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Wacker Chemie AG ended 2022 with new all-time highs for sales and earnings. Presenting its annual report, the Munich-based chemical company confirmed Group sales of €8.21 billion in 2022 (2021: €6.21 billion), up 32 percent year over year. Substantially higher selling prices were the main growth driver. Sales also benefited from positive exchange-rate effects due to the stronger US dollar. On the other hand, overall volumes were down somewhat versus the previous year, dampening sales.

Continental and SMX (Security Matters) Public Limited Company have succeeded for the first time in verifying a marker substance for natural rubber in a tire and so throughout the entire production process. The dedicated marker technology, which both companies optimized for use in natural rubber, is designed to create greater transparency along the entire value chain of tires and technical rubber products from Continental. Provided with special security features, the use of the marker substances enables the invisible marking of natural rubber with information on its geographical origin.

Bharat Rubber Works (BRW) has recently received the European Union Medical Device Regulation (EU MDR CE) certification in compliance with the latest international regulations. The CE mark also provides the benefit of free movement of a product throughout the 30 member countries in the European Free Trade Area (EFTA) along with the assurance of high-quality products

On March 28th, Arkema is hosting on its own booth a leadership panel entitled “Sustainability and Market Transformation” where they will be joined by industry leaders Perstorp, PPG, the European Association of Chemical Distributors and OMYA, with their most talented experts in the field of sustainability.

Clariant announced its fourth quarter and full year 2022 results. In the fourth quarter of 2022, continuing operations sales were CHF 1.323 billion, compared to CHF 1.242 billion in the fourth quarter of 2021. This corresponds to an increase of 12 % in local currency and 7 % in Swiss francs. Pricing positively impacted the Group sales result by 13 % while volumes declined by 1 %, with a currency impact of – 5 %. The strong sales growth in Catalysis and Natural Resources outpaced the anticipated muted development in Care Chemicals.

Firestone Agriculture, a business of Bridgestone Americas (Bridgestone), announced an official distribution agreement with Shark Wheel, a manufacturer of non-pneumatic (or air-free) tire technology. The agreement allows Firestone Ag to sell Shark Wheel’s non-pneumatic irrigation tire, known as SWIFT, through Firestone Ag’s nationwide certified dealer network.

The Munich-based mechanical engineering group KraussMaffei responds to an increasingly challenging market environment with a worldwide adjustment and efficiency program, also including the reduction of several hundred positions in the non-production areas. There are currently no plans to cut jobs in manufacturing and assembly.

Check out these upcoming training opportunities. Webinars are free for Rubber Division, ACS Members

The new Smart #1 will come factory fitted with EcoContact 6 Q premium tires from Continental. The tire manufacturer has received worldwide original equipment approval for the Smart #1 in tire sizes 18 and 19 inches. The full-electric city SUV is the first Smart model developed by the joint venture between Mercedes-Benz and Chinese carmaker Geely.