Issue Emphasis: Natural Rubber and Latex In this issue: Tire intracarcass pressure and tire durability – Intracarcass pressure, or ICP,

Kirkland, WA – Prism Worldwide, a leader in innovative material solutions that is dedicated to advancing end-of-life tire recycling technology,

Join the Rubber Division, ACS, for a WORD Conversation on December 18, 12 p.m. – 1 p.m. ET with featured young professionals Chyna Mosley and Haley Dobbyn. This WORD Conversation begins with open networking for approximately 10 minutes followed by a conversation with featured guests Chyna Mosley, Quality Engineer – The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, and Haley Dobbyn – Plastics Engineering PhD student, along with Sam Cottrill – Online Content Editor/Reporter for Rubber News, moderating. This event will be held via Zoom and registration is free.

Prattheln, Switzerland – At the end of 2024, there will be a change in the management of the Swiss BUSS Group. On November 1, Holger Erhardt took over as Chief Operational Officer from Marko Stähler, who is retiring after around 30 years with the company. During this time, Marko Stähler has played a key role in shaping the development of the world’s leading supplier of compounding solutions based on the kneader principle in various management roles.

Join RDAbbott on Thursday, December 5, 2024, from 10:00 – 11:00 AM (ET) for a free webinar titled “SILASTIC™ Silicone Rubber: Forming the Future of Electric Vehicles.”

Jake Steinbrecher, Technical Service & Development Scientist at Dow, will present silicone rubber’s material compatibility, safety, and performance advantages in (Electric Vehicle) EV applications, such as cables, busbars, battery compartments, and automotive lighting.

Elkem announced the successful scaling of its chemical silicone waste upcycling project from a laboratory to pilot unit at its Saint-Fons production site in Lyon, France. This marks a significant milestone in driving the transition to a circular economy for silicones.
As part of its climate strategy, Elkem is committed to cutting CO2 emissions and resource-use to reach climate-neutral production by 2050, notably by increasing recycling in its own operations and developing circular loops with customers and suppliers.

Continuing its longstanding advocacy of environmental outreach programs, Yokohama Tire has renewed its partnership with Tread Lightly! through 2025. This marks the second consecutive year Yokohama will be an official partner of Tread Lightly!, the celebrated U.S-based nonprofit organization that’s dedicated to promoting responsible outdoor recreation through stewardship and educational programs.

The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company announced it is now accepting nominations for its annual Highway Hero Award. Since 1983, Goodyear has been recognizing commercial truck drivers who go above and beyond their regular duties to keep our highways safe.

Now through Dec. 31, 2024, Goodyear is inviting nominations for drivers with a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) who went the extra mile to help others on the road. Goodyear is eager to hear from drivers across the commercial industry from long-haul truckers, to dump truck drivers, regional delivery and vocational vehicle operators and more.

The Tire Recycling Foundation (TRF), a joint initiative led by the U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association (USTMA) and the Tire Industry Association (TIA), today announced its Board of Directors and Board President, Anne Forristall Luke, President and CEO of USTMA. The inaugural Board consists of 15 global industry leaders with deep knowledge and expertise in the manufacturing, recycling and transportation industries. This diverse group will help steer the Foundation’s mission to drive innovation in tire reuse markets, secure funding for critical projects, allocate grants for research, education, intervention and demonstration projects and enhance the sustainability of the tire recycling supply chain.

The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd., announced its business and financial results for the first three quarters (January to September) of fiscal 2024. Sales revenue increased 13.1% over the same period of the previous year, to \782.9 billion; business profit increased 69.6%, to \83.4 billion; operating profit increased 63.8%, to \85.8 billion; and profit attributable to owners of parent increased 36.5%, to \60.8 billion. The figures for all those items were record-high figures for performance in the first three quarters at Yokohama Rubber. In addition, the company’s business profit margin, at 10.7%, was the highest ever for the first three quarters.

Electronic Drives and Controls, Inc. (EDC), a leading control system integrator and field service company for industrial automation and drive technology, today announced that the company has experienced a year of growth and success, achieving a 39% increase in revenue year-over-year. To meet the growing demand for automation and drive solutions, EDC has expanded its team, hiring Ricky Arcky as human resources manager and Tyler Schaberick as systems engineer. EDC attributes this growth to maintaining industry certifications, digital marketing efforts, a dedicated team, and strong, long-term partnerships.

Dow has announced the launch of a portfolio of low-carbon material solutions which can help the footwear industry develop more sustainable products which offer the same high-performance results.

The upgraded portfolio consists of bio-circular materials attributed under a mass balance approach, reversible cross-linking resins, post-consumer recycled resins and polyolefin elastomers for artificial leather in various footwear materials and applications.

The Tire Industry Project (TIP) announced the launch of its first Open Call for Projects (OCP). The initiative seeks project submissions that contribute to the definition of new research fields and agendas to help advance sustainability practices and environmental stewardship within the tire industry on a global scale.

“The Open Call for Projects attests to TIP’s commitment to supporting high quality scientific research and evidence-based progress focused on the mitigation of tire wear emissions and their diverse impact. We are reaching out to further broaden TIP’s relationships with researchers and experts in this field,” says Larisa Kryachkova, Executive Director at TIP.

The Yokohama Rubber Co. Ltd. (YRC) announced its decision to close its manufacturing plant located at Hadera, Israel today. The plant is one of 30+ manufacturing sites in the YRC global network and has been operating for 70+ years. It will cease operations effective December 31, 2024.

As Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) convene to vote on 14th November on the proposed amendments to the EUDR, the Global Platform for Sustainable Natural Rubber (GPSNR) urges them to provide legal certainty around the implementation timeline and not re-open the regulatory text.
Along with the European Tire and Rubber Manufacturers Association, GPSNR has written to the European Parliament earlier this month to ask MEPs to use the proposal for amendments solely to create certainty about the timeline and not change the substance of the regulation.

Cimcorp’s current CEO, Tero Peltomäki, is retiring after a long and distinguished career, although he will continue to serve on the board of directors. Tero is passing the baton to Veli-Matti Hakala, who will strive to maintain Cimcorp’s positive culture and hands-on innovation as the company grows.

Now with over 25 years of experience in industry and technology, Veli-Matti Hakala joined Cimcorp in 2016 for the opportunity to work in an innovative and international environment. He has grown within the company from sales to management, and in the past year he has worked as Executive Vice President.

Persistence Market Research forecasts that the liquid silicone rubber (LSR) market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 8.4%, reaching US$ 5.83 billion by 2031, up from US$ 3.31 billion in 2024.. The demand is being driven by the healthcare and automotive sectors, where LSR’s heat resistance, biocompatibility, chemical and electrical resistance, and transparency make it a preferred material for a variety of applications. The global rise in IT spending and the increasing demand for eco-friendly, soft, and efficient materials in devices further boost LSR’s utilization. In North America, the U.S. is expected to dominate the market, particularly due to the automotive industry’s reliance on LSR for enhanced performance, particularly in electric vehicles. The industrial-grade segment, driven by OEM demand, is set to experience a notable CAGR of 8.6%, with the automotive and healthcare industries being major contributors.

The Global Polymer Summit being held September 8-11, 2025 in Cleveland, OH, will be the most valuable destination for attendees to expand their network, learn from experts and explore business opportunities. The merging of the International Elastomer Conference and the International Tire Exposition & Conference will create an event where all the best companies and programming will be together in one location. Become an exhibitor and make your company known to the thousands of attendees.

Smithers has announced that it has invested in a state-of-the-art simulated on-vehicle acceleration testing (SOVAT) machine. This new testing capability was recently launched at the Smithers Suzhou, China laboratory with full machine demonstrations and tire testing training for attendees.

The SOVAT machine is the result of working with vehicle and tire manufacturers to understand their tire testing pain points. On-vehicle tire testing can be time-consuming and inconsistent, driving the need for faster, more repeatable methods for treadwear, chip and chunk, road hazard endurance, and break-in testing. With the SOVAT machine, clients now have an indoor, repeatable option to conduct this testing, providing results in a fraction of the time.

Clariant announced that its new Plus series syngas catalysts have been successfully introduced to the market. Over the past five years, the company upgraded its portfolio of syngas catalysts, launching ReforMax LDP Plus, ShiftMax 217 Plus, and AmoMax 10 Plus catalysts. Based on their renowned forerunners, the new catalysts were designed as drop-in solutions to improve plant economics and reduce carbon emissions. These benefits have now been demonstrated in commercial use with highly favorable results.

For the quarter ended September 30, 2024 Apollo Tyres Ltd, on a consolidated level, registered a revenue of Rs 6437 crores, an increase of 3% over the same period last fiscal. For the six months of the fiscal (April – September), the company reported a revenue of Rs 12,772 crores, an increase of 2% over the same period last fiscal. Positive revenue growth was reported, especially from European Operations, in the second quarter.

Continental increased its earnings in the third quarter of 2024. In particular, the Automotive group sector made progress thanks to the measures taken to improve earnings, and it aims to make further gains in adjusted EBIT in the fourth quarter. As in the second quarter of 2024, the Tires group sector posted a good adjusted EBIT on the back of improved business in Europe, boosted not least by encouraging early sales of winter tires. Earnings in ContiTech, by contrast, were dented by continued weak industrial development in Europe and North America. Continental does not expect the industrial business to recover in the fourth quarter and is therefore adjusting its sales and earnings outlook for ContiTech. As a result, sales expectations have also been lowered for the Continental Group as a whole.

Brenntag announced the exclusive distribution agreement with Stepan for Germany and Austria. Stepan is a major global manufacturer of specialty and intermediate chemicals used in a broad range of industries.
This new agreement will enable Brenntag Specialties to further expand its portfolio of high-quality surfactants. It provides Brenntag customers in Germany and Austria with first-class products and services. The surfactants distributed through this partnership are essential components in many industrial and commercial applications, particularly in Home Care, I&I and Beauty & Personal Care products.

BASF announced that it will invest in additional production capacity for its X3D® technology, a new additive manufacturing technology for catalysts based on 3D printing. The plant will produce catalysts on an industrial scale and is expected to be operational in 2026.

Lubrizol announced it will exhibit at COMPAMED 2024 where they will highlight their extensive range of medical grade thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) solutions and differentiated design, development, and manufacturing services for medical devices.

COMPAMED, held at the Messe in Düsseldorf, Germany, is a premier international tradeshow dedicated to medical technology, showcasing the latest innovations, products, and services in the medical device industry. Lubrizol’s presence at this important event highlights the company’s commitment to driving advancements in the healthcare sector.

As farms grow and fields get farther apart, farm equipment—especially tractors—spend more time on the road. Getting from field to field smoothly and quickly is crucial for productivity. Choosing tires that match your operation’s in-field and on-road needs ensures safe, efficient and comfortable road travel while maintaining performance in the field.

The Grieve Corporation is currently marking its 75th year in business. Begun in 1949 as a small job shop in Chicago, the company now occupies a 100,000 square foot facility in Round Lake, Illinois.

Grieve ovens are utilized for a variety of heat treating applications such as drying gold ore samples, stress relieving automotive parts, and curing the coating on military aircraft canopies. Among the numerous industries they serve are aerospace, mining, pharmaceuticals, construction, automotive, and energy.

Continental increased its earnings in the third quarter of 2024. In particular, the Automotive group sector made progress thanks to the measures taken to improve earnings, and it aims to make further gains in adjusted EBIT in the fourth quarter. As in the second quarter of 2024, the Tires group sector posted a good adjusted EBIT on the back of improved business in Europe, boosted not least by encouraging early sales of winter tires. Earnings in ContiTech, by contrast, were dented by continued weak industrial development in Europe and North America. Continental does not expect the industrial business to recover in the fourth quarter and is therefore adjusting its sales and earnings outlook for ContiTech. As a result, sales expectations have also been lowered for the Continental Group as a whole.

Orion S.A. reported its financial results for the third quarter of 2024, highlighting net sales of $463.4 million, a slight decrease of $2.8 million year over year. The company faced a net loss of $20.2 million, significantly impacted by a $42.5 million loss due to misappropriation of assets. This resulted in a diluted loss per share of ($0.35), with the misappropriation contributing ($0.72) to this figure. However, Adjusted EBITDA increased by 4% to $80.1 million, while Adjusted Diluted EPS slightly decreased to $0.47.

For the first nine months of 2024, Orion’s net sales rose to $1,443.3 million, up $17.6 million year over year. Despite this, net income dropped to $27.0 million, again affected by the $42.5 million loss from asset misappropriation. Diluted EPS for this period was $0.46, down $1.19 year over year. Adjusted EBITDA for the nine months fell by 10% to $240.5 million, and Adjusted Diluted EPS decreased to $1.40.

Stratasys announced the latest updates to its FDM® Fused Deposition Modeling and P3™ Programmable PhotoPolymerization product portfolios. These will be showcased at Formnext 2024, November 19-22, in Frankfurt, Germany.

The FDM platform updates include release of the Fortus FDC™ filament drying cabinet, a new validated FDM® PC-ESD material for the Fortus® 450mc and F900® printers, and an expanded layer height option for Ultem™ 9085 resin, in new Red and Aircraft Gray colors. Stratasys is also adding new materials to its Origin® P3™ platform.