Today's News
Yokohama Tire extends support for High Fives Foundation into fourth year
Tiremaker partners with the nonprofit to advance adaptive motorsports programs like Return to Dirt, helping disabled off-roaders get back behind the wheel.
Zeon establishes new company to take over Tohpe’s acrylic rubber business
Zeon Corp. has established Zeon Chemicals Kurashiki Co., Ltd. to take over the acrylic rubber business of its group company, Tohpe Corp.
Zeon established the new company on July 23, 2026. On Aug. 21, Tohpe and Zeon Chemicals Kurashiki signed an absorption-type company split agreement to transfer the acrylic rubber business. Zeon began the required procedures under Japan’s Companies Act on Sept. 3.
AkzoNobel inaugurates €7.5 million innovation lab
A new €7.5 million innovation lab has been inaugurated by AkzoNobel at its Sassenheim site in the Netherlands, strengthening the company’s largest global R&D center.
Taniq celebrates two decades of rubber and composite automation
Rotterdam, the Netherlands – TANIQ, the Dutch engineering company that pioneered robotic automation for reinforced rubber and composite manufacturing, is
Michelin brings back Camso agricultural track portfolio
Starting in September 2026, agricultural tracks previously sold under the Camso brand will transition to the MICHELIN BIBTRACK name. The move brings Michelin’s agricultural tracks together with its established agricultural portfolio, creating a more unified brand experience for farmers, equipment manufacturers and agricultural customers.
Solvay announces new appointments for Silica and Special Chem Business leadership
Solvay has appointed new leaders for its silica, rare earth and fluorine businesses as the Belgian chemicals company reorganizes leadership of its specialty operations.
The appointments take effect Oct. 1, Solvay said.
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
Greene Tweed now offers rapid prototyping for thermoplastic composites
Greene Tweed has developed a rapid prototyping process for its Xycomp® DLF™ material that helps aerospace customers accelerate metal replacement development projects through faster testing and validation. The process significantly reduces lead times and costs, expanding access to high-performance composites in new markets, including Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) and Defense.
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.
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