Author: RubberWorld

Covestro LLC is investing more than $40 million in a series of modernization and technical upgrades across its 9-building Pittsburgh, Pa., headquarters. Covestro, a leading supplier of high-quality polymers, has called its campus along the parkway west in Pittsburgh home since 1958. The site, which employs roughly 700 people, functions as the business headquarters for the North American region and is one of Covestro’s three global research and development hubs – the others being Leverkusen, Germany, and Shanghai, China.

Diamond America Corporation, a leading U.S. based extruder and die manufacturer, announced the relocation of their Headquarters. Effective September 30,2024, all operations will migrate to 1436 Martin Road, Mogadore, OH 44260 from 96 East Miller Avenue, Akron, OH 44301. This move signifies a major milestone to support the company’s growth and evolution over the last 20+ years.

Huntsman has developed a new range of innovative, high-performing thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) materials for the footwear industry that offer game-changing possibilities for soling applications. The new AVALON® GECKO TPU portfolio offers a series of products that have exceptional grip and durability and have been developed with circularity in mind. Tailor made for use in high performance soling applications, the range includes an extrudable grade for creating super thin outsoles and a product that can be foamed to produce a very low density and super soft material with a unique touch and feel.

Bridgestone sets new performance standards for agricultural tires. All three tires in the Bridgestone lineup feature our triple-defense rubber compound engineered to resist wear, protect against stubble and enhance durability. The patented Involute lug design maximizes traction and minimizes soil disturbance and energy loss caused by tire slip, helping farmers reduce fuel costs to get the most from their equipment and tire investment. Outlasting a top competitor in field trials, the Bridgestone VX-TRACTOR tire delivers 45% more wear life.

Trederra inked an exclusive agreement with Tyre Recycling Solutions (TRS) of Switzerland, supporting the production of Trederra footwear outsoles made from end-of-life tires.

TRS will supply Trederra with CT-50 rubber powder, manufactured using the patented TRS Water Pulse technology, a proprietary water-jet system that pulverizes tire tread into fine powder derived from 100 percent end-of-life tires diverted from landfills and free from steel and synthetic fibers.

Prism Worldwide is thrilled to unveil its latest innovation with the launch of CIRX™ car mats, engineered with our cutting-edge Ancora™ TPE technology. These pioneering mats are crafted from Ancora C-1082, a high-performance material that incorporates 50% recycled content derived from end-of-life tires, utilizing Prism’s advanced process technology.

The global silicone market is poised for significant growth, with sales estimated at USD 18,432.1 million in 2024 and projected to reach USD 29,456.9 million by 2034 according to Future Market Insights. This represents a steady compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.8% over the forecast period from 2024 to 2034. The market expansion is likely driven by increasing demand across various industries, including automotive, electronics, construction, and healthcare, where silicone’s versatility and durability are highly valued. As technological advancements and sustainability trends continue to evolve, silicone’s applications are expected to diversify further, supporting its robust market performance.

Cancarb Limited, a Tokai Carbon Group company, has been awarded a Platinum rating from EcoVadis, the highest possible EcoVadis recognition score. The 2024 Platinum rating marks the second year in a row Cancarb has achieved this award, and indicates the company is in the top 1% of their industry as a responsible and sustainable carbon black producer.

The Young Professionals Committee of Rubber Division, ACS is a group encouraging and facilitating the advancement of young professionals in our industry through networking, mentorship and learning opportunities. Through these opportunities they also bridge connections between YPs and Division membership, as well as those who participate at Division events.

Adam McCarthy, ETRMA’s Secretary General, said, “After a negative trend in full year 2023 with -8% in Consumer and -17% in Truck (versus 2022) , the evolution in volumes in first half of 2024 improved in Consumer mainly thanks to the All Seasons segment but remained negative in Truck. The second quarter was better than the first quarter, even if the inflationary and the geopolitical context led to a drop in demand and a reduction of inventory levels. Agricultural tire sales were supported by rainy weather conditions.”