Olam Agri has completed its acquisition of Asia Africa Rubber Industry S.A., adding 176,000 metric tons of annual rubber processing capacity in Ivory Coast as the company moves to expand its natural rubber business and meet growing demand for traceable supplies.

The acquisition nearly doubles Olam Agri’s rubber processing capacity in the West African country and is expected to improve operational efficiency, supply reliability and access to international customers, the company said.

Fuel remains one of the largest and most volatile operating costs for truck fleets across the United States and Canada. As carriers look for ways to control expenses, a new Continental study points to a straightforward and often overlooked lever: tire pressure. The analysis found that keeping tires within the recommended pressure range improved fuel economy by 4.5 percent – savings that add up on every mile driven. The study also indicates that higher levels of underinflation have an even more dramatic impact on fuel economy.

Scientists at the University of South Florida say they have solved a long-standing mystery about why adding tiny particles of carbon black can transform soft rubber into a material strong enough to withstand extreme loads.

The discovery could help manufacturers design stronger, safer and longer-lasting rubber products, including tires, industrial seals and components used in aerospace and energy systems, according to the university.

IndexBox projects the market to expand at a baseline compound annual growth rate of 7.2% from 2026 through 2035. Using 2025 as a base year with an index of 100, the market is forecast to reach 198 by 2035.

As part of the EU-funded ZEvRA project, Continental has developed a concept tire made from around 43 percent recycled materials. The concept tire highlights the potential of innovative material approaches. It also demonstrates the need for a reliable framework when adopting recycling technologies on an industrial scale.

KraussMaffei is consistently advancing the development of ColorForm technology and is presenting two innovations for the in-mold coating of thermoplastic components. With a newly developed multi-color mixing head, color changes can now be carried out fully automatically and directly within the production process. At the same time, together with its long-standing development partner Siegfried Hofmann GmbH, the company has succeeded in reducing the polyurethane coating thickness to just 0.1 millimeters. Both developments increase the cost-effectiveness and flexibility of the ColorForm process and open up new fields of application for high-quality visible surfaces

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GPS 2026 – Louisville, KY; September 28-30 – Gain valuable business insights from industry experts tackling the biggest challenges and opportunities shaping the rubber and tire industries

Michelin announced that the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) and the Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO) have selected the company as the exclusive tire supplier for the Hypercar category of the FIA World Endurance Championship (FIA WEC) through the end of the 2032 season.

Jarrod Hunt, founder and Managing Director of Continuous Process Solutions, has been named as a finalist in the 2026 Allica Bank Great British Entrepreneur Awards, shortlisted in the Family Business Entrepreneur of the Year category.

H.B. Fuller Company announced that, following a thorough review supported by independent financial and legal advisors, its Board of Directors has unanimously rejected Ancora’s unsolicited, non-binding proposal to acquire its Building Adhesives Solutions (“BAS”) business.

The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd., announces that results of an international joint research project for “Development of Complex Technologies for Prevention and Control of Rubber Tree Leaf Fall Diseases” were presented on August 1 in a public lecture by lead researcher Minami Matsui on “The History of Rubber Trees Around the World and Collaborative International Measures Against Tree Leaf Fall Disease (LFD).”

Eriez® has appointed Graeme Bainbridge to the position of Director of Global Manufacturing. In this role, Bainbridge will lead and coordinate the company’s global production strategy, focusing on manufacturing alignment, fabrication processes, design standardization, operational efficiency and cost competitiveness.

The Association for Rubber Products Manufacturers (ARPM) will host its Seals Product Design and Manufacturing Training program October 26–30, 2026, at The Training Center at Metro Plastics Technologies, LLC, in Noblesville, Indiana. The intensive, five-day course is designed for design engineers, quality engineers, sales engineers, product engineers, and process engineers who work with rubber seals throughout the product development cycle.

United Steelworkers members have ratified a new contract with Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., securing a multiyear agreement covering roughly 2,600 workers at plants in Ohio, Kansas and Virginia.

Goodyear reiterated the planned closure in its Aug. 5 second-quarter earnings announcement, saying the Fayetteville facility will be closed as part of a strategy to “align its footprint with its evolving product portfolio and improve the competitiveness of its manufacturing network in the Americas.”

The company expects the action to improve Americas segment operating income by about $90 million in 2027 and approximately $270 million annually beginning in 2028, according to the earnings release.

The Tire Society, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to advancing the science and technology of tires, announced the Program for its 45th Annual Conference and Business Meeting on Tire Science and Technology. The conference will take place September 22–23, 2026, at the University of Akron’s Jean Hower Taber Student Union, under the theme “Reinventing the Tire: Digital Transformation, Data-Driven Advances, and Predictive Methods.”

The global market for Synthetic Rubber was valued at US$19.9 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach US$24.6 Billion by 2030, at a 3.6% CAGR from 2024 to 2030 according to Research and Markets. This in-depth report analyzes trends, drivers, and forecasts to support informed decisions. It integrates the most recent global tariff developments and their impact on supply chains and sourcing. Independent analysis of annual sales and forecasts from 2024 to 2030 equips you with clear, comparable metrics.

Continental celebrated the groundbreaking of its new highly automated finished-goods warehouse during a ceremony at its Mount Vernon, Illinois, tire plant Thursday. The event brought together plant employees, local officials and project stakeholders to mark the beginning of construction on the facility, which represents an investment of approximately $76 million and is expected to begin operations in 2027.

DUNLOP announced that it signed a joint research agreement in Bangkok, Thailand, on August 7, 2026, as a project under the Hevea Research Platform in Partnership (HRPP), an international platform for natural rubber research. The other parties to the agreement are the Rubber Authority of Thailand (RAOT), the French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development (CIRAD), and Thailand’s Khon Kaen University and Kasetsart University.

Dunlop Tires North America urges California to take a balanced approach to replacement tire efficiency rules, emphasizing the need to consider safety, performance, consumer choice, competition and the full environmental lifecycle of tires alongside rolling resistance.

Clariant announced the official launch of two new research and development laboratories for its Additives business in China: one at the Daya Bay production site in Huizhou and one at the One Clariant Campus (OCC) in Shanghai. The milestone marks a significant advancement in Clariant’s local innovation capability and its commitment to the “In China, For China” strategy.

A new global industry group, the Global Antioxidants and Light Stabilizers Alliance (GALA), has been created to strengthen industry advocacy and support the safe and sustainable use of antioxidants (AOs) and light stabilizers (LS).
Representing AOs and LS producers and stakeholders, GALA aims to provide a unified, science-based voice to support policymakers, regulators, and other stakeholders in making informed decisions about these important substances. Building on the strong foundation set by the former European ELiSANA initiative, GALA has a significantly expanded geographic reach and membership base.

Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation announced that it has decided to commercialize ultra-high-purity colloidal silica for use as a raw material for polishing agents in cutting-edge semiconductors. The Company plans to establish new production facilities at its Kyushu Plant (Fukuoka Area) in Kitakyushu City, Fukuoka Prefecture, and begin commercial operations there in October 2028.

Continental has launched a new 32mm size extension for its Aero 111 road tire. Developed in close collaboration with Swiss Side, Continental’s most aerodynamic tire is now available in a wider size, offering its proven drag-reducing performance to riders who demand a balance of high speed and enhanced comfort over tough terrain.

In the August issue of Rubber World Magazine, with a special emphasis on Chemicals & Materials, we cover the following

Pirelli Tire announced a new multi-year partnership with U.S. Ski & Snowboard, becoming an Official Partner of the organization through the 2028-2029 season. The agreement further strengthens Pirelli’s presence in one of its most strategic global markets while expanding the company’s growing portfolio of sports partnerships across North America.

Paul DiCaprio, former President of Specialty Silicone Products (SSP), has retired after a distinguished 21-year career with the company. Paul joined SSP in June 2005 and oversaw several facility expansions, major investments in equipment, and dramatic growth in both the advanced materials and laboratory products sides of their business. Thanks to Paul’s leadership and mentorship, SSP has talented team, strong capabilities, and a bright future.

MAXAM Tire announced the launch of the new MS963R RowXtra, a performance VF radial implement tire with steel belts, delivering exceptional flotation, durability and soil protection for today’s modern farming operations. Designed for balers, hay mergers, seeders and other agricultural implements, the MS963R helps farmers and growers maximize productivity while protecting the soil

Freudenberg Adhesive Clean Technology (FACT) complements the concept of the connector seals as a clean and efficient bonding system. It enables the elastomer to be permanently adhered to the cell connector surfaces, which typically resist bonding. Eliminating the conventional wet-chemical pretreatment offers the benefits of a resource-conserving manufacturing process and reduced dependence on bonding agents in the supply chain.

Trelleborg Sealing Solutions has earned the 2026 Emerson Sustainability Award. A global industrial automation leader, Emerson grants this prestigious recognition to suppliers and partners that ‘integrate environmental responsibility into their strategic business practices, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and promote transparency and collaboration with customers and stakeholders.’