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Akron, OH – April is packed with learning opportunities across rubber science, processing and industry compliance. Whether you want to

Yokohama Tire announced that it will permanently close its manufacturing plant in Salem, VA effective March 18, 2026. Previously, the company announced a reduction in output for March and notified employees that production could cease in July. After negotiations with the United Steel, Paper and Forestry, Rubber, Manufacturing, Energy, Allied Industrial and Service Workers International Union and its Local Union No. 1023 (USW), the two sides have agreed to expedite the closure of the facility.

Rubber Division, ACS is encouraging students interested in chemistry, polymers, elastomers and rubber technology to become student members to support their education and help prepare for careers in the industry.

ARLANXEO announced that its Therban® (HNBR) and Buna® (BR) manufacturing units at the Orange, Texas site have successfully achieved ISCC PLUS certification. This certification enables the site to manufacture and supply products under the ARLANXEO Eco label. The ARLANXEO Eco Line comprises the company’s portfolio of ISCC PLUS-certified sustainable elastomers based on the mass balance approach.

Covestro and the Fraunhofer Institute for Environmental, Safety and Energy Technology UMSICHT have launched a joint research project aimed at improving chemical recycling of plastic waste through advanced pyrolysis technology.

The project, called “Smart Pyrolysis,” seeks to develop a digitalized process that can more precisely control the thermal decomposition of mixed plastic waste. Researchers aim to improve the quality and yield of pyrolysis oil, which can be used as a raw material in chemical production.

The Rubber Division, ACS, Spring Technical Meeting features two days of presentations focused on emerging strategies to improve the sustainability and supply security of rubber materials. They integrate advances in devulcanization, alternative natural rubber crops, CO₂-derived and bio-based components, and sustainable fillers with insights into structure–property relationships, crystallization behavior and tire wear emissions.

Walker Rubber Limited has acquired specialist rubber molding company Clingbrook Limited, based in Braintree. The merger secures the future of the long-established family-run business as its current owners retire, with an overall investment approaching seven figures over the next five years.

The strategic acquisition, led by Ivan Browne, Owner and Director of Walker Rubber, will see Clingbrook merge under the Walker Rubber brand, combining more than 125 years of manufacturing expertise and reinforcing the region’s position as a hub for specialist rubber engineering.