rss4

With the new UltraContact, a summer tire for fleets and end customers, Continental is taking to the trends of the changing mobile society. What they have in common is the call for more sustainability, including in tires. Younger drivers, just like older drivers, want personal mobility. But now they’re concerned more with mobility than actually owning their cars. This means that car sharing and rental cars are in greater demand. Electric vehicles will also increase significantly in fleets and end users. In fleets the vehicles will be on the move much more than in individual use. Tires that meet these trends must have a long service life and be robust – and meet the demand for the greatest possible safety.

Evonik will begin building the world’s first industrial-scale facility for manufacturing sustainable rhamnolipid biosurfactants at its site in Slovakia. The triple-digit million-euro investment will establish Evonik as a pioneer of high-quality, sustainable biosurfactants on a commercial scale. Construction at the Evonik site in Slovenská Ľupča is scheduled for completion by end of 2023

The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd., announced that, together with Rubber Authority of Thailand (RAOT) Surat Thani, a state enterprise under the jurisdiction of Thailand’s Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives (MOAC), it recently held a seminar event to help Thai natural rubber farmers improve the quality and productivity of their natural rubber. Fifty farmers from the Surat Thani area participated in the event, which was conducted with appropriate measures to prevent COVID-19 infections. All participants received a complimentary 250kg of fertilizer developed using RAOT’s specialist knowledge.

– Clariant announced that its StyroMax UL3 catalyst is demonstrating successful results at Risun’s new styrene monomer plant located in Tangshan, China. After a smooth and stable catalyst start-up in October 2020, the plant is reporting very profitable operation with excellent production output. The project is a cooperation between Clariant Catalysts and engineering company Changzhou Ruihua Chemical Engineering Technology Co. Ltd (Ruihua Technology). Through Ruihua’s technology and Clariant’s catalyst, the Risun plant has been able to achieve productivity rates exceeding 120% of the new plant’s nominal design capacity — which is also the highest among all Ruihua process plants in China

The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company announced the Cooper Tire Discoverer Rugged Trek all-terrain tire earned a 2021 GOOD DESIGN award from the Chicago Athenaeum Museum of Architecture and Design. Founded in 1950, GOOD DESIGN is the oldest and most recognized program for design excellence worldwide. The tire is being honored for its design excellence and was selected from more than 1,100 entries spanning over 50 countries.

AGC Chemicals Americas Inc. (AGCCA) announces an expansion at its Thorndale, Pennsylvania, production facility that will add up to fifty percent more manufacturing, quality control lab and office space. The multiuse facility will be configured to meet the growing needs of current business and accommodate future production increases and new capabilities

The Rubber Division, ACS offers a Rubber Technology Training Award for an individual already in the rubber industry seeking additional education and opportunities for advancement. Our organization also has three $5,000 undergraduate scholarships available for students who wish to pursue a degree in rubber technology, polymer science or the chemical profession. In addition, local Rubber Groups and industry companies recognize and support the need for financial assistance in obtaining a college degree

The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company announced the release of a demonstration tire with 70% sustainable-material content, including industry-leading innovations

In light of COVID-19 (coronavirus) and ongoing safety concerns for members and staff, ASTM International announced that the January in-person standards development meetings in Houston, Texas, USA, are now transitioning to all virtual.