News and week in review on rubberworld.com

3/5/2021 - Maple Grove, MN - The Twin Cities Rubber Group will offer a free virtual technical meeting on “New methods in Zetpol HNBR curing: Peroxide blends for low-temperature cure and non-nitrosamine sulfur curatives” will be held March 18 at 4 p.m. This discussion will be led by Dana Stripe, scientist, applications development, Zeon Chemicals L.P. Registration is available at https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/719839680468401424. For more information, visit https://twincitiesrubbergroup.org/events/.

3/5/2021 - Gardena, CA – – Milestar announces the all-new Weatherguard AS710 Sport all-season tire for coupes, sedans and CUVs. This new addition to the Weatherguard family of passenger and CUV products delivers consistent performance for the life of the tire, providing a quiet and comfortable ride, while its surefooted, long-lasting performance is expected to redefine the sport touring category, according to the company. The Weatherguard AS710 is also the first Milestar tire to offer a mileage warranty up to 80,000 miles. The Weatherguard AS710 Sport features a Miletech advanced silica-enriched compound, delivering improved handling and enhanced durability in both wet and dry conditions. Optimized tread blocks, variable depth siping and lateral grooves all allow this tire to perform season after season, with enhanced braking and handling in inclement weather. An optimal profile and construction combined with wide circumferential ribs also improves stability, handling and grip, while groove serrations aid in reducing road noise and cooler operating temperatures. Additionally, the Weatherguard AS710 Sport tread design and compound combination delivers lower rolling resistance, to help enhance fuel economy and tread life. The AS710 Sport is M+S rated, and comes in 59 sizes ranging from 15 to 20 inch wheel diameter, including popular, low-profile performance and original equipment sizes with T, H and V speed ratings accompanied by 60 k and 80 k mile limited warranty. As with many Milestar tires, the AS710 comes with a 30 day ride guarantee and road hazard protection for the ultimate in consumer peace of mind. The Weatherguard AS710 Sport is a great all-around performer that will provide year long dry and wet performance at an exceptional value. “The Weatherguard AS710 Sport is a great addition to our passenger and CUV tire lineup,” stated Andrew Hoit, Tireco’s vice president of sales and marketing. “It truly embodies the characteristics we look for in an all-season tire: great tread pattern, advanced compound, diverse size range and made in the United States. Moreover, our expanded lineup of passenger car tires will provide our dealers more choices to fulfill their customer’s needs.”

3/5/2021 - Richburg, SC – The United Steelworkers (USW) denounced Giti Tire after a report from a watchdog group revealed that Giti, part of a global tire conglomerate, took nearly $10 million from a federal program intended to help small, independent businesses keep workers employed during the pandemic. After accepting the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) funds, Giti still dismissed an estimated 100 workers from their jobs. “Giti’s abuse of pandemic aid is appalling, though not surprising,” said USW District 9 Director Daniel Flippo, who represents steelworkers in South Carolina, six other southern states and the U.S. Virgin Islands. “This company betrayed the public trust long before COVID-19,” he explained. “Giti accepted $60 million in tax breaks to build a plant and then broke its promise to create 1,700 jobs for the community. Giti never came close to that number, and when the pandemic hit, Giti permanently laid off many of the workers it did have, despite taking the PPP funds.” “It’s time for Giti to begin acting responsibly,” Flippo said. “That means not only creating the jobs it promised, but paying family-sustaining wages and giving back to the community.”

3/5/2021 - Akron, OH - The Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, EASE Logistics and the City of Dublin, OH, announced a pilot as part of the Smart Columbus initiative to advance connected mobility. For the pilot, the three participants will experiment in the areas of tire intelligence and cloud-based logistics among others within an innovation region located in and around Columbus, OH, known as the Beta District. With the potential to share and enhance data on connected mobility, these experiments could lead to new products and solutions that will benefit trucking fleets, consumers and cities in the future. Initial tests will include the installation of Goodyear TPMS Plus systems on eight EASE Logistics vehicles traveling throughout the Beta District of the 33 Smart Mobility Corridor outside of Columbus, a leading location for testing connected vehicle technology in the midwest. Once installed, Goodyear TPMS Plus will monitor tire conditions like pressure and temperature in real time, which can help prevent roadside breakdowns and improve vehicle safety and handling. EASE Logistics can leverage this data to initiate proactive maintenance and make routing decisions that improve traffic flow in the area. "Goodyear has a longstanding reputation for innovation and plays a leading role in global initiatives to advance mobility," said Johnny McIntosh, director of Integrated Solutions and Tire Management at Goodyear. "We continuously look for opportunities to collaborate with like-minded groups, such as EASE Logistics and the City of Dublin to test and learn with the ultimate goal of discovering new mobility solutions." "EASE and Goodyear share a common set of values regarding safety, sustainability and service, and understand that innovation plays a key role in achieving these. As such, we are committed to innovating in the area of Connected and Automated Vehicle (CAV) technology to keep vehicles connected and drivers safe throughout the transportation process," said Peter Coratola Jr., president of EASE Logistics. "EASE recognizes this collaboration as a stepping stone toward more advanced technologies like autonomous trucks that may one day reduce delays and commute times, prevent crashes and cut emissions by maintaining consistent speeds." As part of the Beta District, the City of Dublin was chosen for this pilot as it aspires to be the most connected community in the United States and is located in the same state where Goodyear and EASE Logistics are headquartered. “The Beta District is where companies work collaboratively with non-profits, academia, and government entities in an open playground to safely launch, test and evolve new technology in real-world settings," said Doug McCollough, chief information officer for the City of Dublin. “Leveraging expertise in distribution and logistics through EASE Logistics, with the global research and development capabilities of Goodyear, the City of Dublin offers the truly unique public perspective of local government dedicated to fostering innovation in the smart mobility space.”

3/5/2021 - Akron, OH - Smithers announces that it moved its tire, wheel and product testing operation in Suzhou, China, into a new 7,200 square meter building in the Xiangcheng district. The new space supports the company’s continuous growth plans and ongoing commitment to high-level services for its global clients. Moving to the new building has allowed for significant expansion of each testing group’s laboratory footprint. The size of the product testing laboratory has increased by 90 percent, with plans to invest in more testing equipment to further expand testing capabilities. In addition to laboratory space, the new building includes state-of-the-art classrooms and conference rooms for on-site training and industry meetings. As part of this expansion, Smithers also added a new slip angle and camber angle tire durability machine to its Suzhou-based tire and wheel testing laboratory. This new tire durability testing machine is able to provide dynamic camber angle and dynamic slip angle control from -5 degrees to 5 degrees, expanding the lab’s test capabilities to meet the requirements of OEMs. The new equipment has a maximum speed of 350 kilometers or 217 miles per hour, and a maximum testing load of 3,000 kilograms or 6,614 pounds. The tire and wheel lab also expanded its IPLR chamber to accommodate truck and bus tires in addition to passenger and light truck tires. “This new space offers a significant opportunity for us to increase our service portfolio in support of our clients in Asia. We are already working to determine the next steps of our plan to invest in additional testing capabilities,” said Derek Read, vice president of Asia Operations, Materials Science and Engineering, Smithers. “Additionally, we look forward to hosting our industry partners and peers in our new onsite training and gathering annex in the future.” Both the product testing laboratory and the tire and wheel testing laboratory are fully operational in the new space and are already conducting testing work for clients. Smithers established tire and wheel testing operations in Suzhou in 2011 to serve its existing global clients and a growing market in Asia. Tire testing capabilities include endurance and high-speed tire testing, plunger/bead un-seat, measurement oven aged durability testing, rolling resistance testing, air permeation testing, government compliance, burst testing, footprint and competitive benchmarking. Wheel testing capabilities include radial, rotary, impact and corrosion. The product testing laboratory in Suzhou was first opened in early 2019. Product testing capabilities include pressure, vibration, temperature, impulse, burst, leak, vacuum, fluid compatibility, fatigue, corrosion and cleanliness. Both laboratories are ISO 17025 accredited.

3/5/2021 - Akron, OH - Following the company’s recent announcement of its plans to acquire Cooper Tire, The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company announced that Ryan Patterson, currently president of its Asia Pacific business unit, will lead the integration effort as senior vice president, Business Integration. Nathaniel Madarang, currently managing director of Goodyear China, will succeed Patterson as president of Goodyear Asia Pacific. “As one of Goodyear’s most senior leaders, Ryan Patterson has the depth and experience to lead the integration of our acquisition of Cooper Tire to maximize benefits for our shareholders, customers, consumers and associates,” said Richard J. Kramer, chairman, CEO and president. “Ryan is a market-back leader with broad, global perspective. From his leadership roles in Asia, North America and Latin America, he understands all aspects of our business end-to-end, including manufacturing, is deeply familiar with our customers and has served as the lead architect for some of Goodyear’s core go-to-market strategies.” “It is also a testament to Ryan’s leadership in the Asia Pacific region that we have a strong successor for his current role in Nat Madarang. Nat is a customer-focused leader with deep knowledge of the Asia Pacific region and the tire industry. As the senior leader of our business in China, Nat has been instrumental in reshaping our distribution in this important market and in designing and launching Goodyear’s direct-to-retail business model. The China market remains a high priority for Goodyear, and Nat is extremely well-positioned to drive growth there and throughout the region,” said Kramer. Prior to his role in Asia Pacific, Patterson was president of Goodyear’s North America Consumer business, where he developed the company’s consumer strategy and its focus on high-value segments. He led the creation and implementation of the company’s aligned distribution model in North America, and launched goodyear.com, driving e-commerce sales for distributors and dealers. Prior to his work in North America, Patterson worked in several roles of increasing responsibility in Latin America since joining the company in 2002. He is a graduate of Brigham Young University, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in Accounting, and Harvard Business School, where he earned his MBA. Madarang has been with Goodyear since 2008. Prior to his role as managing director of Goodyear China, he was vice president of Finance for Goodyear’s Asia Pacific business, and prior to that, vice president of Goodyear’s China Consumer business and finance director for Goodyear China. Prior to joining Goodyear, he served in several leadership roles for Procter & Gamble in China and ASEAN. Both appointments are effective immediately.

3/4/2021 - Pune, India - The global adhesive and sealants market size is expected to reach $83 billion by 2026, growing at a CAGR of 5 percent over the forecast period 2018 to 2026, according to Acumen Research and Consulting. With the rising construction and reconstruction activities across the globe and flourishing automotive sector, there is a constant increase in demand for high quality bonding material that is able to withstand high temperature and harsh environmental condition, a factor providing a growth prospective to the adhesives and sealants market. In addition, high demand for bonding material from the furniture and footwear industries is expected to support the market growth. Moreover, availability of various alternatives is expected to hinder the market growth. Increasing investment by major players for technological advancements and research and development activities is expected to create new revenue opportunities for players operating in the target market over the forecast period. In addition, a rising eco-friendly approach, use of water-based adhesives, and introduction of innovative products are among other factors expected to further support the revenue growth of the market. Some of the major players operating in the global market include BASF SE, 3M Company, The Dow Chemical Company, Ashland Inc., Avery Denison Corporation, Arkema, Beardow & Adams Limited, Eastman Chemical Company, Ellsworth Adhesives, H.B Fuller Company, Henkel AG & Co., Momentive Specialty Chemical Industries, N.D. Industries Inc., Sika AG, Uniseal, Inc.

3/4/2021 - Bangkok, Thailand - KnowHow Webinars announces spring webinars for the rubber and tire industry, hosted by Dr. Dario Nichetti. Rubber Calendering Technology: Theoretical to Best Practice will be held March 17 at 3 p.m. (Germany). The calendering process is commonly used for shaping high viscosity sheets and is particularly suitable for rubber compounds. Lubrication approximation will be used to determine the fundamental equations governing the process. Specific attention is also addressed to the calender configuration and compensations for deflection of calender rolls. An example of numerical simulations and polymer flow in the calendering process is also presented. Rubber Textile Coating Technology: An Industrial Overview will be held April 7 at 3 p.m. (Germany); Coating covers a range of techniques that offer one of the most important means of confering additional and novel properties to technical textiles. It is important to realize that the various chemicals and formulations used in the industry are very varied and change rapidly over time, and the applicability to the requirements of the end products should be researched thoroughly. Theoretical analysis of lubrication is used to deal with the hydrodynamic behavior of thin films, showing the relationship between viscoelasticy and process parameters. Blade coating techniques are the most used to apply a rubber solution either onto or into the structure of a textile, and are going to be explained in detail. Rubber Viscosity: Mooney Test and Capillary Rheometry will be held April 20 at 3 p.m. (Germany). The Mooney test is based on a steady-state rotating rotor embedded in a rubber specimen, contained within a sealed in pressurized cavity. The flow field has been studied by using the flow tracking technique and by numerical simulation. Particular attention is dedicated to determine the shear rate in a Mooney viscometer, showing a non-linear regime from zero up to 2.5 s-1 at the border. The results clearly show that the Mooney viscometer with a flat rotor is not adequate to measure the shear viscosity because it does not guarantee a unique shear rate in the chamber. Capillary rubber rheometry is a consequent improvement to generate a constant shear rate in order to directly calculate the shear viscosity. For more information, visit www.knowhow-webinars.com.

3/4/2021 - Akron, OH - The Akron Beacon Journal is reporting that Smithers has canceled its plan to move to a new downtown Akron, OH, location. In a statement emailed to the Beacon Journal, a spokesman confirmed those plans will not go forward, at least partially due to the impact of COVID-19. "Despite the best efforts of Smithers, Akron Children’s Hospital, the City of Akron and Summit County, the COVID-19 pandemic made the project untenable when everyone’s focus needed to be on the health and safety of their employees, clients and communities," the company said in a statement. The company said COVID-19 impacted the financial arrangements established as part of the project. Several agencies were putting funding toward the move to keep the company in Akron.

3/4/2021 - Ballston Spa, NY – Specialty Silicone Products is announcing automotive applications for its EMI/RFI silicones in advanced driver-assisted systems (ADAS), wifi hotspot enabled cars, mirror sensors and wireless engine sensors, and gaskets for the fin-like structures used for satellite radio and global positioning systems (GPS). SSP’s electrically-conductive silicones are also recommended for automotive keypad applications such as pushbutton starting, cruise control, radio functions, and with rear steering wheel buttons. Importantly, these shielding elastomers are available with shorter lead times and can support high-volume production methods such as automotive die cutting. “Specialty Silicone Products can help die cutters and other component-level suppliers meet the unique demands of the automotive industry,” said SSP’s business development manager, Dominic Testo. “Our electrically-conductive elastomers provide proven EMI shielding, resist harsh automotive environments and support efficient, cost-effective production across higher volumes of parts. Compared to our many of our competitors, SSP’s products also have shorter lead times.” The increasing amount of electronic content in cars is raising the risk of electromagnetic interference (EMI). Many of SSP’s shielding silicones have been independently tested and meet demanding requirements such as MIL-DTL-8358, a U.S. military standard for elastomeric shielding gaskets. SSP also supplies flame-retardant EMI silicones that conform to UL 94 V0 and represent offsets to discontinued materials from W.L. Gore. SSP-502-40-V0 can be used instead of Gore GS2100, and SSP-502-60-V0 can be used instead of Gore GS5200. Both of these SSP silicones contain nickel-coated graphite particles and have low levels of outgassing, according to ASTM E595, a standard used by NASA. In addition to nickel-graphite elastomers, SSP supplies shielding silicones that contain nickel-aluminum, silver-aluminum, silver-copper, silver-glass and silver-nickel particles. Along with reliable EMI shielding, these silicone elastomers resist the wide range of temperatures and exposure to water and weather associated with automotive environments. For EMI shielding applications that require exceptional environmental resistance, SSP supplies fluorosilicone materials that can resist fuels and solvents. SSP-2551, a nickel-aluminum filled fluorosilicone, has been independently tested at frequencies between 1 and 40 GHz, and provides resistance to galvanic corrosion without silver’s price volatility. Specialty Silicone Products supplies SSP-2551 as fully-cured conductive sheet stock, continuous extrusion profiles, ready-to-mold compound and bonded o-rings. Flame-resistant SSP-502-40-V0 and SSP-502-60-V0 are also available in a variety of form factors, including continuous rolls for high-volume applications such as automotive die cutting. Both of these SSP offsets to GORE EMI materials are available with or without a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) for ease-of-installation. All of SSP’s shielding elastomers are made in the USA according to an ISO 9001:2015 quality management system (QMS).

3/4/2021 - Akron, OH - The Rubber Division extends the deadline for scholarship applications to April 1. The organization 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. Rubber Division, ACS, offers two $5,000 undergraduate scholarships to students entering their junior or senior year for the fall-spring academic year. In addition, the former Connecticut Rubber Group offers a $5,000 Russell Mazzeo Memorial Undergraduate Scholarship. Applicants for these scholarships may have a major area of study in chemistry, physics, chemical or mechanical engineering, polymer science or any other technical discipline relevant to the rubber industry. Each winner receives up to $5,000 to put towards educational expenses. The Rubber Technology Training Award provides a $1,250 stipend to rubber industry employees to allow them to attend the events at a spring or fall Rubber Division, ACS, meeting in the year they are selected. Events include seminars/workshops, technical presentations, banquets, networking opportunities and expositions. A nomination letter from a rubber group is required for this award. Contact Anne-marie Bretzin at amb@rubber.org for more information or with any questions.

3/4/2021 - Munich, Germany – Wacker Polymers will raise prices for dispersions, resins and dispersible polymer powders globally. Effective March 15, prices for its complete product range will be increased by up to ten percent, or as customer contracts allow. This measure has been necessitated by the increase in raw material costs and extreme tightness on various raw materials. The price adjustment enables Wacker Polymers to continue providing customers with a wide range of innovative quality products and comprehensive technical, sales and customer support services. Dispersions and dispersible polymer powders of the Vinnapas brand are applied in a broad variety of industries, ranging from construction, adhesives, caulks, nonwovens, paints and coatings, to paper, carpet and textiles.

3/3/2021 - Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - Cabot Corporation will be investing in new sustainable rubber technology and research and development capabilities at its plant in Port Dickson, Malaysia. The global specialty chemicals and performance materials company plans to increase its staff strength by over 30 percent, and install digital controls and automation systems to further expand manufacturing of its Engineered Elastomer Composites (E2C) solutions which was launched last year. “The company is also signing a long-term extension and expansion of its land lease in Port Dickson,” it said in a joint statement with the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA). Cabot aims to lead and advance rubber technology through specific innovations such as new tools for modeling and optimization of liquid mixing, novel methods for characterizing elastomer composites, as well as automation of continuous rubber processing. MIDA chief executive officer Datuk Azman Mahmud expressed his confidence in Cabot to benet from Malaysia’s solid chemical industry ecosystem, backed by an investor-friendly business environment, policies and availability of skilled workers in the country. “The investment by Cabot is a testament to Malaysia’s resilient business environment and promising returns to investors,” he said. As partners to investors, Azman said MIDA remains committed to driving high-quality and knowledge-driven projects into Malaysia, in line with the national investment agenda for long-term sustainable economic growth. Meanwhile, Cabot Engineered Elastomer Composites vice president and general manager, David Reynolds, said Cabot’s plant in Malaysia has been a key asset for the company to develop and expand the portfolio of elastomer composites solutions. “As such, we are committed to continuing to partner with MIDA to strengthen our investments in Port Dickson and support the growth of this high-performance product line,” he said.

3/3/2021 - Tempe, AZ - Economic activity in the manufacturing sector grew in February, with the overall economy notching a ninth consecutive month of growth, say the nation's supply executives in the latest Manufacturing ISM Report On Business. "The February Manufacturing PMI registered 60.8 percent, an increase of 2.1 percentage points from the January reading of 58.7 percent. This figure indicates expansion in the overall economy for the ninth month in a row after contraction in March, April and May. The New Orders Index registered 64.8 percent, up 3.7 percentage points from the January reading of 61.1 percent. The Production Index registered 63.2 percent, an increase of 2.5 percentage points compared to the January reading of 60.7 percent. The Backlog of Orders Index registered 64 percent, 4.3 percentage points above the January reading of 59.7 percent. The Employment Index registered 54.4 percent, 1.8 percentage points higher from the January reading of 52.6 percent. The Supplier Deliveries Index registered 72 percent, up 3.8 percentage points from the January figure of 68.2 percent. The Inventories Index registered 49.7 percent, 1.1 percentage points lower than the January reading of 50.8 percent. The Prices Index registered 86 percent, up 3.9 percentage points compared to the January reading of 82.1 percent. The New Export Orders Index registered 57.2 percent, an increase of 2.3 percentage points compared to the January reading of 54.9 percent. The Imports Index registered 56.1 percent, a 0.7 percentage point decrease from the January reading of 56.8 percent." The report was issued by Timothy R. Fiore, CPSM, C.P.M., chair of the Institute for Supply Management (ISM) Manufacturing Business Survey Committee. Fiore said, "The manufacturing economy continued its recovery in February. Survey Committee members reported that their companies and suppliers continue to operate in reconfigured factories. Issues with absenteeism, short-term shutdowns to sanitize facilities and difficulties in hiring workers remain challenges and continue to cause strains that limit manufacturing-growth potential. Optimistic panel sentiment increased, with five positive comments for every cautious comment, compared to a 3-to-1 ratio in January. Demand expanded, with the (1) New Orders Index growing at a strong level, supported by the New Export Orders Index expanding at a faster rate, (2) Customers' Inventories Index remaining in 'too low' territory (at 32.5 percent, tying its all-time low) and the (3) Backlog of Orders Index growing 4.3 percentage points compared to January. Consumption (measured by the Production and Employment indexes) contributed positively (a combined 4.3 percentage point increase) to the Manufacturing PMI calculation. Five of the top six industries reported moderate to strong expansion. The Employment Index expanded for the third straight month, but panelists continue to note significant difficulties in attracting and retaining labor at their companies and supplier facilities. Inputs, expressed as supplier deliveries, inventories and imports, continued to indicate input-driven constraints to production expansion, at higher rates compared to January, as indicated by the Inventories Index returning to contraction territory and another month of slowing supplier delivery performance. Imports marginally slowed in the period, driven by port backlogs. The Prices Index expanded for the ninth consecutive month, indicating continued supplier pricing power and scarcity of supply chain goods. "Of the six biggest manufacturing industries, five, including chemical products, fabricated metal products, transportation equipment, computer and electronic products, and food, beverage and tobacco products, registered strong growth in February. Petroleum and coal products moderately contracted. "Manufacturing performed well for the ninth straight month, with demand, consumption and inputs registering strong growth compared to January. Labor market difficulties at panelists' companies and their suppliers continued to restrict manufacturing economy expansion, and will remain the primary headwind to production growth until employment levels and factory operations can return to normal across the entire supply chain," says Fiore. Of the 18 manufacturing industries, 16 reported growth in February, in the following order: textile mills; electrical equipment, appliances and components; primary metals; paper products; chemical products; machinery; fabricated metal products; transportation equipment; wood products; plastics and rubber products; computer and electronic products; apparel, leather and allied products; food, beverage and tobacco products; miscellaneous manufacturing; furniture and related products; and nonmetallic mineral products. The two industries reporting contraction in February are printing and related support activities; and petroleum and coal products.

3/3/2021 - Morrisville, PA - Dr. Barry Arkles, Gelest, Inc. chair, founder and CEO, is elected to membership in the National Academy of Engineering (NAE). Election to the NAE is “among the highest professional distinctions accorded to an engineer.” Arkles is recognized for his “contributions to organosilicon materials and organometallic and biochemical reagents.” Arkles contributed scientific advances and inventions with positive impacts extending beyond the professional community to the global public. His record of innovation and accomplishments in applied materials science, surface chemistry and biotechnology is demonstrated by his contributions to medical devices, such as contact lenses, and semiconductor fabrication, particularly ILD (interlayer dielectrics) and interconnect metallization. NAE membership recognizes outstanding individuals who have contributed to "engineering research, practice or education, including ... significant contributions to the engineering literature" and to "the pioneering of new and developing fields of technology, making major advancements in traditional fields of engineering, or developing/implementing innovative approaches to engineering education." “Dr. Arkles' election to NAE membership recognizes the value of the characteristic hybrid chemicals technology he and Gelest have cultivated,” said Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation (MCC) President and CEO Masayuki Waga. “We are proud of his achievement.” “Gelest's technology, led by Dr. Arkles, combines organic and inorganic chemistry and has great potential as an approach to various problems that could not be solved by organic or inorganic chemistry alone,” Waga added. He said he expects to grow Gelest’s technology by combining it with MCC’s specialty technology related to organic chemistry. “Barry Arkles is a very rare combination of technical excellence, entrepreneurial acumen and research management expertise which was evident early in his career and has continued to date,” said Dr. Robert D. Miller, Academy member, IBM Emeritus at IBM Almaden Research Center and Adjunct Professor of Material Science and Engineering at Stanford University. “Companies either founded or co-founded by Arkles currently generate nearly $1B in revenue,” Miller added. “In each of his ventures, he has remained the technical face of the business with more than 150 technical publications and more than 75 U.S. patents. The marriage of broad technical expertise and business impact is refreshing and is uncommon in today’s world of specialization.” “Without question, it is one of my great honors of my life to be elected to the Academy,” said Arkles. “Election to Academy membership validates my life’s work and the collective mission of Gelest and now MCC scientists to customize materials solutions that benefit society at large.” Arkles formed Gelest Inc. in 1991 to develop and manufacture silicon and metal-organic based chemicals and polymers for applications in microelectronics, optoelectronics, diagnostics (including DNA array devices), medical devices and pharmaceuticals. Prior to launching Gelest, he was vice president, corporate development, at Hüls America/Evonik. Arkles came to Hüls with the company’s acquisition of Petrarch Systems, a company he founded to develop advanced silicon and silicone products for medical devices. Early in his career at LNP Engineering Plastics (now part of SABIC) he was manager of advanced development of thermoplastic composites, a materials technology introduced into many consumer items, including cameras and photographic equipment, tool and appliance housings, and sports equipment. Examples included Polaroid Cameras, Black & Decker drills and Wilson racquetball rackets, among many others. Arkles is a recipient of the American Chemical Society 2020 Frederic Stanley Kipping Award in Silicon Chemistry and a Fellow of the British Royal Society of Chemistry. He holds a B.S. in chemistry and Ph.D. in biochemistry at Temple University in Philadelphia. Arkles is one of 106 newly elected NAE members and 23 international members. The recent election brings the total U.S. membership to 2,355 and international membership to 298.

3/3/2021 - Greenville, SC - Michelin North America, Inc., has announced price increases of up to 8 percent on select Michelin, BFGoodrich and Uniroyal passenger and light truck tires, as well as on select urban delivery offers due to changing business dynamics and rising costs of raw materials. This increase will be effective on April 1 in the United States and Canada. Price changes may vary across specific products within each brand portfolio. Details will be presented directly to dealers and urban fleet customers, with additional questions addressed directly through account managers.

3/3/2021 - LaPlace, LA - The L'Observateur reports a lawsuit filed against Denka Performance Elastomer alleging harm caused by emissions from its facility in St. John the Baptist Parish was dismissed in early February by a federal district court judge in New Orleans. Judge Martin Feldman of the Eastern District of Louisiana found David W. Acosta and 22 other plaintiffs failed to sufficiently plead their case against DPE, and that the case bore “unmistakable similarity” to a previous suit against the company dismissed last year (Butler v. Denka). In his ruling, Judge Feldman cited plaintiffs’ “failure to state a plausible claim” against the company. According to the ruling, the same attorney representing plaintiffs in the Butler suit filed this “identical petition in Louisiana state court less than two months after his client’s loss in Butler.” Both suits relied on a number developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 2010 as a “threshold for safe exposure” to chloroprene, a chemical used in the production of polychloroprene rubber at the facility. However, as Judge Feldman states, by quoting a part of his ruling in Butler, “Even the federal agency that announced this measure disclaims its regulatory or enforcement value: the EPA warns against using NATA results as an absolute risk measure, cautioning that ‘NATA is a screening tool, not a refined assessment,’ and it ‘wasn’t designed as a final means to pinpoint specific risk values at local levels.’” DPE regards Judge Feldman’s ruling as correctly reflecting the science surrounding chloroprene. EPA has said the NATA, or National Air Toxics Assessment, isn’t designed to “pinpoint specific risk values in small areas such a census tract” or “determine exactly how many people are exposed to precise levels of risk or if a certain area is ‘safe’ or not,” and that “you should avoid using NATA results as an absolute measure of your risk from air toxics.” According to Denka Performance Elastomer, the risk suggestion the suit relied on is contradicted by decades of objective health data collected by the state’s Louisiana Tumor Registry. In fact, St. John the Baptist Parish regularly exhibits average or below-average rates of the illnesses described in the report compared with the state average. Since purchasing the facility in 2015, DPE has reduced its chloroprene emissions by 85 percent. The company developed a voluntary reduction program with the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality in 2016 and completed the projects outlined in the program in 2017 at a final cost of over $35 million.

3/3/2021 - Washington, D.C. - The U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association (USTMA) projects total U.S. tire shipments of 315.7 million units in 2021, compared to 303.2 million units in 2020 and 332.7 million units in 2019. Actual 2020 shipments showed a 4.9 million unit increase over USTMA’s November 2020 forecast, a further indication of the industry’s ongoing recovery. Original equipment (OE) shipments for passenger, light truck and truck tires are expected to increase by 10.7 percent, 3.6 percent and 20.0 percent, respectively, with a total increase of 5.1 million units. Replacement passenger and truck tire shipments are projected to increase by 3.5 percent and 2.9 percent, respectively, with light truck tire replacement shipments showing a minor decline at 0.4 percent. The total unit addition for replacement shipments is projected to be 7.4 million units.

3/2/2021 - Munich, Gemany - KraussMaffei is selling its subsidiary, KraussMaffei Austria, to the Austrian family-owned company Luger GmbH. There, it will continue to operate under the name KMAT Maschinen- und Service GmbH. The eight employees of the former KraussMaffei Austria will continue to be employed. The transaction took effect March 1. With this sale, KraussMaffei is aiming to further intensify its sales and service business in the Austrian and Hungarian markets for injection molding, reaction process and extrusion machinery. KraussMaffei is one of the world's leading suppliers of all three technologies. Following the takeover of the previous KraussMaffei employees, more than 60 experts will in future be responsible for sales and support of plastics machinery under the KraussMaffei and Netstal brands. Both brands belong to KraussMaffei. The Luger GmbH is an Austrian family business with headquarters in Purkersdorf, near Vienna. The company's business activities focus on sales, planning, assembly and service of machines and peripheral equipment for the plastics processing industry. KraussMaffei and Luger had already extended their sales cooperation in the middle of last year. Dr. Michael Ruf, CEO of KraussMaffei, is confident that KraussMaffei customers in particular will benefit from the transaction: "The sale of KraussMaffei Austria is part of our strategic realignment. It will bring us even closer to our customers. With the sales and service competence of Luger and its employees, we will be able to act even faster and more efficiently in Austria and Hungary in the future." Luger’s CEO, Thomas Luger, also expects a significant increase in competitiveness from the integration of KraussMaffei Austria into Luger GmbH: "The integration of KraussMaffei Austria under the future name KMAT Maschinen- und Service GmbH will considerably strengthen us. We want to continue the brand and maintain the pioneering spirit of the KraussMaffei employees. For the future, we plan to be able to offer the entire KraussMaffei product portfolio and the complete range of peripheral equipment from a single source. We will also operate in the market with even more service technicians and thus be able to look after our customers even more intensively." Luger intends to expand its market presence in the coming years, particularly in Hungary. A modern technical center is to be built there in the greater Budapest area. Furthermore, Luger plans to hire additional Hungarian specialists and to further expand its warehouse capacities.

3/2/2021 - Greenville, SC - Michelin has launched its first tire designed to address the specific demands made by electric sports cars. Launching April 1, the Michelin Pilot Sport EV is said to deliver optimal grip on dry and wet roads, irrespective of the tire’s level of wear, taking into account the higher weight and weight-distribution characteristics associated with electric sports cars. Outstanding resistance to wear in response to the high torque and acceleration forces of electric sports cars is said to be provided. The Michelin Pilot Sport EV’s low rolling resistance extends range by up to 37 miles. Twenty percent less perceptible road noise is observed thanks to Michelin Acoustic technology which takes the form of a custom-developed polyurethane foam that reduces cabin noise. The Michelin Pilot Sport EV is the result of the unique experience Michelin has acquired in Formula E racing. A founding partner of Formula E, Michelin proposed a specific solution for the championship’s all-electric single-seaters that is similar in its concept to a road tire. The Michelin Formula E tire is capable of racing in any weather conditions, while its size, 18 inches, is consistent with current road-car norms. The Michelin Pilot Sport EV benefits directly from the progress Michelin has achieved over six seasons in Formula E and incorporates ElectricGrip CompoundT technology, which features a hard compound for the center of the tread to provide the grip required to handle high torque characteristics of electric sports cars. The sidewalls carry over the same pattern and velvet-finish markings of Michelin’s Formula E tire. In order to achieve carbon neutrality throughout the life of its tire and address the demands of electric sports car owners, Michelin has pledged to neutralize the CO2 emissions associated with the tire’s production and transport to its point of sale. This process includes the financing of projects aimed at offsetting and absorbing the residual CO2 emissions associated with tire production through the Livelihoods carbon fund until the day comes when it will be possible to eliminate them entirely. Michelin is currently the only manufacturer that is active in the original-equipment and replacement electric sports car tire market. The Michelin Pilot Sport EV will be rolled during 2021 in a choice of 16 sizes (original equipment: 11 sizes/replacement market: 5 sizes) for 18- to 22-inch rims. The Michelin Pilot Sport EV is already available in China and will be available on vehicles released in Europe and North America from the third quarter 2021. By 2024, Michelin plans to increase its sales in this high-growth market by a factor of eight.

3/2/2021 - Indianapolis, IN - The Association for Rubber Products Manufacturers (ARPM) announces the 2021 Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) Summit. During this one-of-a-kind summit, May 26 and 27, EHS experts will gather to share best leadership and safety practices with manufacturing executives from across the U.S. Like many other events over the last year, ARPM will be hosting this event virtually. Executives in the rubber products industry segment will have the opportunity to engage in a number of informative sessions including, but not limited to, industrial hygiene, combustible dust, risk homeostasis and proven methods of enhancing an organization’s safety culture. “As the lead organization for rubber product manufacturers, ARPM truly understands the Environmental, Health, and Safety needs of our industry and has taken aggressive steps to help its members and other rubber professionals tackle and resolve these issues,” stated Letha Keslar, ARPM managing director. “Environmental, health, and safety issues are vitally important to our industry and being able to purely focus on these topics in such a dynamic environment is truly priceless.” “The Summit Committee has done an excellent job at recruiting top experts from the related fields in order to deliver the best program possible,” stated ARPM executive director, Troy Nix. “In fact, many of the industry speakers are viewed by their peers as resident experts; you simply can’t replace experience and practical implementation of EHS ideas in a conference venue like this!” ARPM encourages all rubber products manufacturing executives to invest the time to participate in this special EHS Summit. Early bird pricing ends March 12. To reserve a space at ARPM’s 2021 EHS Summit, visit www.arpminc.org/ehs.

3/2/2021 - Selbyville, DE - The global rubber molding market size is expected to reach $51.42 billion by 2026, according to Market Study Report LLC. Molded rubber parts offer excellent performance characteristics and qualities compared to many other materials, which makes it a great choice for a wide range of automotive, healthcare, sports gear and other applications. High demand for automotive tooling among shops supplying the major car makers is creating a demand for new products. Also, these products are highly used in the aerospace industry to perform in extreme pressure and temperature situations on engines and airframes. The companies operating in the rubber molding industry are skilled with industrial mold and they can easily make the transition from industrial products to medical or automotive products as both these industries require similar safety standards. Globally, rubber molded products is largely being used in automotive, and other industrial sectors. They have various applications in automotive industry for development of products such as rubber bumpers. These bumpers can reduce wear and tear on body parts and increase the durability of vehicle components. When used in industrial applications, they are formulated to suit high temperature areas, refrigeration seals, weathering, oil and fuel resistance. Some of the other products produced by using molded rubber include grips and handles, gloves, snorkels and swim fins, earplugs and so on. Use of molding in development of these products provides excellent processing performance, fast cure rates, reduced cycle times and lower production costs. With increasing end use applications, the demand for these products is growing at an advanced rate which has propelled companies to enhance their research and manufacturing capabilities. For instance, in June 2017, Jokey Group extended its international manufacturing footprint with the acquisition of injection molder Treplas SL in Spain. Furthermore, technological advancement also plays a vital role in development of this industry segment. Emergence of robotics and automated manufacturing techniques are driving the growth of this market at a significant rate. Furthermore, companies in the North American and European region are strategically strengthening their market presence by adopting expansion, collaborations, acquisitions, agreements and product development as their primary strategies. For instance, in October 2018, Tenneco acquired Federal-Mogul, one of the key players in the US rubber molding industry. Also, various conferences and seminars being held across the globe to create awareness about the advanced technologies and manufacturing processes. For instance, in July 2018, The German Rubber Conference was organized by the Deutsche Keramische Gesellschaft e.V. DKG at the NurnbergMesse GmbH in Nuremberg, Germany. The key players in the market include Freudenberg and Co. Kg, Continental AG, Sumitomo Riko Co. Ltd., NOK Corporation, Federal-Mogul Corporation, Hutchinson SA, Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd., Trelleborg AB, Bohra Rubber Pvt. Ltd. and Steele Rubber Products, among others.

3/2/2021 - Laval, Quebec, Canada - BFGoodrich Tires is launching the BFGoodrich Advantage Control tire, delivering all-season traction and handling for today's passenger cars, crossovers and minivans. Aiming to give drivers peace of mind, the Advantage Control features design and compound improvements, which provide better performance over the competition. The tire will launch in Canada on March 1, and in the U.S. and Mexico on April 1. "By listening to needs of both our dealers and consumers, BFGoodrich has improved everyday driving," said Sylvaine Cuniberti, marketing director, Canada. "Whether it is taking a family road trip or visiting a place that brings a sense of escape, BFGoodrich is there to help create long-lasting memories." Featuring Aqua-Flume technology, combined with advanced all-season compounds, the Advantage Control has improved braking performance on wet roads. This technology displays a curvilinear groove system designed to evacuate water from under the contact patch. By doing so, consumers can expect all-season control in their daily driving. Consumers will also enjoy a more comfortable ride due to the Next Generation g-Wedge Sidewall Stabilizer. This steadies the tire sidewall, allowing the Advantage Control tire to show crisp handling and provide a comfortable ride.

3/2/2021 - Findlay, OH - Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. is recalling more than 430,000 light truck tires in the U.S. because they can develop sidewall bulges that could lead to tire failure. The recall covers certain Discoverer, Evolution, Courser, Deegan, Adventurer, Hercules, Back Country, Multi-Mile, Wild Country and Big O tires in several sizes. The company says in documents posted by U.S. safety regulators that the bulges can cause a sidewall separation. That can make the tires lose air rapidly, increasing the risk of a crash. Cooper, based in Findlay, OH, said there have been no deaths or injury claims, or property damage, due to the problem. Owners will be notified and dealers will replace the tires. The recall is expected to start March 25. The tires were made between February 1, 2018, and December 1, 2019. Owners can contact the company at (800) 854-6288.

3/1/2021 - Lossburg, Germany - For the first time worldwide, Arburg is providing information in its new Sustainability Report on how sustainably the company acts and operates in all relevant areas over the long term. The Sustainability Report 2020, with its many infographics, provides a clear summary of what Arburg is doing not only to protect the environment and conserve resources, but also for its employees, stakeholders and the region. The sustainability report itself is also sustainable. The interactive document is available to click through on the Arburg website and is not distributed in printed form. Commenting on this "premier report," Dr. Christoph Schumacher, head of marketing and corporate communications, said: "The first Arburg sustainability report represents is clear testimony to corporate behavior that is concerned both with environmental protection and the conservation of resources, and with our responsibility towards society, the region and its people. The family-owned company remains committed to these goals now and in the future." Environmental protection and resource conservation have always been of paramount importance to Arburg, but responsibility towards employees has also always been an integral part of the company's business activities. Arburg is now presenting all of this consistently to the outside world with its sustainability report. A primary objective when preparing the report was to make the information easy to grasp for all readers. To achieve this, its authors used plain language, a lot of display charts and clickable additional information. As a result, the document provides a comprehensive overview of Arburg's understanding of sustainability and what the company is doing to meet these requirements. The basis for data collection is the state of Baden-Württemberg's "WIN Charter" sustainability management system, which also includes a voluntary commitment to sustainability, as a clear acknowledgement by companies of their economic, ecological and social responsibility. The WIN Charter contains a total of 12 guiding principles that address, among other things, human and labor rights, employee well-being, resources, energy and emissions, product responsibility and anti-corruption. Another important factor is the regional added value that a company like Arburg can create for its surroundings. The 53-page sustainability report is therefore not only an information and marketing tool, it also strikingly documents the company's efforts to increase sustainability towards customers, partners and the interested public. In this sense, it also fits in with the arburgGREENworld program for a more circular economy and resource conservation.

3/1/2021 - Wadsworth, OH – Goldsmith & Eggleton (G&E) has introduced its new raw materials handling line as part of the company’s modernization initiative following last year’s renovation of its polymer laboratory facility. This new line will provide a high degree of automation to the process, eliminating much of the hand labor involved in material preparation common in a recycling/reprocessing facility. “At G&E, we are excited to continue innovating with this new line, and to continue creating solutions that offer our customers value, quality and a competitive edge,” said Rob Eggleton, business manager of reprocessed elastomers, Channel Prime Alliance, a Ravago Company. This new raw materials handling line begins with an automated size reduction of feedstock before it is introduced into the reprocessing equipment. The feedstock is conveyed into weight loss feeders controlled precisely by a programmable logic controller (PLC) providing better product management to meet customer specifications. After weigh up, the polymer is conveyed through an internal mixer, then homogenized, dewatered and filtered. Finally, all material is conveyed to an automated, PLC controlled baler and bale wrapping station. While the fundamental reprocessing technology remains unchanged, G&E delivered industry-leading innovation on a new way to further enhance the process’ automation and product quality. G&E’s recent lab renovation added upgraded pieces of equipment such as an RPA Elite and 3 MV1 Mooney machines as well as a new ash oven. The project also entails a full renovation of the lab mill, physical remodel of the laboratory space and the updating of the information systems. The goals of the improvements are to adhere to the 5S philosophy, implement continuous improvements and assure that customers receive the highest quality product.

3/1/2021 - Pawcatuck, CT – Davis-Standard announced that Andrew Alaya has been promoted to vice president, aftermarket sales. Alaya brings a wealth of knowledge to his new role, having held various customer-centric positions at Circonix Technologies, a division of Davis-Standard. His more than 20 years of experience in providing upgrade solutions for PLC, drive and mechanical systems has enabled customers worldwide to optimize their equipment investments. This includes expertise in machine fabrication, alignment services, engineering design, rebuilds and retrofits, maintenance training, installation, commissioning and startup. “Andrew will provide strategic leadership as we continue to develop and promote Davis-Standard’s multi-faceted portfolio of aftermarket products and services,” said Zachary Ament, Davis-Standard’s executive vice president of aftermarket sales. “He has an excellent understanding of customer needs and available technologies. This aligns well with our goal of providing customers with the solutions that improve their processes while supporting their profitability and product quality.”

3/1/2021 - Akron, OH - The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company announced that Christopher P. Helsel has been named senior vice president, global operations and chief technology officer. He succeeds Jonathan Bellissimo, who is retiring after a Goodyear career spanning four decades. Helsel is currently senior vice president and chief technology officer, a role he has held since 2018. “Chris Helsel’s broad range of experiences leading product innovation, technology and product industrialization make him ideal to lead Goodyear’s Global Operations and Technology organization,” said Richard J. Kramer, chairman, CEO and president. “In addition, his willingness to promote new thinking and challenge the status quo will serve our technology and manufacturing efforts well as we take Goodyear into the next stage of leadership in a hyper-competitive industry.” “At the same time, we deeply appreciate Jon’s vast contributions and leadership at Goodyear during his 43-year career. We all owe Jon a debt of gratitude for his relentless pursuit of quality, safety and results throughout his service to our company.” Helsel, 55, joined Goodyear in 1996 and has been in his most recent role since 2017. During his career, he has worked in a variety of roles of increasing leadership responsibilities. He was previously director of technology programs at Goodyear’s Innovation Center in Luxembourg before serving as director, North America commercial and global off-highway technology at Goodyear. As chief technology officer, Helsel led Goodyear’s technology and innovation development, especially in the growing area of new mobility. He earned his undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering from Cleveland State University and his Master’s in the same discipline from The University of Akron.

3/1/2021 - Colombes, France – Arkema reports full-year 2020 financial results. In a context strongly marked by the pandemic, the group’s EBITDA margin remained robust at 15.0 percent, supported by the resilience of its specialty materials and by the rebound in volumes in the fourth quarter (+5 percent versus the fourth quarter of 2019). Arkema is well positioned to take advantage of the recovery in 2021 and beyond, thanks to the benefits of its strong balance sheet and its focus on sustainable and high performance specialty materials. Rebound in the group’s performance in the fourth quarter included the following: Sales growth of 2.1 percent at constant scope and currency, driven by a significant improvement in volumes (+5.2 percent versus the fourth quarter of 2019); continued positive momentum in construction, decorative paints and batteries, and recovery seen in several industrial markets; EBITDA broadly stable at €289 million (€295 million in the fourth quarter of 2019), supported by the strong increase of adhesive solutions (+15 percent) and coating solutions (+19 percent); €7.9 billion in sales in 2020, representing a limited decline of 8 percent year on year at constant currency, reflecting the impact of the pandemic on global demand; EBITDA in 2020 of €1,182 million (-18.9 percent) and EBITDA margin of 15.0 percent; good resilience of specialty materials (12 percent decrease in EBITDA and a 100 bp contraction in EBITDA margin to 15.8 percent; adjusted net income of €391 million in 2020, representing €5.11 per share; high free cash flow for the year at €651 million, comparable to the level achieved in 2019, reflecting excellent management of working capital (11.8 percent of sales at 31 December 2020) and strict control of capital expenditure; net debt down strongly at €1,910 million, including hybrid bonds (€2,331 million at 31 December 2019), representing 1.6x EBITDA for 2020; confidence in the outlook for 2021 and in the execution of the 2024 roadmap; significant progress made in 2020 on the strategy to refocus on specialty materials; and reinforced ambition in terms of CSR and creation of the Innovation and Sustainable Growth committee, a new committee of the board of directors.

3/1/2021 - Singapore - Bridgestone, Arlanxeo and Solvay have announced the launch of Techsyn, a co-developed tire technology platform said to enable tires to deliver unrivaled strength and environmental performance. Techsyn combines chemically optimized synthetic rubber with tailor made silica, interacting at a molecular level, to deliver outstanding performance with no trade-offs, according to the companies. Each material found in Techsyn was developed in parallel by the three companies to create a tire technology platform that provides unrivaled performance. Techsyn enables tires to achieve up to 30 percent better wear efficiency and rolling resistance that is reduced by up to six percent, compared to other conventional Bridgestone EMIA4 summer products, without compromising any other performance areas. With the goal of ensuring less tire wear material loss, the extra focus was placed on performance improvements in tire wear throughout the development of Techsyn. As a result of these improvements, Techsyn is said to augment the sustainable performance of the tires it is applied to by reducing overall fuel consumption and CO2 emissions, and enhancing tread mileage. Techsyn’s durability extends the designed lifespan of tires made with it by up to 30 per cent, to ultimately result in a tire that needs to be changed less frequently and reduces the consumption of raw materials in the long-term. As Bridgestone transforms to become a sustainable solutions company by 2050, guided by its Sustainability Business Framework and a series of mid-long term sustainability-focused goals, the launch of Techsyn, a solution created with the environment front of mind, marks a significant breakthrough on this journey. Demonstrating what can be achieved through close collaboration and an open-minded approach, Techsyn is said to be the result of an established three-way partnership between industry leaders Bridgestone, Arlanxeo and Solvay. Transformed from concept to reality in just 24 months, Techsyn was made possible thanks to the unique cooperation and understanding between the three companies and profound combined knowledge of molecular mechanisms. Techsyn has the unique ability to balance a tire’s performance across rolling resistance, wear and wet grip, and can be further adapted to meet varying needs. For example, Techsyn’s wear advantage can be converted to instead enhance the wet grip of a tire. The flexibility Techsyn provides is made possible thanks to Solvay’s unique advanced silica developments, Arlanxeo’s expertise in developing, manufacturing and delivering novel tire polymers and Bridgestone’s innovative compound technology. Techsyn has been designed to bring its benefits to various tire categories and vehicles and, thanks to the unique flexibility it enables, can do so in combination with Bridgestone’s other leading tire technologies. For example, when used alongside Bridgestone’s lightweight Enliten technology, it is possible for the tire’s weight to be further reduced while retaining its performance. Bridgestone is preparing implementation of Techsyn for mass production, with various tire categories and vehicles in mind. Bridgestone, Arlanxeo and Solvay have developed a roadmap of technologies where close collaboration will be essential to move along the pattern identified with Techsyn and create even more effective synergies. Commenting on the announcement, Laurent Dartoux, president and CEO, Bridgestone EMIA, said: “At Bridgestone, we fundamentally believe that ground-breaking innovation and the future of mobility can’t be achieved without collaboration. The partnership in which Techsyn is rooted has evolved to become one of the most unique we have ever been part of. As a global leader in advanced solutions and sustainable mobility, we’re moving forward with innovation and sustainability at the core of everything we do at Bridgestone. Through developing environmentally-driven solutions like Techsyn, we’re making great progress on delivering against that ambition.” Arlanxeo’s CEO, Donald Chen, also commented: “We at Arlanxeo are committed to delivering outstanding, customer-centric, elastomer solutions. By bringing together in partnership the combined know-how, skill and creativity of three world-class companies that are championing different parts of the tire supply chain, we have been able to develop a new technology platform that offers new ways to address challenges specific to the tire industry. Techsyn enables improved fuel economy and tire wear properties at the same time, with no performance trade-offs. As a result, tires made with Techsyn contribute to reduced CO2 emissions. Therefore, this technology makes a significant contribution to improving environmental aspects, which is at the heart of the shared vision for sustainable product solutions held by the three companies that made it all happen.” Dr. Ilham Kadri, Solvay’s CEO, added: “Techsyn demonstrates what can be achieved when key actors in the value chain join forces. To protect our one and only planet, we must reinvent, collaborate and co-construct solutions to design tomorrow's cleaner mobility. I’m proud of all the teams who contributed to this project, in particular the speed with which they bought this innovation to reality.”

3/5/2021 - London, England - The Medical Grade Silicone Tubing Market by revenue is expected to grow at a CAGR of over 7.5% during the forecast period 2020–2027 and is poised to reach US$18.5 billion in terms of Value according to Decisive Market Insights. A remarkable compounded annual growth rate from 2020 – 2027 has been expected in this market after mapping the different factors associated with this market. The report covers size, share, market trend, analysis, estimates and forecast both current and future forecast. The market sizing and trend have been analyzed and mentioned in the report after conducting the primary interviews across the different geographies namely North America countries, APAC countries, European countries and also the rest of the world. The data and analysis gathered and provided in the report are 60% from primary interviews. Market Players include Parker; NewAge Industries; Saint-Gobain; Primasil; Clippard; Trelleborg; Dow Chemical; TBL Performance Plastics; Simolex; Accurate Rubber; Degania Silicone

3/1/2021 - Tempe, AZ - Economic activity in the manufacturing sector grew in February, with the overall economy notching a ninth consecutive month of growth, say the nation's supply executives in the latest Manufacturing ISM Report On Business. "The February Manufacturing PMI® registered 60.8 percent, an increase of 2.1 percentage points from the January reading of 58.7 percent. This figure indicates expansion in the overall economy for the ninth month in a row after contraction in March, April, and May. The New Orders Index registered 64.8 percent, up 3.7 percentage points from the January reading of 61.1 percent. The Production Index registered 63.2 percent, an increase of 2.5 percentage points compared to the January reading of 60.7 percent. The Backlog of Orders Index registered 64 percent, 4.3 percentage points above the January reading of 59.7 percent. The Employment Index registered 54.4 percent, 1.8 percentage points higher from the January reading of 52.6 percent. The Supplier Deliveries Index registered 72 percent, up 3.8 percentage points from the January figure of 68.2 percent. The Inventories Index registered 49.7 percent, 1.1 percentage points lower than the January reading of 50.8 percent. The Prices Index registered 86 percent, up 3.9 percentage points compared to the January reading of 82.1 percent. The New Export Orders Index registered 57.2 percent, an increase of 2.3 percentage points compared to the January reading of 54.9 percent. The Imports Index registered 56.1 percent, a 0.7-percentage point decrease from the January reading of 56.8 percent." The report was issued by Timothy R. Fiore, CPSM, C.P.M., Chair of the Institute for Supply Management® (ISM®) Manufacturing Business Survey Committee. Fiore continues, "The manufacturing economy continued its recovery in February. Survey Committee members reported that their companies and suppliers continue to operate in reconfigured factories. Issues with absenteeism, short-term shutdowns to sanitize facilities, and difficulties in hiring workers remain challenges and continue to cause strains that limit manufacturing-growth potential. Optimistic panel sentiment increased, with five positive comments for every cautious comment, compared to a 3-to-1 ratio in January. Demand expanded, with the (1) New Orders Index growing at a strong level, supported by the New Export Orders Index expanding at a faster rate, (2) Customers' Inventories Index remaining in 'too low' territory (at 32.5 percent, tying its all-time low), and the (3) Backlog of Orders Index growing 4.3 percentage points compared to January. Consumption (measured by the Production and Employment indexes) contributed positively (a combined 4.3-percentage point increase) to the Manufacturing PMI® calculation. Five of the top six industries reported moderate to strong expansion. The Employment Index expanded for the third straight month, but panelists continue to note significant difficulties in attracting and retaining labor at their companies and supplier facilities. Inputs — expressed as supplier deliveries, inventories and imports — continued to indicate input-driven constraints to production expansion, at higher rates compared to January, as indicated by the Inventories Index returning to contraction territory and another month of slowing supplier delivery performance. Imports marginally slowed in the period, driven by port backlogs. The Prices Index expanded for the ninth consecutive month, indicating continued supplier pricing power and scarcity of supply chain goods. "Of the six biggest manufacturing industries, five — Chemical Products; Fabricated Metal Products; Transportation Equipment; Computer & Electronic Products; and Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products — registered strong growth in February. Petroleum & Coal Products moderately contracted. "Manufacturing performed well for the ninth straight month, with demand, consumption and inputs registering strong growth compared to January. Labor-market difficulties at panelists' companies and their suppliers continued to restrict manufacturing-economy expansion and will remain the primary headwind to production growth until employment levels and factory operations can return to normal across the entire supply chain," says Fiore. Of the 18 manufacturing industries, 16 reported growth in February, in the following order: Textile Mills; Electrical Equipment, Appliances & Components; Primary Metals; Paper Products; Chemical Products; Machinery; Fabricated Metal Products; Transportation Equipment; Wood Products; Plastics & Rubber Products; Computer & Electronic Products; Apparel, Leather & Allied Products; Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products; Miscellaneous Manufacturing; Furniture & Related Products; and Nonmetallic Mineral Products. The two industries reporting contraction in February are: Printing & Related Support Activities; and Petroleum & Coal Products.

3/1/2021 - Pune, India - The global adhesive and sealants market size is expected to reach $83 billion by 2026 growing at a CAGR of 5% over the forecast period 2018 to 2026 according to Acumen Research and Consulting. With the rising construction and reconstruction activities across the globe and flourishing automotive sector there is a constant increase in demand for high quality bonding material that is able to withstand high temperature and harsh environmental conditions are some factors providing a growth prospective to the adhesives and sealant market. In addition, high demand for bonding material from furniture and footwear industry is expected support the growth.eat to the market growth. Moreover, availability of various alternatives is expected to hinder the market growth. Increasing investment by major players for technological advancements and R&D activities is expected to create new revenue opportunities for players operating in the target market over the forecast period. In addition, rising eco-friendly approach, use of water based adhesives, and introduction of innovative products are among other factors expected to further support the revenue growth of the market. Some of the major players operating in the global market include BASF SE, 3M Company, The Dow Chemical Company, Ashland Inc., Avery Denison Corporation, Arkema, Beardow & Adams Limited, Eastman Chemical Company, Ellsworth Adhesives, H.B Fuller Company, Henkel AG & Co., Momentive Specialty Chemical Industries, N.D. Industries Inc., Sika AG, Uniseal Inc.

3/1/2021 - Selbyville, DE - The global rubber molding market size is expected to reach USD 51.42 billion by 2026 according to Market Study Report LLC. Molded rubber parts offer excellent performance characteristics and qualities compared to many other materials, which makes it a great choice for a wide range of automotive, healthcare, sports gear and other applications. High demand for automotive tooling among shops supplying the major car makers is creating a demand for new products. Also, these products are highly used in the aerospace industry to perform in extreme pressure and temperature situations on engines and airframes. The companies operating in the rubber molding industry are skilled with industrial mold and they can easily make the transition from industrial products to medical or automotive products as both these industries require similar safety standards. Globally, rubber molded products is largely being used in automotive, and other industrial sectors. They have various applications in automotive industry for development of products such as rubber bumpers. These bumpers can reduce wear and tear on body parts and increase the durability of vehicle components. When used in industrial applications, they are formulated to suit high temperature areas, refrigeration seals, weathering, oil, and fuel resistance. Some of the other products produced by using molded rubber include grips and handles, gloves, snorkels and swim fins, earplugs and so on. Use of molding in development of these products provides excellent processing performance, fast cure rates, reduced cycle times and lower production costs. With increasing end use applications, the demand for these products is growing at an advanced rate which has propelled companies to enhance their research and manufacturing capabilities. For instance, in June 2017, Jokey Group extended its international manufacturing footprint with the acquisition of injection molder Treplas SL in Spain. Furthermore, technological advancement also plays a vital role in development of this industry segment. Emergence of robotics and automated manufacturing techniques are driving the growth of this market at a significant rate. Furthermore, companies in the North American and European region are strategically strengthening their market presence by adopting expansion, collaborations, acquisitions, agreements and product development as their primary strategies. For instance, in October 2018, Tenneco acquired Federal-Mogul, one of the key players in the US rubber molding industry. Also, various conferences and seminars being held across the globe to create awareness about the advanced technologies and manufacturing processes. For instance, In July 2018, The German Rubber Conference was organized by the Deutsche Keramische Gesellschaft e.V. DKG at the NurnbergMesse GmbH in Nuremberg, Germany. The key players in the market include Freudenberg and Co. Kg, Continental AG, Sumitomo Riko Co. Ltd., NOK Corporation, Federal-Mogul Corporation, Hutchinson SA, Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd., Trelleborg AB, Bohra Rubber Pvt. Ltd, and Steele Rubber Products among others.