News

Newsrss1rssLinkedIn

June is packed with learning opportunities from the Rubber Division

The Rubber Division, ACS is packing June with opportunities to strengthen your expertise and stay ahead in our rapidly evolving industry. From foundational courses to advanced topics and targeted webinars, this month’s lineup delivers practical knowledge and real-world insights you can put to work right away.

Take the June 3 Introduction to Compounding, Mixing & Testing course followed by the June 4 Intermediate Rubber Compounding course to progress from foundational to intermediate level at a discounted rate. Additional savings are available for companies enrolling multiple participants. Contact hmaimone@rubber.org for details.

Read More
Newsrss2

Yokohama Rubber establishes new R&D center in China

The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd., announces that it has established an R&D center in Hangzhou, China. The new center began operations in May 2026 inside the Company’s new passenger car tire plant that started production in November 2025. With the establishment of the new center, Yokohama Rubber aims to build a system that can initiate and complete the R&D of new products for the China market locally, enabling it to dramatically speed up its response to demand in the Chinese market. The new center will enhance Yokohama Rubber’s R&D capabilities in China, and combined with the start of operations at the recently established tire plant, will strengthen Yokohama Rubber’s development and production of tires for the Chinese market.

Read More
Newsrss3rssLinkedIn

USTMA president Anne Forristall Luke announces retirement

The U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association (USTMA), announced that President and CEO Anne Forristall Luke will retire at the end of 2026 after eleven years leading the Association. Forristall Luke, who joined USTMA – then known as the Rubber Manufacturers Association (RMA) – in 2016, has presided over a period of substantial growth, strategic evolution, and measurably elevated influence for the domestic tire manufacturing industry.

Read More
Newsrss1rssLinkedIn

Continental to build highly automated warehouse in Illinois

Continental has announced the construction of a new highly automated finished-goods warehouse in Mount Vernon, Illinois. The company plans to invest approximately $76 million in the project. The facility is designed to mainly serve growing demand in North America, while enhancing service levels and customer support. Covering an area larger than six American football fields, the warehouse will have capacity for approximately 500,000 passenger car tires. Construction is expected to start in summer 2026, with operations scheduled to begin in 2027.

Read More
Newsrss2rssLinkedIn

Miguel Oseguera named president of Simtech Silicone Parts

SIMTEC Silicone Parts, Inc., has appointed Miguel Oseguera as President, effective April 29, 2026. Oseguera will lead company operations from SIMTEC’s headquarters in Miramar, Florida.
Oseguera brings nearly two decades of leadership experience in the silicone molding industry. He joins SIMTEC from Freudenberg, where he held multiple leadership roles over 19 years, most recently serving as Global Segment Director.

Read More
Newsrss4

Freudenberg now offers small batch production

Freudenberg Sealing Technologies is expanding its portfolio of bellows with a new manufacturing process for small-batch production. For the first time, custom-designed bellows made of thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) can be produced with significantly reduced tooling and fixed costs. This is feasible due to a modular tooling concept developed specifically for application-specific bellows geometries in small quantities.

Read More