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

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

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

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

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

The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd., announced that through joint research with Dr. Bo Nils Johan Persson, a leading expert in the study of rubber friction and contact, it successfully developed the world’s first theoretical model to predict the rubber wear-rates on uneven road surfaces and the size distribution of wear particles.

In an effort to provide advanced education on the processing and property advantages of liquid silicone rubber (LSR), Shin-Etsu Silicones of America (SESA: A U.S. subsidiary of Shin-Etsu Chemical Co. Ltd., Japan) recently conducted its largest ever LIMS™ (Liquid Injection Molding System) Processing Training Course at their 7,000 ft2 state-of-the-art LIMS Technical Center (LTC) in Akron, Ohio. The hands-on training event took place over three days and was attended by over 30 industry customers and 15 supplier partners.

MAXAM Tire announced the launch of its latest product, the MS330. Engineered to excel across demanding applications, the MS330 features a range of enhancements designed to boost traction, improve heat resistance and extend overall tire life. From its robust casing design to its advanced tread compounds, the MS330 delivers superior performance where it matters.

Designed to help prevent the spread of fire, these innovative materials provide improved protection for various applications.
UL 94 for vertical flames is a plastics flammability standard released by the Underwriters Laboratories (USA), and its designation means the foam product releases water at certain temperatures to extinguish flames. The new flame-retardant Bellofram foam formulation improves upon the leading flame-retardant silicone foam in the market and is ideal for use in component product manufacturing serving diverse markets, including electronic enclosure seals, HVAC seals and gaskets, LED gaskets, electronic vehicle battery seals, and more.

March 19 – Course: Rubber Explained
This course was designed for sales and executives working in the rubber industry. Centered around practical explanations and basic fundamentals, this is the perfect course for the non-technical individual.

April 1 – Course: Sponge Rubber 101
This course was developed for those who currently make flexible cellular elastomer products and wish to expand their knowledge or students wanting to gain insights into these materials and how they can be used. This course will offer an overview of cellular material’s terminology, potential applications, economics, specifications, raw materials and compound construction. Additionally, there will be a review of the various processes used to produce cellular elastomer products, including mixing, various types of extrusion and molding.

Covestro announced that four of its U.S. sites have reached net-zero Scope 2 electricity emissions through the allocation of Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs). This achievement is a result of Covestro’s existing virtual Power Purchase Agreement (vPPA) with Ørsted, a clean energy leader in the U.S. market, headquartered in Denmark.

The WACKER Group is showcasing its new silicone sealant ELASTOSIL® eco 7770 P at the European Coatings Show 2025. Developed for construction and sanitary applications, the condensation-curing product is especially suitable for natural stone applications. The sealant’s special features include high resistance to mold and mildew combined with a low fungicide content and a very-low-emission classification in accordance with the guidelines of the German Association for the Control of Emissions in Products for Flooring Installation (GEV). ELASTOSIL® eco 7770 P is manufactured in a resource-efficient manner. It is the first silicone sealant that WACKER is offering exclusively as an eco-product. The European Coatings Show will be held in Nuremberg, Germany, from March 25 to 27, 2025.

Parmeshwaran joins Apollo Tyres from Beiersdorf AG, having worked across Germany, UAE, Russia and India. In his last role he was the Global Vice President, Digital Supply Chain, responsible for defining and implementing Digitalization initiatives in Supply Chain across the group. Prior to leading the digital transformation, he led the global competency team responsible for building capabilities in Planning, Logistics, Customer Service areas including S&OP, Cost to Serve, Logistics Excellence.

The BLUESIL™ RTV 3724 A&B, developed with MVP, advances silicone vacuum infusion molding. The product accelerates production, optimizes reusable vacuum bag construction and extends lifespan.

ACE Laboratories, an independent ISO/IEC 17025 accredited laboratory for testing and development services for rubber, silicone and polymers, has significantly expanded its accelerated weathering testing capacity to address industry-wide backlogs.

Virdis Chemicals Ltd has acquired the rubber curatives and additives business from Manchester based rubber recycler J. Allcock and Sons.

The Virdis team have many years’ experience of supply to the rubber, plastic, adhesives & coatings and damp & moisture control markets.
The acquisition strengthens Virdis’ rubber chemicals portfolio, adding the Intercure® range of curatives for FKM, plus carnauba wax and other essential rubber chemicals.

The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd., announced that it has begun supplying its ADVAN Sport EV tires as original equipment for the new Lynk & Co Z10 sedan launched by Lynk & Co, a joint venture between China’s Geely Auto Group and Sweden’s Volvo Car Group, in China in September 2024. The tire size is 245/50R19 105W.

Elkem’s total operating income for the fourth quarter 2024 was NOK 8,498 million, an increase of 5 per cent compared to the fourth quarter 2023. Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) was NOK 1,161 million, up 84 per cent from the corresponding quarter last year. Earnings per share (EPS) was NOK -0.03 in the quarter, and NOK 0.77 year-to-date. The board proposes a dividend of NOK 0.30 per share.

Greene Tweed joins as an Official Partner of the McLaren Formula 1 Team and the Arrow McLaren IndyCar Team and will support McLaren in exploring design, manufacturing, and delivery of high-performance and resilient materials to address the complex challenges McLaren Racing may face throughout the racing season. This collaboration will be grounded in technical cross-collaboration sessions focused on developing innovative solutions.

Akron, OH – The Rubber Division, ACS, is featuring Dr. Gregory B. McKenna from North Carolina State University as a

Lummus Technology and Versalis, Eni’s chemical company, announced a strategic partnership to license all of Versalis’ technologies in the phenolics value chain.

Lummus will serve as the exclusive licensor for phenolics technologies, which ranges from Cumene to Cyclohexanone Oxime. Both companies will also collaborate on engineering, marketing and licensing, as well as providing proprietary catalysts and equipment for both processes.

Denka launches Snecton, a low dielectric organic insulating resin with the electrical properties (low dielectric constant and low dielectric loss tangent) required of materials to reduce the loss of electrical signals (transmission loss) in next-generation high-speed communications (Beyond 5G and 6G).

Bridgestone Corporation has announced that it will supply “BATTLAX SPORT TOURING T32” as original equipment for the new sport touring models TRACER9, TRACER9 GT, and TRACER9 GT+ released by Yamaha Motor., Ltd.

The TRACER9, TRACER9 GT, and TRACER9 GT+ are sport touring models that combine high sports performance with practical functionality. Notably, the TRACER9 GT+, the flagship model in Yamaha Motor’s touring category, is newly equipped with an automatic transmission Y-AMT (Yamaha Automated Transmission) that eliminates the need for clutch lever and shift pedal operations.

Yokohama Tire is once again casting its marketing net to outdoor enthusiasts and the fishing community by renewing and upgrading its partnership with Bassmaster. The tiremaker announced today it has signed an agreement to sponsor multiple events, including title sponsorship of the Elite Series tournament in Lake St Clair, MI. The Yokohama Tire Bassmaster Elite runs from Aug. 7-10.

The February issue of Rubber World Magazine is now available online. This issue focuses on Carbon Black, Silica and Reinforcing

U.S. Medical Glove Company is making history with the launch of the most advanced glove-making machine in the world. This state-of-the-art technology is revolutionizing self-reliance and reindustrializing American manufacturing, setting a new benchmark for efficiency, precision, and scalability.

Housed at their Harvard, IL facility, this groundbreaking machine represents a major leap forward in domestic production.

The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd., announced its business and financial results for fiscal 2024 (January to December 2024). Sales revenue increased 11.1% over the previous year, to \1,094.7 billion, exceeding ¥1 trillion for the first time ever. In addition, the Company achieved record highs in all profit categories, with business profit rising to \134.4 billion, up 35.6% year on year; operating profit reaching \119.2 billion, up 18.7%; and profit attributable to owners of parent at \74.9 billion, up 11.4%. Business profit margin also rose to a record high of 12.3%.

Parker Hannifin Corporation announced that Joachim Guhe, President – Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) Group, will retire after 32 years of dedicated service. Mr. Guhe will step down from his current role on June 30, 2025, but continue with the company until August 31, 2025, to ensure a successful leadership transition.

Pirelli has launched the new Cinturato, a summer tire designed for premium cars – from sedans to CUVs – intended both as original equipment and for the replacement market. Thanks to Pirelli’s research and innovation as well as the extensive use of virtual design, the new generation of Cinturato stands as the current benchmark for safety and efficiency, in line with Pirelli’s ‘eco-safety’ strategy.

Nokian Tyres’ factory in Oradea, Romania has obtained the International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC) PLUS. With the certification, Nokian Tyres is able to utilize sustainable, ISCC PLUS certified raw materials in its tires.

Nokian Tyres will introduce the certified raw materials when new flagship products are launched. Using the certified materials supports the company in reaching one of its key sustainability goals, which is to increase the share of recycled or renewable raw materials in its tires to 50 percent by 2030.