Author: RubberWorld

Continental is boosting the production capacity of its tire plant in Rayong, Thailand, by additional 3 million units per year. The gradual expansion plan of the operations stands for a planned total investment of more than 300 million euros (13 billion Thai Baht). The Board of Investment of Thailand is supporting the project under its Investment Stimulation Measure for Economic Recovery Scheme, thus supporting Continental’s ongoing growth in Thailand and the APAC region. This expansion will create approx. 600 additional jobs in the upcoming years. With more than 900 employees already working in its Rayong tire plant, the company is reinforcing its commitment to the Thai market and the Asia-Pacific region.

ECOsurfaces powered by Ecore Int’l introduces its latest surface in the Rx line: AssurGrip Rx. Crafted for commercial spaces where safety, ergonomic support, comfort and hygienic conditions are paramount, this innovative performance surface seamlessly combines functionality, aesthetics, durability and sustainability. Engineered with a slip resistant safety floor surface layer that is fusion bonded to a 5mm vulcanized composition rubber base layer using Ecore’s patented itsTRU® technology, AssurGrip Rx is an ideal option for wet areas, locker rooms and bathrooms where safety is a top priority.

Pope Scientific announces the availability of its state-of-the-art Wiped-Film Still systems, designed for the gentle and efficient separation of heat sensitive, high molecular weight, high boiling point, or viscous materials. These systems are available in laboratory, pilot plant, and production scales, all featuring a consistent design to streamline process coordination across different scales.

From October 8 – 15, 2025, the global plastics and rubber industry will come together for its internationally most relevant trade fair in Düsseldorf, Germany. Like no other trade fair of this sector, K 2025 will provide the complete overview of this industry’s global ranges – once again guaranteed by the internationality of the exhibitors. Companies from all continents have registered to offer trade visitors innovations at the highest level. “Next year the Who’s Who of the plastics and rubber industries will be back again in Düsseldorf. We are very pleased that even companies who had suspended their participation in 2022 as a consequence of the pandemic, are now back on board again,” said Thomas Franken, Director K, Portfolio Plastics & Rubber at Messe Düsseldorf. Space allocation talks are currently underway before the K 2025 exhibitor database will go online in January 2025.

Mr. Shashi Kumar Singh has been re-elected as President, having previously served in this role with distinction. Mr. Singh is a prominent figure in the rubber industry, bringing over 20 years of extensive experience to his role. He is also actively involved in several other industries, including cement and construction, serving as Director for Chunar Churk Cement Ltd., Hi-Span Developers (P) Ltd., and Shree Salasar Developers (P) Ltd. He served the Association in different capacities such as Chief Convener of Western Region’s National Rubber Conference in 2019. He was member of Core committee at India Rubber Expo 2024 a marque event of the Association. Furthermore, he has been contributing to the industry by serving as a Governing Council member of IRMRI and currently holds the position of Chairman at RCPSDC, New Delhi. As the Director of Osaka Rubber Private Limited, Mr. Singh has been instrumental in transforming the company into one of the leading manufacturers of extruded rubber profiles and sealant tapes in India. With extensive experience in the rubber industry, he has a solid track record in project execution, equipment selection, and modernization. His technical skills in process and compounding, along with expertise in production and procurement, have led him to develop numerous sealant compounds as substitutes for imports.

Continental has released its first EV compatible truck/bus tire in the United States. The Conti HAU 5 is a metro all-position tire designed specifically for urban city buses.
As a premium tire manufacturer for both Original Equipment and Replacement markets Continental understands the need for tires that can withstand the additional weight load that come with electric vehicles. Continental’s EV compatible tire is designed with this in mind.
Despite the lower complexity of an electric drivetrain, wheel loads can increase due to the weight of the traction batteries. This leads to higher tire load capacities. At the same time, in order to efficiently convert the storage capacity of the batteries into maximum vehicle range, the rolling resistance of the tires must be minimized, thereby reducing energy consumption.

Chemical products manufacturer AB Specialty Silicones LLC will pay $1.3 million in penalties after an explosion and fire at its Waukegan plant in May 2019 claimed the lives of four workers.

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration reached a settlement agreement with the company after an investigation revealed AB Specialty Silicones failed to ensure electrical equipment complied with OSHA standards. The company also used propane-powered forklifts to transport flammable liquids in areas where employees handled flammable liquids and gases.

India’s Automotive Tyre Manufacturers Association (ATMA) is raising concerns over the delay in updating data on the production and consumption of natural rubber by the state-run Rubber Board, ATMA members have estimated natural rubber production at 225 thousand tons which is 37 percent lower than the 356-thousand-ton production figure published by Rubber Board for the corresponding period in the previous year.

The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd., announced that it is supplying its BluEarth-GT AE51 tires as original equipment (OE) to Toyota Motor Corporation for use on the automaker’s new hybrid sedan, the Camry, sales of which were launched gradually in Europe, Middle East, Asia, and Australia. The OE tire size is the 215/55R17 94V.

The Center for the Polyurethanes Industry (CPI) announced that the 2023 End-Use Market Survey on the Polyurethanes Industry in the United States, Canada and Mexico is now available for purchase from the ACC store. The study is the result of a two-year survey on the polyurethanes industry in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Data was presented during the awards luncheon of the 66th Polyurethanes Technical Conference.