The Rubber Division ACS announces the following Learning Opportunities for May.
Register is now open for all upcoming trainings. Members receive $100 off of each course and free registration for all webinars.
Read MoreWilmington, DE – DuPont announced the 50th anniversary of Kalrez® perfluoroelastomer parts. Since the launch of the iconic brand, Kalrez®
Read MoreJoin the Rubber Division for a WOMEN OF OUR INDUSTRY: WORD Conversation on June 25, 12 p.m. – 1 p.m. ET with featured guest Gail Reader. This WORD Conversation begins with open networking for approximately 10 minutes followed by a conversation between our featured guest, Gail Reader, Founder & Director at Rubber Heart, and Melanie Avdeyev, Conference Director with Rubber Division, ACS. This event will be held via Zoom and registration is free.
Read MoreContinental has extended its project to enhance sustainability in smallholder natural rubber cultivation with the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH by three years. Since 2018, around 5,000 local smallholders in West Kalimantan, Borneo, Indonesia, have already been trained to cultivate high-quality natural rubber in line with clearly defined sustainability criteria. By 2027, a further 1,000 smallholders are to be involved in the project, which is co-funded by Continental and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). The gains are threefold: the smallholders’ income has increased by an average of 27 percent since the start of the project; together with GIZ, Continental is building valuable capacity to improve sustainability in the cultivation of natural rubber by smallholders and to use responsibly sourced natural rubber in products; and precious forests and peatlands are preserved in the project region in Indonesia.
Read MoreThe Mitchell Group announced the opening of a new manufacturing facility for its Sta-Kleen Silicone line in Niles, Illinois.
The new facility is near an electric power plant, and the facility’s primary energy source is the plant’s non-polluting steam. The facility recaptures and transforms the steam to power the entire manufacturing process, from inspection to packaging and shipping.
Read MoreIn response to the Section 232 and Reciprocal Tariffs, Sumitomo Rubber North America will increase prices on select products by up to 25% on Passenger & Light Truck, and up to 10% on Commercial Truck and Motorcycle products in the US and Canada. The price changes will take effect May 1st, 2025, pending further U.S. Government announcements.
Read MoreIn the rapidly growing electric vehicle market, improved battery performance with shorter charging times, maximum temperature resistance and a longer battery life are key factors for success. To meet these demands, OEMs in Europe and the United States need materials that also comply with stricter national and international environmental standards. One high-performance material for such applications comes from the elastomer material group. Freudenberg Sealing Technologies has successfully developed a material that outperforms thermoplastics in the event of thermal runaway and takes battery applications in e-mobility to an entirely new level.
Read MoreThe recent wave of tariffs imposed by the Trump administration is set to significantly impact the rubber and tire industry in the United States. Analysts predict that tire prices will rise substantially due to these tariffs, which target key exporting countries such as Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, and South Korea.
A record 63.4% of tires sold in the U.S. last year were imported. With tariffs ranging from 26% to 46% on tires from these countries, consumers can expect higher prices at the checkout. JPMorgan analysts have warned that the full effect of these price increases may not be felt immediately, as companies stocked up on tires before the tariffs were announced
Read MoreMitsubishi Chemical Corporation has decided to expand its production capacity for flame-retardant compounds based on polyolefins and thermoplastic elastomers, used for cable sheathing and other purposes, at Mitsubishi Chemical Performance Polymers (China) Co., Ltd. and MCPP France SAS.
This decision is driven by the significant increase in demand for flame-retardant compounds as cable sheathing materials across a wide range of industries, including mobility, telecommunications, construction, and gas.
Read MoreIn a significant move, Continental AG has announced that its ContiTech group sector will become an independent entity. This decision marks a pivotal step in Continental’s strategic realignment, aimed at creating three strong, independent companies focused on their respective industries.
ContiTech will operate independently as a material solutions specialist with a strong industrial focus. The exact form of the transaction and the timetable for independence will be determined in the next phase. Continental AG will shift its focus to becoming a global leader in the tire industry. This follows the planned spin-off of its Automotive group sector and the sale of the Original Equipment Solutions (OESL) business area.
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