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Bringing in over five years of marketing experience, primarily in the HVAC manufacturing industry, Anette Sklarz Justice will lead the Marketing and Communication Unit at the BKT subsidiary in Ohio, U.S., to further extend the company’s presence in the tire market. She will focus on the brand’s growth strategy and develop communications plans tailored to the U.S. market. Not only does this new appointment strengthen the leadership of BKT USA, but the company also intends to establish a strong and recognizable presence of the BKT brand, by leveraging a strategic approach that aims to improve both brand visibility and overall communication, as well as broadening its target audience to reach customers and industry players through quality content and initiatives.

In a significant move, the Supervisory Board of Continental has approved the planned spin-off of its Automotive division. The board is recommending that the 2025 Annual Shareholders’ Meeting also endorse this step. Upon approval, the new independent company will have cash funds of €1.5 billion and a revolving credit facility of €2.5 billion to strengthen its operating business.

Rubber Division, ACS annually honors the best of the best with the most prestigious awards in our industry – the Science & Technology Awards. Nominate someone who deserves to be recognized

Akron, OH – The National Science Foundation (NSF) has awarded the University of Akron a grant of $660,421 to fund

ENGEL is strengthening its market presence in the Americas with the grand opening of a new production facility in Querétaro, Mexico. This strategic step marks a substantial expansion of ENGEL’s regional manufacturing capabilities, aimed at providing faster delivery times and increased availability of injection molding machines for customers across the Americas.

After a few tough years, the commercial truck industry, including the tire segment, rebounded in 2024, according to Dan Funkhouser, Yokohama Tire vice president of commercial tire sales. However, with proposed tariffs and other uncertainties, 2025 could be a rollercoaster ride. In this Q&A, Funkhouser explains why and what to expect in the coming months.

Mihai Dumitru has been Managing Director of Arburg Romania since January 2025. The 43-year-old sales expert aspires to take the subsidiary founded in Bucharest last spring to the next level in his large country. He has a team of ten experienced employees at his side. As an up-and-coming market in Europe, Romania offers considerable potential for Arburg.

The global rubber industry is navigating a complex landscape in 2025, marked by a persistent shortfall in production and rising demand. For the fifth consecutive year, natural rubber production is expected to fall short of consumption, with output projected to increase marginally by 0.3% to 14.9 million metric tons, while demand is anticipated to grow by 1.8% to 15.6 million metric tons. This imbalance is driven by several factors, including stagnant output in major producing countries and a shift towards more profitable crops.

The Rubber Division, ACS would like to recognize their Science & Technology Award Sponsors. The Science & Technology Awards are the most prestigious in the industry and are made possible through the support of some amazing companies. The Division sends them a big THANK YOU and encourages you to learn about them

Continental has been awarded “Tire Manufacturer of the Year” at this year’s Tire Technology International Awards for Innovation and Excellence. The premium tire manufacturer received a further honor for its tire plant in Lousado, Portugal, which can produce tires CO2-neutrally since last year. This makes Continental the only tire manufacturer to win two of the prestigious awards, outperforming the competition as “Tire Manufacturer of the Year” as well as in the category “Environmental Achievement of the Year – Manufacturing.” The awards were bestowed as part of the Tire Technology Expo on March 4 at the exhibition center in Hanover. They are regarded as some of the top honors in the industry.