Today's News
Goodyear says Fayetteville plant closure will help reshape Americas manufacturing network
Goodyear reiterated the planned closure in its Aug. 5 second-quarter earnings announcement, saying the Fayetteville facility will be closed as part of a strategy to “align its footprint with its evolving product portfolio and improve the competitiveness of its manufacturing network in the Americas.”
The company expects the action to improve Americas segment operating income by about $90 million in 2027 and approximately $270 million annually beginning in 2028, according to the earnings release.
Tire Society to host 45th annual conference on Tire Science and Technology
The Tire Society, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to advancing the science and technology of tires, announced the Program for its 45th Annual Conference and Business Meeting on Tire Science and Technology. The conference will take place September 22–23, 2026, at the University of Akron’s Jean Hower Taber Student Union, under the theme “Reinventing the Tire: Digital Transformation, Data-Driven Advances, and Predictive Methods.”
Global synthetic rubber market forecast at $24.6 billion
The global market for Synthetic Rubber was valued at US$19.9 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach US$24.6 Billion by 2030, at a 3.6% CAGR from 2024 to 2030 according to Research and Markets. This in-depth report analyzes trends, drivers, and forecasts to support informed decisions. It integrates the most recent global tariff developments and their impact on supply chains and sourcing. Independent analysis of annual sales and forecasts from 2024 to 2030 equips you with clear, comparable metrics.
Continental breaks ground on new Illinois warehouse
Continental celebrated the groundbreaking of its new highly automated finished-goods warehouse during a ceremony at its Mount Vernon, Illinois, tire plant Thursday. The event brought together plant employees, local officials and project stakeholders to mark the beginning of construction on the facility, which represents an investment of approximately $76 million and is expected to begin operations in 2027.
Dunlop launches joint research on sustainable natural rubber production
DUNLOP announced that it signed a joint research agreement in Bangkok, Thailand, on August 7, 2026, as a project under the Hevea Research Platform in Partnership (HRPP), an international platform for natural rubber research. The other parties to the agreement are the Rubber Authority of Thailand (RAOT), the French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development (CIRAD), and Thailand’s Khon Kaen University and Kasetsart University.
Beyond rolling resistance: A balanced approach to California’s replacement tire efficiency requirements
Dunlop Tires North America urges California to take a balanced approach to replacement tire efficiency rules, emphasizing the need to consider safety, performance, consumer choice, competition and the full environmental lifecycle of tires alongside rolling resistance.
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
Sulfur modified polychloroprene rubber for nitrosamine-free applications
by Marjan Hemstede, Martin Schneider, Frank Taschner and Steven Teertstra, Arlanxeo. Compounding, cure and vulcanizate properties of Baypren polychloroprene polymer using new cure systems and bases that enable a wide range of properties are presented.
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
Running high speed NBR glove lines in North America: What it actually takes
The confluence of two structural forces is rewriting the economics of nitrile exam glove manufacturing in North America. The 100%
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