Today's News

Polyurethane with shape memory: From foil to foam

Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Polymer Research IAP have developed a foil that changes into polyurethane foam (PU foam) when heated – entirely without health risks. The foil allows for isocyanate-free foaming, thus improving workplace safety. Additionally, it offers logistics advantages for storage and transportation. The material can be customized for various applications ranging from the automotive and construction industries to packaging.

Engel and Cannon announce partnership for the advancement of PUR flooding

ENGEL and CANNON, a world leader in the mixing and metering technology for reactive processes such as polyurethane or RTM, have entered a strategic partnership. The aim of this cooperation between two strong partners is to further develop innovative technologies for PUR flooding and enable industrial applications with even higher quality and efficiency.

Goodyear announces Cooper Work Series regional haul all-position tire

The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company announced the new Cooper® WORK Series™ Regional Haul All-position (RHA) 2 tire for super-regional and regional all-position commercial vehicle applications. The new Cooper WORK Series RHA 2 is SmartWay* verified and offers long miles to removal and even-wear for the growing super-regional commercial vehicle category.

GRI announces the appointment of Dr. Tharindu Atapattu as chief executive officer

GRI announced the appointment of Dr. Tharindu Atapattu as the next Chief Executive Officer, ushering in a dynamic new chapter for the company. With an career spanning over 20 years of exceptional leadership experience, he has demonstrated expertise in financial strategy, business turnarounds, and value-driven growth across multinational corporations, Fortune 500 brands, and leading local enterprises.

L.S. Starrett Co. has appointed four new executives to its global organization

The L.S. Starrett Co. has appointed four new executives to its global organization, further strengthening its corporate management at the highest levels. Starrett welcomes Mr. Roger N. Amrol, Jr. as President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mr. Barry D. Laughlin as Chief Operating Officer (COO), Mr. Allen E. Look as Global Chief Information Officer (CIO), and Mr. Jon-Michael Raymond as Chief Revenue Officer (CRO). The new executives will be based out of Starrett corporate headquarters in Athol, MA, bringing a wealth of manufacturing industry experience, leadership and skills to Starrett as the company focuses on continuous improvement, growth and innovation.

Zeon and Yokohama Rubber installing bench facility for production of butadiene from ethanol derived from plants

Zeon Corporation and The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd. announced that they have agreed to establish a bench facility to demonstrate technology for producing butadiene from ethanol derived from plant-based and other sustainable materials with high efficiency. The facility will be installed at Zeon’s Tokuyama Plant (Shunan City, Yamaguchi Prefecture) and is scheduled to begin operating in 2026. It will enable the production of a certain amount of butadiene and facilitate the collection of various data that will be used to establish mass production.

Mixing

Utilization of AI driven solutions for rubber compound formulation: A practical approach

The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into various industrial sectors has spurred remarkable progress in the field of manufacturing process development. This concept has been extended to polymer compound formulations, where AI techniques have been used to optimize rubber formulations as well. Furthermore, it is conceivable that mixtures of other polymers, such as TPEs, thermoplastic materials or polyurethane compounds, could be similarly treated. Advantages of employing AI driven tools include reduced development time, enhanced efficiency and increased accuracy.

Thermoplastic Elastomers & Urethanes

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