Pinizzotto new IRSG secretary general
The International Rubber Study Group, IRSG has named Salvatore Pinizzotto as its new secretary general. Pinizzotto will officially take up the post on 1 January 2017 at the end of the tenure of Dr Stephen Evans.
Raw Materials
Posts
Conti and Corghi amongst winners of 2016 Automechanika Innovation Awards
The Automechanika Innovation Awards 2016 have been announced – and tyre manufacturer Continental and tyre equipment manufacturer Corghi are amongst the winners. On 23 August 2016, the independent jury of nine experts reached agreement on eight award winners whose innovative solutions and future-oriented products will be presented for the first time in an interactive special show in the ‘Festhalle’ during the coming Automechanika Frankfurt on 13 September 2016.
Sentury and Huagao cooperate on first graphene tyre
On 3 August 2016 Sentury Tire and Huagao Graphene Technology Corporation hosted a ceremony marking the two firm’s cooperation on their first (and possibly the first) graphene high performance car tyre.
Qingdao information technology department vice director Wang Jian, deputy mayor of Qingdao Sun Mingming, China grapheme industry alliance secretary Li Yichun, chairman of Sentury Qin Long and Sentury president Lanny represented Sentury by attending the signing ceremony.
Orion to close French carbon black factory by end of 2016
On 18 August Orion Engineered Carbons S.A.’s French subsidiary, Orion Engineered Carbons SAS, reached an agreement with the Works Council and labour union at its Ambes, France facility on a comprehensive social plan. Following this agreement, the French subsidiary will “proceed to implement the restructuring and down staffing of that facility with cessation of production at the site expected by the end of 2016”.
Exol Pride sets sail, transporting raw materials by canal
Exol Lubricants has recently added a new barge, “Exol Pride,” to the North East Waterways, which will transport raw materials from Hull to its bulk blending plant in Rotherham. Exol has been a long term user of the waterways, leading the oil and lubricants market by using an environmentally friendly option while transporting large loads. The company has been commended for its reduction in carbon footprint and has even featured in ITV’s Barging about Britain, hosted by John Sergeant.
HERA takes share in Lehigh Spain, European MRP supply to start Q1 2017
When US-based specialty chemicals company Lehigh Technologies began its working relationship with Spanish waste to resources company HERA Holding several years ago, its vision was to eventually set up a facility for supplying European and other tyre makers with locally-produced micronised rubber powder (MRP). The final step towards realising this goal has now been taken through the formation of a joint venture between the two companies to operate the first MRP facility in Europe.
Biesterfeld establishes Performance Rubber division
Specialists chemicals firm Biesterfeld Group has established Performance Rubber GmbH, which commenced operations on 1 July 2016. The new division combines all international business activities of the rubber processing industry. The aim is to further develop the rubber business strategically, while strengthening the Group’s role as a leading European distributor in this industrial segment.
Smithers: carbon black market up 5.4 per cent during last four years
New data produced by Smithers Rapra suggests the carbon black market has grown at an average of 5.4 per cent during the period between 2011 and 2015. As a results demand reached 13 million tons in 2015. To put this figure into context, global demand for carbon black was estimated at 10.7 million tons in 2011 – and this figure is said to represent “a good recovery” from the 15 per cent contraction between 2008 and 2009.
Omsk Carbon USA appoints new manager
Omsk Carbon USA LLC has appointed Piotr Pawlicki as its new manager. According to the company, Pawlicki’s main responsibility will be increasing sales in conjunction and improving customer service for Omsk Carbon Group customers in the North America. The office functions also include overseeing logistics, accounting and HR management.
Toyo supports sustainable natural rubber economy initiative
Toyo Tire & Rubber Co., Ltd. is participating in the Sustainable Natural Rubber Initiative (SNR-i), an effort put forward by the International Rubber Study Group (IRSG) to ensure the sustainability of natural rubber as a resource.
Kordsa Global a ‘great place to work’
Tyre cord manufacturer Kordsa Global has been recognized as a “great place to work” in Bahia, Brazil, the company announced. According to a survey conducted by the Great Place to Work Institute that included nearly 40 companies, Kordsa Global ranked 7th in the list of best employers.
Orion’s new carbon blacks “improve fuel efficiency of tyres”
On 23 May, US-based Orion Engineered Carbons released three new products that it says create more fuel efficient tyres. The new tyres come in response to consumer demand and legal standards for vehicle fuel economy. As far as the US federal version of these rules are concerned, these grades offer reduction in rolling resistance via narrow particle size distributions and lower sidewall hysteresis; and lower air permeation through the inner liner for better tyre inflation consistency.
Orion Engineered Carbons to close French carbon black factory
On 3 June Orion Engineered Carbons S.A., the carbon black manufacturer, said the management of its company in France (Orion Engineered Carbons SAS) had begun consultations with the Works Council at its Ambes, France facility in order to implement a restructuring and “down staffing” with “a potential cessation of production at the site by the end of 2016”. The French Orion plant employs approximately 40 people.
Cabot to open ‘clean technology’ research centre in Shanghai
On 2 June, US carbon black manufacturer Cabot said it will open a research centre in Shanghai to develop “clean technologies and specialty chemicals”.
Solvay Silica appoints Lintech as a US distributor
Lintech International LLC has reported that it has been appointed as a non-exclusive distributor for Solvay Silica in the US, covering markets including the manufactured rubber goods (MRG) market.
