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Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd. Group company Hubei Toyoda Gosei Zheng Ao Rubber and Plastic Sealing Technology Co., Ltd. (TG Zheng Ao) held an opening ceremony on July 13 to celebrate its move to new and larger plant.

– Members of the Global Platform for Sustainable Natural Rubber (GPSNR), who represent 55% of the rubber value chain, convened their annual General Assembly, where they defined and charted out a path for a concept they call shared responsibility. This concept acknowledges the lack of equity in the natural rubber supply chain and charts out a mechanism where the costs and benefits of the platform’s sustainability initiatives will be equitably distributed across all actors within the supply chain.

Birch Chemicals has opened its first international arm – which includes a new base in India, designed to service the Asian market. The recent launch of Birch Chemicals India is a typically bold move for the Lincolnshire-based chemical products specialist, and it includes a facility in Maharashtra (a state in the western peninsular region and the second-most populous in India).

The International Elastomer Conference is the one place, one time a year, where you find the best of our industry all under one roof. It is an event where connections are made, knowledge is shared, new products, new technology and new ideas are introduced, business is conducted, developed and gained, fun is had, encouragement and empowerment happen, and the future is embraced.

Researchers led by Hongyang Liu of the Chinese Academy of Sciences Institute of Metal Research, has developed a method of ethylbenzene dehydrogenation under oxygen-free conditions with fully exposed platinum (Pt) cluster catalysts that result in the positive traits of high activity, selectivity and stability, as well as lower energy and financial costs. The results will be published July 10 in Nano Research.

Continental acquires family-owned belting manufacturer WCCO Belting headquartered in Wahpeton, North Dakota, USA. With this acquisition, the technology company complements its conveyor belting customer portfolio and strengthens its Conveying Solutions business in the agricultural industry. Additionally, equipment manufacturers, distributors, dealers, and farmers will benefit from a combined product and service portfolio generating a full multi-tier offering that will enable better support and service. “This strategic acquisition is a threefold perfect fit: portfolio, sales market and people. Moreover, we continue our transformation towards a holistic solutions provider in one of the growing industries, namely the off-highway industry”, says Philip Nelles, member of Continental’s Executive Board and head of the ContiTech Group Sector. Both parties have agreed not to disclose the terms of the transaction.

Continental will expand its hydraulics business in North America. A new, state-of-the-art hydraulic hose production facility will be built in San Luis Potosi, Mexico, to increase and complement manufacturing capabilities in the region and beyond. The planned investment is worth more than $40 million. The new facility will provide additional wire braid and wire spiral capacity to support growing needs across North America.

WACKER opened a new production site for silicones in Panagarh, India. The plant, which is situated 160 km northwest of Kolkata, will manufacture silicone rubber and ready-to-use silicone compounds for electromobility, medical technology and electrical transmission & distribution. A subsequent expansion stage is planned in the medium term for the production of silicone fluids and silicone emulsions. The site is part of WACKER’s new growth strategy, which the Group presented to investors and analysts at the end of March while at the same time announcing substantial investment in its chemical divisions. In order to serve the increasing demand for silicones in India and to consolidate its position as a leading silicone producer, the company will invest a mid-double-digit million euro amount in Panagarh in the next few years. The first expansion phase will create around 100 new jobs at the site.

idgestone Americas (Bridgestone) celebrated the grand opening of its new Advanced Tire Production Center (ATPC) in Akron, Ohio. Home to 60 expert tire builders and manufacturing professionals, the ATPC will manufacture all Firestone Firehawk race tires for the NTT INDYCAR® SERIES.