Bridgestone announced it will introduce the 27.00R49 V-Steel Rock Deep Ultra (VRDU) aggregate tire at the Aggregate Academy & Expo (AGG1) in St. Louis, Mo., March 25-27. The VRDU is the first aggregate tire engineered with the company’s groundbreaking MASTERCORE technology, bringing the proven performance and tire life of the product lineup to the segment.

A research team from the University of Akron, supported by funding from Hyundai NGV, has developed a soft sensor system designed to study the behavior of rubber components in automotive pneumatic systems. This academic effort, published in Smart Materials and Structures on February 27, 2025, represents a step towards advancing knowledge, as no prior research has specifically explored the use of soft sensors to examine rubber performance in this context.

TechnoBiz announces the 3rd edition of the Middle East Rubber & Tyre Expo (MRTE 2025), scheduled to take place from June 17-19, 2025, at the Sharjah Expo Centre in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. This event aims to provide a significant platform for professionals and businesses in the rubber and tire industry to meet and network within the Middle Eastern region.

Vanderbilt Chemicals, LLC, a manufacturer and distributor of rubber and plastics elastomers and chemicals, announced that Scott Loyd will be joining their team as the Technical Sales Representative for the Southeast/Southwest region. Scott brings 24 years of experience in the Rubber and Plastics industry, including roles at Nexans-Amercable, Gates Corporation, and ExxonMobil.

Continental has announced the retirement of Dr. Jochen Etzel, Chief Executive Officer of Continental Tire the Americas, LLC, effective May 1, 2025. Tansu Işık will succeed him in this role and will be the new Head of Continental’s Business Area Replacement Tires the Americas. He will report directly to Christian Koetz, Executive Board Member of Continental and Head of Continental Tires.

MAXAM Tire announces its first-ever appearance at the Mid America Trucking Show (MATS) in Louisville, KY, taking place March 27-29, 2025. Visitors can find MAXAM Tire at Booth #37643, where the company will unveil its brand-new premium TBR line featuring dedicated Line Haul, Regional Drive and Mixed Service product lines.