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The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd., announced that on December 1 it signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with PT Kirana Megatara Tbk, a major natural rubber supplier in Indonesia, to cooperate in efforts to provide economic support for Indonesian natural rubber farmers and to improve traceability to ensure transparency and soundness of the natural rubber supply chain. The MOU with Kirana Megatara is the latest concrete action taken under Yokohama Rubber’s “Procurement Policy for Sustainable Natural Rubber.” In conjunction with the signing of the MOU, the two companies held a seminar event targeted at improving the quality and productivity of natural rubber in Indonesia. The event, attended by about 50 small-scale farmers affiliated with Kirana Megatara and local government officials, featured a tapping contest and a quiz on agricultural technology. The farmers attending the event received a complementary supply of fertilizer and natural rubber coagulants.

Apollo Tyres inaugurated an Advanced Tyre Testing facility, which is housed at its Global R&D Centre, Asia in Chennai, India. The new facility will help improve upon the efficiency and effectiveness of product development cycle for passenger vehicle and two-wheeler tyres, including the ones for electric vehicles.

Ed has worked for over three decades in the zinc oxide industry, putting the customer’s requirements and expectations at the forefront of his and the company’s priorities. More than this, Ed has been a considerate leader and advocate of the team’s successes. He is both an internal and external booster of the Zochem brand, and the benefits to our world of zinc oxide itself. Among Ed’s accomplishments has been the creation of a strong national distribution network, a world-class sales team, a strong international and domestic customer base, and a responsive customer service team.

The European Union reached a preliminary deal with EU governments on a new law on deforestation-free products that will make it obligatory for companies to verify and issue a so-called “due diligence” statement that goods placed on the EU market have not led to deforestation and forest degradation anywhere in the world after 31 December 2020. According to the agreed text, while no country or commodity as such will be banned, companies will not be allowed to sell their products in the EU without this type of statement. As requested by MEPs, companies will also have to verify compliance with relevant legislation of the country of production including on human rights and that the rights of concerned indigenous people have been respected.

Bridgestone Corporation (Bridgestone) announced that it has commenced a Proof of Concept (PoC) for using soft-robot hands to automatically perform piece-picking, the process of picking and transporting individual items, at logistics sites. Looking ahead, the company will seek to achieve small-scale commercialization of soft-robotics business through co-creation with various partners during the next Mid Term Business Plan (2024-2026).

November 29, 2022 marked the beginning of a new era for KraussMaffei: As planned, on this day the Group took delivery of the keys to its new plant and corporate headquarters in Parsdorf from the project developer VGP. Not only does this mark the start of one of the largest relocation projects in the greater Munich area since the airport was moved from Riem to Erding in 1992, but the commissioning is above all the final and decisive building block in the modernization of the almost 185-year-old traditional group. Since 2018, the company has invested a three-digit million euro sum in four new sites in Germany and China.

Book your early bird pass for 8th World Elastomer Summit taking place on 1st & 2nd March 2023 in Lyon, France to hear from Teknor Apek & Asahi Kasei during session six titled: “Innovations in Thermoplastic Elastomer (TPE) Formulations and Applications”.

GRI announces that it has acquired Klumpenaar Industriebanden BV in the Netherlands. Founded in 2010, Klumpenaar Industriebanden BV has been actively engaged in the Material Handling tire aftermarket service and distribution business. The company has grown its business rapidly since inception and built a sound reputation for outstanding customer service.

LanzaTech NZ, Inc. and Sumitomo Riko Company Limited, announced they have entered into a joint-development agreement to reuse rubber, resin and urethane waste for the production of a key chemical intermediate, isoprene.

Taking forward its commitment to Sustainability, Apollo Tyres has partnered with Tyromer Inc, a leader in non-chemical devulcanisation of end-of-life tyres. Tyromer Inc, through their Indian associate, Tyromer India LLP, is committed to supplying recycled rubber material, produced using its environmentally sustainable processes, to Apollo Tyres.