Continental is celebrating 15 years since establishing its tire business in Thailand and five years of tire production in its tire plant in Rayong this month. The tire manufacturer had invested a total of €250 million in the plant located in the eastern part of the country. With around 900 local manufacturing employees, Continental’s Rayong tire plant has an annual production capacity of 4.8 million passenger and light truck tires (PLT) as well as motorcycle tires, serving both the original equipment and replacement sector.
Univar Solutions, LLC announced that it is expanding its partnership with Dow to distribute construction silicone products in various regions of Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). The partnership will give customers in the region access to a broader range of essential construction silicone products, which offer exceptional performance and durability in harsh weather conditions and other environmental elements. These products offer enhanced protection to different substrates and building materials, helping maximize substrate life, minimize costly and time-consuming maintenance and repairs, and improve aesthetic appeal overall.
The performance elastomer market is estimated to be worth US$ 19.8 billion in 2024 and is projected to be valued at US$ 41 billion in 2034. Between 2024 and 2034, the industry is expected to register a CAGR of 7.6% according to Future Market Insights.
West Warwick, RI – Guill Tool recently announced EuroDev as their new European sales representative company. They will offer the
Versa Machinery will feature servo powered High Speed Cutter/Puller Systems capable of feeding, measuring, and then cutting extruded materials to exact lengths at up to 3000 cuts/minute (up to 6000 cuts/minute with two knife option) in NPE booth #W6489. With exclusive Adaptive Cutting Technology software, these robust machines provide a broad range of cutting capabilities. The systems software makes the necessary calculations to determine the best cutting mode for each application. An operator simply enters the line speed and cut length through an easy-to-use panel view interface and the ACT software does the rest. Complete systems include a servo-controlled cutter, a servo controlled pinch roller or caterpillar feeder, with integral cut length and batch controls. Length counter adjustable from .001” to 999.999”. Versa high speed cutter/puller systems accurately cut plastic and rubber tubing, shapes, and profiles to 3-inches in diameter (OD).
ARLANXEO held a groundbreaking ceremony for its new Therban® hydrogenated nitrile butadiene rubber (HNBR) plant in Changzhou, China. With a nameplate annual production capacity of 5,000 tons, the first phase of construction will allow for the production of 2,500 tons of high-quality rubber per year. The plant is expected to begin operations in the third quarter of 2025.
Effects of using hydrogenated styrenic thermoplastic elastomers (SEBS) to improve the properties of a foamed commodity polypropylene for automotive applications are presented.
Global emissions of greenhouse gases from trucks and passenger cars are influenced by the deformation energy and friction losses of tires. It is mostly associated with the rolling resistance between the tire tread and the road surface. For this reason, the rolling resistance is considered one of the most important performance indicators (that is, targeted to be reduced) within the tire industry.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued a final rule that will significantly reduce toxic air pollution from chemical plants, including ethylene oxide and chloroprene. Once implemented, the rule will reduce both EtO and chloroprene emissions from covered processes and equipment by nearly 80%. A requirement for these facilities to conduct fence line monitoring for key toxic chemicals is included, and EPA will make the data publicly available to better inform and safeguard nearby communities.
EIBINGER announces the developed a special ink for cable marking and meter marking of extruded goods, one that adheres reliably to PVC materials. This ink is resistant to plasticizers which means it can prevent the effect described above of accidental transfer prints. With a Blue Wool Scale (BWS) ranking of 8, it also possesses exceptional UV stability.
EPFL researchers are targeting the next generation of soft actuators and robots with an elastomer-based ink for 3D printing objects with locally changing mechanical properties, eliminating the need for cumbersome mechanical joints.
Low temperature
seals for oil and gas
applications
ACE Laboratories has announced another new testing capability. This latest addition provides the ability to test and analyze windshield wiper blades and wipe systems.
The custom engineered testing system allows ACE to include energy consumption analysis as part of the testing protocol in addition to traditional durability analysis. ACE’s testing system also allows for customization to nearly all windshield types with angle and pressure controls to ensure testing is completed according to OEM specifications.
Molecular Rebar in Aflas FEPM, when used in an Aflas compound formulation, results in improved tear toughness and high temperature modulus retention.
The performance elastomer market is estimated to be worth US$ 19.8 billion in 2024 and is projected to be valued at US$ 41 billion in 2034. Between 2024 and 2034, the industry is expected to register a CAGR of 7.6% according to Future Market Insights.
Researchers from the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) have increased the fatigue threshold of particle-reinforced rubber, developing a new, multiscale approach that allows the material to bear high loads and resist crack growth over repeated use. This approach could not only increase the longevity of rubber products such as tires but also reduce the amount of pollution from rubber particles shed during use.
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This issue focuses on
Automotive Elastomers
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