Today's News

Continental develops a synthetic rubber to reduce hydrogen ion leakage

Continental has developed a line for cooling in the hydrogen powertrain of commercial vehicles, which considerably reduces the penetration of ions into the media circuit. The synthetic rubber line has a mixture of materials whose special properties make them less susceptible to the leaching of ions from the line material. This reduces the transfer of ions into the cooling circuit of hydrogen drive systems. The material experts from the group sector ContiTech have solved one of today’s greatest challenges in the industrialization of this still least common alternative form of drive system. The product innovation increases the service life of vehicle components in hydrogen drive systems.

Cimcorp

Cimcorp celebrates 50 years of innovation

2025 marks the 50-year anniversary of Cimcorp’s first commercial robot sale. Thanks to its commitment to innovation, the company that started life as Rosenlew Automation has grown into a global market leader in intralogistics automation.

Boston Industrial Solutions achieves CPSIA recertification for Natron SE series silicone ink

The CPSIA certification, issued by an independent third-party laboratory, confirms that Natron SE Series Silicone Inks are free from lead, phthalates, and other harmful substances, making them ideal for printing on children’s products, toys, medical devices, industrial, and other consumer silicone goods where safety is paramount.

Engel at JEC World 2025

At this year’s JEC World, taking place from 4 to 6 March 2025 in Paris, ENGEL is involved in three products that have been selected as finalists for the JEC Innovation Awards. The Austrian injection molding machine manufacturer, headquartered in Schwertberg, impressively demonstrates the capabilities of its innovative injection molding technologies for lightweight construction.

Milacron

Mack Molding invests over $3 million in new equipment

As part of this investment, multiple new Milacron presses have been installed across Mack’s facilities. The Cavendish, Vermont, plant has added an 1100-ton and a 500-ton press, while, the East Arlington, Vermont, plant has upgraded its equipment with a 500-ton press, along with a 950-ton and a 1500-ton press replacing older models. Mack’s Statesville, North Carolina facility has also been enhanced with a 610-ton and an 1100-ton press, further strengthening its production capabilities.

Plast 2026 returns June 2026 in Milan, Italy

Plast 2026: The International Exhibition for the Plastics and Rubber Industry Returns from 9 to 12 June 2026

With a net exhibition area of 50,000 square meters and 38,000 visitors, the latest edition of PLAST, held in 2023, reaffirmed its status as a highly successful event. The exhibition hosted its dedicated satellite shows: Rubber (rubber industry), 3D Plast (3D printing and related technologies), PlastMat (innovative materials), along with a wide array of cutting-edge technological solutions.

Mixing

Utilization of AI driven solutions for rubber compound formulation: A practical approach

The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into various industrial sectors has spurred remarkable progress in the field of manufacturing process development. This concept has been extended to polymer compound formulations, where AI techniques have been used to optimize rubber formulations as well. Furthermore, it is conceivable that mixtures of other polymers, such as TPEs, thermoplastic materials or polyurethane compounds, could be similarly treated. Advantages of employing AI driven tools include reduced development time, enhanced efficiency and increased accuracy.

Chemicals and Materials

University of Virginia researchers solve a nearly 200-year-old challenge in polymers

Researchers at the University of Virginia School of Engineering and Applied Science have developed a new design that appears to rewrite the textbook on polymer engineering.

“We are addressing a fundamental challenge that has been thought to be impossible to solve since the invention of vulcanized rubber in 1839,” said Liheng Cai, an assistant professor of materials science and engineering, and chemical engineering.

That’s when Charles Goodyear accidentally discovered that heating natural rubber with sulfur created chemical crosslinks between the strand-like rubber molecules. This crosslinking process creates a polymer network, transforming the sticky rubber, which melts and flows in the heat, into a durable, elastic material.

Ever since, it’s been believed that if you want to make a polymer network material stiff, you have to sacrifice some stretchability.

Silicone & Medical

Researchers enhance silicone rubber with zirconia for gecko like grip

Researchers from the University of Minho in Portugal started with silicone rubber polymer and added zirconia nanoparticles to make the material attract water molecules. After they rolled the composite material into a thin film, they hardened it with heat and laser-etched a grooved pattern onto the film’s surface that exposed the hydrophilic zirconia nanoparticles. When the film encountered water molecules atop ice, it stuck to the slippery surface because the polymer mimicked the capillary action of slip-resistant gecko footpads.

Thermoplastic Elastomers & Urethanes

Continental develops a synthetic rubber to reduce hydrogen ion leakage

Continental has developed a line for cooling in the hydrogen powertrain of commercial vehicles, which considerably reduces the penetration of ions into the media circuit. The synthetic rubber line has a mixture of materials whose special properties make them less susceptible to the leaching of ions from the line material. This reduces the transfer of ions into the cooling circuit of hydrogen drive systems. The material experts from the group sector ContiTech have solved one of today’s greatest challenges in the industrialization of this still least common alternative form of drive system. The product innovation increases the service life of vehicle components in hydrogen drive systems.

Latex and Natural Rubber

RPI researchers named to TARDISS team studying rubber production in the U.S.

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) researchers are part of a multi-institution team working to bring rubber production to the United States and better secure the supply chain for this critical material.

The team is supported through the “Transformation of American Rubber through Domestic Innovation for Supply Security” (TARDISS) Engineering Research Center (ERC) through the U.S. National Science Foundation. Headquartered at Ohio State University, TARDISS will receive $26 million over five years with the ability to renew for the same amount over another five years.

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