Author: RubberWorld

ARLANXEO announced a milestone on our sustainability journey at the DKT exhibition and conference in Nuremberg, Germany. With the ISCC PLUS certifications of the EPDM plant in Geleen, The Netherlands, the Butyl plant in Singapore and the EVM plant in Dormagen, Germany, ARLANXEO is pleased to offer a rapidly expanding range of sustainable synthetic rubber products under its Eco label.

The world’s largest market pulp producer, Suzano S.A. and leading German chemical distribution company, Behn Meyer Group announce a new partnership to supply sustainable additives to the European rubber market.
As part of the collaboration, Suzano will supply Ecolig®, its multifunctional lignin-based bioproduct, which will be used as a sustainable additive in Behn Meyer’s rubber products portfolio and distributed to its wide customer base in Europe. Ecolig® is a sustainable alternative to other chemical additives and fossil-based antioxidants currently used to prevent oxidation and enhance the performance of rubber.

The new Proxes Sport A/S+ tire will be produced in 80 sizes with 17- to 22-inch wheel diameters and W, Y, and (Y) speed ratings with fitments for sport cars, CUVs, and SUVs, while carrying a 50,000-mile treadwear warranty and a 45-Day/500-Mile Trial Offer. The first Proxes Sport A/S+ sizes will be available starting in July 2024. Additional planned sizes, including Toyo’s first High Load (HL) capacity tires, are planned to release later in 2024 and early 2025. Popular fitments include Audi cars and SUVs, BMW cars and SUVs, Ford Mustang and Mustang Mach-E, Nissan Z, Tesla Model 3, X, and Y, and the Toyota GR Supra.

The boards of directors Elkem ASA (“Elkem”) and its wholly owned subsidiary Elkem Testvirksomhet AS (formerly known as REC Solar Norway AS) have entered into a merger plan for the merger of Elkem Testvirksomhet AS (as the non-surviving entity) and Elkem (as the surviving entity). At completion of the merger, Elkem will acquire all assets and rights and assume all obligations of Elkem Testvirksomhet AS, and at the same time, Elkem Testvirksomhet AS will be dissolved as a legal entity.

Toyo Tire U.S.A. Corp. (Toyo Tires®) announces that the Toyo® Open Country® A/T III will be available on the all-new 2024 Lexus GX 550. The Lexus GX 550 will offer two off-road-focused grades, the Overtrail and Overtrail+. Both models will feature the Toyo Open Country A/T III in 265/70R18, further emphasizing the off-road readiness of Lexus’ new SUV.

he Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd., announced that it is supplying its BluEarth-FE AE30 tires as original equipment (OE) to Honda Motor Co., Ltd. for use on the automaker’s new compact minivan, FREED, which was launched in Japan in June 2024. The FREED is being equipped with 185/65R15 88S size tires.

General Tire is to equip the new Mercedes-AMG G63, the sports version of the Mercedes-Benz G-Class, with original equipment tires. This ultra-high-performance SUV from the AMG tuner forge will be exclusively fitted with 20-inch General Tire Grabber HTS60 summer tires from the factory. The tire is designed to ensure maximum safety, both on and off the road.

The Sustainable Polymers Tech Hub, led by the Greater Akron Chamber, aims to tackle the severe climate and environmental impacts resulting from the use of fossil fuel-derived polymers (rubbers and plastics) through accelerating sustainable polymer manufacturing and commercialization in the United States. While polymers have long played an important role in American innovation, their conventional production has resulted in environmental challenges like greenhouse gas emissions and plastic pollution. This Tech Hub will pair the largest concentration of plastics and rubber manufacturing plants, machines, and materials in North America with regional R&D partnerships to establish global leadership in emissions-advantaged plastic and rubber technology.