Today's News
Continental plans more than 650 new tire sizes across all tire lines
Continental has significantly expanded its global portfolio of ultra-high-performance (UHP) tires – tires measuring 18 inches and above – over the past five years and plans to strengthen this segment further in the future. By the end of 2027, the company will add more than 650 new tire sizes across all tire lines, for both original equipment on new cars and the replacement market.
Global Polymer Summit technical sessions, awards banquet and presentations begin today
The 2026 Global Polymer Summit will begin Monday with technical presentations, an awards banquet, science and technology presentations, industry excursions and an evening event focused on women in the polymer industry.
Registration and expo hours are scheduled from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the upper concourse. Two technical sessions will take place from 8 to 11:20 a.m. at the convention center’s main concourse, while exhibitors will have move-in activities from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Trelleborg showcases industrial solutions at Alihankinta 2026
relleborg presents a combined showcase of industrial hose and sealing solutions for manufacturing at Alihankinta 2026. Visitors can meet experts from Trelleborg Fluid Handling Solutions and Trelleborg Sealing Solutions at stand C926 at the Tampere Sports and Exhibition Center in Finland from 29 September to 1 October.
Bridgestone named official tire partner of Sports Car Club of America
Bridgestone announced a landmark three-year partnership with the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA), becoming the Official Tire of the SCCA and the sole tire supplier of the SCCA Club Spec program. The strategic agreement reinforces Bridgestone’s commitment to grassroots motorsports, enhancing its involvement in autocross, track days and time trials.
Just Tires pulls into Joliet
The new Joliet location offers a broad selection of Goodyear and Cooper tires, giving drivers trusted tire options for their vehicle, budget and driving needs. That includes Goodyear products such as the Goodyear Eagle F1 All Season for year-round performance; Goodyear Wrangler Steadfast HT for highway all-season performance and ride comfort; Goodyear Assurance WeatherReady 2 for all-weather driving; and Goodyear ElectricDrive 2 for EV-focused performance, along with tire options for high-performance, all-weather and all-terrain driving.
Pirelli announces $1.2 billion expansion of Rome, George plant
The investment plan will support Pirelli’s growth in the High Value segment in the United States, the world’s largest market for this segment, accounting for approximately 40% of global volumes. The project will strengthen the company’s local-for-local strategy, enhance supply chain resilience, and meet the growing demand for technologically advanced “Made in USA” products. Furthermore, the investment reinforces Pirelli’s long-term commitment to the country, where the company has operated in the State of Georgia since 2002 and established strong relationships with government institutions, local authorities, and universities.
Featured
Mixing
Understanding the difference between high and low shear
Industrial mixing is a crucial process in various industries, including production of rubber formulations, petrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, personal care products and many others. It is also integral to continuous process industries including waste water treatment, fuel and energy production, and mining of metals and minerals.
Chemicals and Materials
Flexsys narrows 6PPD replacement to two final molecules
Flexsys has developed the world’s first viable alternative to 6PPD, the Company has now completed screening efforts and is focusing on two final candidate molecules for expanded testing and ultimately final selection as a replacement for 6PPD in tires.
Flexsys has also entered into a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) to independently and thoroughly evaluate the two molecules’ potential effects on aquatic life
Extrusion
Extruding full rubber bales without a granulator
Walk into most rubber compounding operations today and somewhere upstream of the mixer one will find a granulator. It sits
Silicone & Medical
40-year study finds silicone sealants outperform alternatives in long-term weathering
The study, highlighted by Momentive as part of its “Part of the Solution” series, examined the long-term durability of silicone sealants used in construction. Researchers conducted the testing at the Atlas Weathering Test Site in Miami, Florida, where panels of glass and painted aluminum were mounted outdoors at a 45-degree angle facing south to simulate real-world exposure.
Oil, Gas & Energy
Freudenberg Sealing Technologies develops new sealing system for CO2 compressors
Freudenberg Sealing Technologies has developed a new sealing system for busbar sealing in vehicle air-conditioning compressors. This elastomer-based solution withstands test pressures of over 100 bar in leak tests and offers a cost-efficient alternative to conventional glass seals. Designed for CO₂ compressors (R744), it also works well with other refrigerants.
Testing & Instruments
Direct measurement of steady state shear viscosity
by Michele Scacchi and Denis Venturoli, Evercompounds S.p.A., and Mauro Belloni, Gibitre Instruments S.r.l. The Mooney viscometer (MV) was invented
Molding
Compression molding simulation: Capabilities, features and industrial case studies
by Harshal Bhogesra, MoldEx3D. The MoldEx3D compression molding module provides a fully coupled simulation environment that replicates the filling, packing,
Thermoplastic Elastomers & Urethanes
Polycarbonate polyols for high-performance PU dispersions
by Yoichi Hirose, Asahe Kasei. Newly developed DK031E and PCDX-249 are designed to address the issues associated with aqueous dispersions of polyurethane (PUDs) offering the potential to reduce solvent usage.
Latex and Natural Rubber
Olam Agri acquisition nearly doubles rubber processing capacity in Ivory Coast
Olam Agri has completed its acquisition of Asia Africa Rubber Industry S.A., adding 176,000 metric tons of annual rubber processing capacity in Ivory Coast as the company moves to expand its natural rubber business and meet growing demand for traceable supplies.
The acquisition nearly doubles Olam Agri’s rubber processing capacity in the West African country and is expected to improve operational efficiency, supply reliability and access to international customers, the company said.
The September Issue of Rubber World
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Thermoplastic Elastomers, Urethanes
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