Author: RubberWorld

Royal Purple Industrial announced that Tony Springer has joined the company as Sales Director – Distribution, effective Feb. 9, 2026. In this role, Springer is responsible for overseeing and driving growth for the Royal Purple Industrial (RPI) product line in partnership with the Distribution Sales Team across the United States and Canada.

Avient Corporation announced its first quarter results for 2026. First quarter GAAP earnings per share (EPS) were $0.61 compared to ($0.22) in the prior year quarter. The company noted that first quarter 2026 GAAP EPS includes special items of $0.06 and intangible amortization expense of $0.16.

First quarter 2026 adjusted EPS was $0.83 compared to $0.76 in the prior year quarter, reflecting 9% growth in adjusted EPS.

Zeon Corporation has announced that global selling prices for ZeonorFilm® and Cyclo Olefin Polymer will be raised as listed beginning June 1st, 2026.

Cabot Corp. reported a sharp increase in second-quarter fiscal 2026 profit and margins on Tuesday, driven by stronger performance in its Performance Chemicals segment and improved pricing and volume trends in key businesses. Additionally, the company declared a quarterly dividend of $0.4725
 per share, an increase of 5% compared to the current quarterly dividend of $0.45
 per share, payable on all outstanding shares of the Corporation’s common stock. The dividend is payable on June 12, 2026 , to stockholders of record of such common stock at the close of business on May 29, 2026.

he Weir Group Plc (Weir) announces that, following ten years as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) during which time he has led Weir’s strategic transformation into a global mining technology leader, and 16 years with Weir, Jon Stanton will step down as CEO on 1 August 2026. He will be succeeded by Andrew Neilson who will be elected to the Board of Directors, after the conclusion of the AGM, and will become CEO Designate, before assuming full responsibilities as CEO on 1 August.

Mr. Ville Mansikkamäki (Executive MBA, BSc (Eng) in Logistics) has been appointed Senior Vice President, Heavy Tyres at Nokian Tyres and a member of the Nokian Tyres Management Team. Ville Mansikkamäki will start in the position by October 1, 2026. He will be located in Nokia, Finland and reports to President and CEO Paolo Pompei.

The initiative, called the Traceability and Transparency Pilot Project, has been carried out since 2022 in South Sumatra, Indonesia, through Dunlop’s procurement subsidiary Sumitomo Rubber Singapore Pte. Ltd. and supply chain partner Halcyon Agri Corporation Ltd. and its Indonesian subsidiary PT Hok Tong.

The program focused on supporting smallholder rubber farmers by improving cultivation practices, providing agricultural inputs such as fertilizers, and strengthening traceability and transparency in the natural rubber supply chain.

Lanxess AG announced it is maintaining its full-year 2026 earnings outlook despite a weak start to the year marked by lower sales, continued pricing pressure and geopolitical disruptions that are reshaping supply chains in the chemicals industry.

The specialty chemicals company reported first-quarter sales of 1.378 billion euros, down 13.9% from the same period a year earlier. Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, adjusted for exceptional items, fell 29.3% to 94 million euros.

AUMOVIO concluded the first quarter of 2026 amid a persistently challenging market environment and delivered clear improvements in adjusted EBIT as well as adjusted and normalized free cash flow.

Adjusted consolidated sales came in at €4.4 billion, representing a decline of 7.8 percent year-on-year (Q1 2025: €4.8 billion). In addition to the realignment of the product and technology portfolio as part of the company’s comprehensive transformation, adverse foreign exchange effects weighed on sales. Adjusted EBIT climbed by 14.3 percent to €106 million (Q1 2025: €93 million), and the adjusted EBIT margin rose to 2.4 percent (Q1 2025: 1.9 percent).

Albemarle Corp., reported sharply higher first-quarter earnings driven by stronger pricing and demand in its energy storage and specialty materials businesses. Revenue rose 33% to $1.43 billion, fueled by higher volumes and prices in its energy storage and specialty segments. Energy storage sales increased 70% to $891.2 million, with pricing up 51% and volumes up 14%. Specialty sales also increased during the quarter.

The company posted net income of $319.1 million, or $2.34 per diluted share, for the quarter ended March 31, 2026, compared with $41.3 million, or breakeven on a per-share basis, a year earlier.