GPS 2026 Know Before You Go webinars
Akron, OH – Get ready for GPS 2026 with a 30-minute Know Before You Go webinar created by the Rubber
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News
Yokohama Rubber develops proprietary generative AI system
The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd., announces that it has developed and begun full-scale operation in August 2026 of a proprietary generative AI system utilizing RAG (Retrieval-Augmented Generation), which searches various technical documents accumulated internally and presents responses based on their contents. This new system contributes to further accelerating and enhancing tire development by providing rapid and accurate access to technical information necessary for decision-making during the tire development process, including material development.
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AirBoss appoints Leslie Graves to board of directors
AirBoss of America Corp. announced the appointment of Leslie Graves, Co-Head of Capital Markets at R.Seelaus & Co., to its Board of Directors, effective August 27, 2026. Leslie Graves is Co-Head of Capital Markets and a Partner at R. Seelaus & Co., which she joined in 2017. She has more than 30 years of financial services experience, with expertise across capital markets, debt origination and trading.
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European Union leaves International Rubber Study Group
The European Union has withdrawn from the International Rubber Study Group, ending its membership in the intergovernmental organization as of June 30, 2026, according to the group’s current membership information and European Union records.
The departure follows an EU decision to leave the organization, which the European Council formally approved in October 2025. The EU said the IRSG had become an organization of limited and declining relevance as important member countries withdrew over the years.
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Silicone Rubber Growth Associates launches technical-commercial advisory firm
Silicone Rubber Growth Associates LLC (SRGA), a technical-commercial advisory firm focused exclusively on the silicone rubber industry, has launched to help material suppliers, compounders, processors and manufacturers solve technical challenges, pursue growth opportunities and add experienced outside bandwidth when specialized support is needed.
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Volkswagen ID. Polo fitted with Continental tires
Continental has received original-equipment approval for the new Volkswagen ID. Polo. The all-electric compact model will be fitted as standard with Continental’s EcoContact 7 summer tire, after the Wolfsburg-based car manufacturer approved the 17- and 18-inch sizes. Volkswagen also recommends the 18-inch versions of the AllSeasonContact 2 and the WinterContact TS 870 P.
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Join the Trelleborg ConneX event to discover next-generation sealing solutions
Trelleborg Sealing Solutions hosts “Rotary Sealing in Motion,” a 2.5-hour free virtual ConneX event exploring the technologies, trends and engineering expertise shaping the future of rotary sealing. Broadcasting from the Trelleborg Innovation Center in Stuttgart, Germany, the event is designed for engineers and technical decision-makers seeking practical guidance on seal selection, application performance and emerging industry challenges.
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PUGL names Excelkos-Tiarco exclusive Southeast Asia distributor
PUGL Technology Group LLC has signed an exclusive distribution agreement with Excelkos-Tiarco Sdn. Bhd. covering Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam and Sri Lanka.
Under the agreement, Excelkos-Tiarco will represent and sell PUGL Fusion Agent, PUGL’s stearate-free release agent, together with PUD 9088, the company’s polyurethane dispersion (PUD) for disposable polyurethane glove production. Excelkos-Tiarco will handle sales, technical support and customer trials for both products across the territory.
California just changed the rules for replacement tires
The California Energy Commission (CEC) approved the Replacement Tire Efficiency Program (RTEP), the nation’s first efficiency standards for replacement tires sold for passenger vehicles and light-duty trucks in California.
The tires that come on new cars are typically designed to give drivers better fuel mileage. But average replacement tires are less efficient, meaning that consumers often lose mileage and range when they replace their tires. These cost-saving standards are designed to ensure that replacement tires are at least as energy efficient, on average, as tires sold on new vehicles.
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Olam Agri acquisition nearly doubles rubber processing capacity in Ivory Coast
Olam Agri has completed its acquisition of Asia Africa Rubber Industry S.A., adding 176,000 metric tons of annual rubber processing capacity in Ivory Coast as the company moves to expand its natural rubber business and meet growing demand for traceable supplies.
The acquisition nearly doubles Olam Agri’s rubber processing capacity in the West African country and is expected to improve operational efficiency, supply reliability and access to international customers, the company said.
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