Nokian Tyres and UPM, which produces biomaterials, are partnering to introduce what they say is “the first concept tyre made with a new renewable material with the potential to replace a significant part of the carbon black currently used in tyre production“.
A tyre with a tread enhanced with single wall carbon nanotubes was exposed to accelerated wear and handling simulation tests by Akron Rubber Development Laboratory. Analysis of captured airborne particles showed no free-standing nanotubes, according to Luxembourg-based OCSiAl, which produces carbon nanotubes.
Sri Trang Agro-Industry has joined 23 other rubber producers, processors and traders at GPSNR making the industry-wide transition to sustainable natural rubber. Sri Trang Agro-Industry Public Company Limited (STA) has specifically joined the producers, processors and traders category.
Synthos is closing its synthetic rubber Emulsion-SBR (ESBR) production line in the Czech Republic due to “the unsustainable market environment for ESBR due to unpredictable costs in Europe”. Synthos will cease ESBR production at its Kralupy, Czech Republic operation in the second quarter of this year.
Oil refiner and tyre industry supplier Nynas AB has formally appointed Bo Askvik as president and CEO of Nynas on a continuing basis with immediate effect.
Michelin is coordinating 7 industrial partners, 5 Research & Technological Organizations (RTOs) and an innovation cluster into a European consortium designing pioneering processes to produce new tyres from end-of-life tyres (ELTs). The project, called BlackCycle owing to its focus on developing a circular economy for tyres, is run across five countries.
On 13 July Orion Engineered Carbons announced it will implement price increases on all Specialty Carbon Blacks worldwide beginning 1 September 2018. According to the company, these actions are due to “continuously rising costs for raw materials and freight”.
Bekaert and ArcelorMittal have integrated Bekaert’s formerly wholly-owned steel cord subsidiary in Sumaré (Brazil) into the BMB (Belgo Mineira Bekaert Artefatos de Arame Ltda) partnership.
In line with the shareholding structure of the BMB joint venture, ArcelorMittal has become the majority shareholder (55.5%) of the steel cord entity in Sumaré and Bekaert retains the remaining shares (44.5%).
Just three days after buying Trelleborg’s Czech compounding operation, on 3 April Hexpol announced it has signed an agreement to acquire the business of Valley Processing from Ted Ballou and his family. The acquisition price amounts to approximately US$44 million on a cash and debt free basis. There will also be an additional product transfer fee, which will be paid later.
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