025.
The report on thermoplastic elastomers market is a comprehensive study and presentation of drivers, restraints, opportunities, demand factors, market size, forecasts, and trends in the global thermoplastic elastomers market over the period of 2017 to 2025. Moreover, the report is a collective presentation of primary and secondary research findings.
Global OTR tire market anticipated to reach $26.4 billion by 2027 - click to expand
6/26/2020 - Newark, NJ - As per the report published by Fior Markets, The global OTR tires market is anticipated to grow from USD 18.32 billion in 2019 to USD 26.45 billion by 2027, at a CAGR of 4.7% during the forecast period 2020-2027.
The rise in demand for agriculture equipment vehicle & tractors in farming, the rise in demand for construction vehicles and the increase in infrastructural development in developing countries are some of the factors fuelling the OTR Tires market.
OTR tires have deep and robust treads that can be used for any type of vehicle. These are made from durable compounds which provide better grip on mud, sand and rough surfaces. It is designed keeping in mind to be used in tough and in an adverse environment, such that even in severe conditions, it provides safety, performance, and quality. They are broadly used in machinery at mines and also in construction sites, where there are no roads. They are commonly used in dump trucks, bulldozers, graders, mobile crane, container handler, scraper, etc.
High R&D Expenditure is acting as the major restraint for the market. The efficient working in tough and in adverse condition, the high R&D expenditure is required, this adds to the cost of the tires. It is increasing the price of the OTR tires. Also, cheap Chinese tires are hampering the growth if the OTR market. People who are not much aware of the security concern tend to buy cheap tires from unorganized sector than expensive OTR tires, which is better in quality. This factor is also restricting the market.
Key players for the global OTR Tires market include Bridgestone, Goodyear, Sumitomo, Alliance Tire Group, MRF, Yokohama, Continental, Michelin, Pirelli, and JK Tyre & Industries Ltd, among others.
Global pressure sensitive adhesives market forecast to reach $12.8 billion by 2025 - click to expand
6/26/2020 - Chicago, IL - According to the new market research report "Pressure Sensitive Adhesives Market by Chemistry (Acrylic, Rubber, Silicone), Technology (Water-based, Solvent-based, Hot Melt), Application (Labels, Tapes, Graphics), End-Use Industry (Packaging, Automotive, Healthcare), Region - Global Forecast to 2025", published by MarketsandMarkets™, the global Pressure Sensitive Adhesives Market size is projected to grow from USD 9.5 billion in 2020 to USD 12.8 billion by 2025, at a CAGR of 6.0% during the forecast period.
The primary factor driving the pressure sensitive adhesives market includes the increase in demand from end-use industries such as packaging, medical & healthcare, building & construction, and automotive & transportation. The growth of the packaging industry in the emerging countries of APAC and South America is driving the demand for PSAs in these regions. Furthermore, wide acceptance of PSA's owing to the ease of adaptability, growing use in tapes and labels, and high demand in APAC are driving the market.
PSAs have prime importance in the medical & healthcare industry and are extensively used in hospitals. These medical products include PSA transfer tapes and single-coated & double-coated PSA tapes. Adhesive transfer tapes and double-coated tapes are mostly used in medical device OEMs to adhere to medical devices, strips, and pouches. The market for PSA in this industry is also influenced by growing COVID-19 infections in people having existing medical conditions such as asthma and diabetes. Moreover, there is a continuous rush in vaccine development for the treatment of COVID-19 and developing medical infrastructures. All these factors are expected to increase the growth of the PSAs market in the medical & healthcare industry
APAC is expected to account for the largest share of the pressure sensitive adhesives industry during the forecast period. The increasing demand from end-use industries is contributing to the demand for PSAs, eventually driving the market growth in the APAC region. This market is driven by increased foreign investments due to cheap labor and accessible raw materials. Also, government proposals to improve the manufacturing and infrastructure, and to increase cash-intensive non-residential construction activities, coupled with the increase in the manufacturing of end-use products, are driving the PSAs market growth
Major vendors in the pressure sensitive adhesives market include Henkel AG & Company KGAA (Germany), The Dow Chemical Company (US), Avery Dennison Corporation (US), H.B. Fuller (US), 3M Company (US), Arkema Group (France), Sika AG (Switzerland), Scapa Group PLC (UK), and Ashland Inc., (US).
Outlook for the rubber economy in the face of Covid-19 - click to expand
6/25/2020 - Singapore - Dr Hidde Smit, Consultant, Analysis and Forecasts for the Rubber Economy published in his blog with the International Rubber Study Group posted an outlook for the rubber economy in the face of COVID-19.
Dr Hidde Smit has vast international exposure and over 40 years of experience in modeling and forecasting commodity markets, especially the market for rubber. During 2005-2009, he was Secretary-General of the International Rubber Study Group. He is now an independent consultant on analyzing and forecasting the rubber economy. His clientele includes various stakeholders in the rubber sector ranging from tire manufacturers to producers and traders of natural and synthetic rubber. Companies involved in investment-banking and asset-management also seek his advice. He prepares annual and quarterly reports on the outlook for the rubber market.
This Blog aims at analyzing developments and presenting forecasts for the rubber market as a result of the COVID-19 crisis. Forecasts are presented for 2020Q2 and beyond. All data up to 2020Q1 is taken from IRSG publications. Forecasts are taken from the 2020Q2 quarterly bulletin prepared by the author. For further details see www.rubberforecasts.com. It is interesting to first briefly summarise what happened during the previous major crisis, the financial crisis of 2008-2009.
The financial crisis 2008-2009 and the consumer side of the rubber market. The main reason for the negative growth rates of total rubber consumption (-15.8% and -12.2% for the two-quarters 2008Q4 and 2009Q1 respectively) was financial uncertainty, leading to the postponement of buying vehicles and tires and reducing inventories to a minimum. This decline was compensated in 2009Q2 and 2009Q3 (an increase of 20% and 12.4% respectively). In 2010Q1 the consumption reached the levels of early 2008 again. Figures for NR consumption are quite similar: -8.5% and -17.6% for 2008Q4 and 2009Q1 and 10.0% and 10.3% in 2009Q2 and 2009Q3.
A broadly similar development as during the financial crisis is expected during the COVID-19 crisis. The difference is that most likely all special developments will happen in 2020; a decline of 11.9% in 2020Q1 and, on top of that, an estimated decline of 13.6% in 2020Q2. This represents a decline in consumption from 7.1 million tonnes in 2019Q4 to 5.4 million tonnes in 2020Q2. Moving back, consumption in 2020Q3 is projected to reach 6.8 million tonnes, an increase of 25.4%. This results for 2020 in a decline in total rubber consumption of 11.2% and in NR consumption of 10.6%.
After each crisis the trends are changing, in most cases just shifting to a lower level. The shift in NR consumption after 2020 is relatively big.
The crisis has led to a dramatic fall in NR prices, resulting in a decline in production intensity (PI). PI is defined as the ratio of actual production and normal production. Normal production is the level of production that would be reached if traditional tapping frequencies would be applied. PI will in general move in tandem with prices.
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