Rubber Division keynoter talks of biomimicry in tyres

ERJ staff report (R&PN)

Cleveland, Ohio -- -Polar bears, gekkos and sea mussels have been helping Bridgestone Corp. design tyres with better traction, according to Bob Handlos, vice president of Bridgestone Americas Center for Research and Technology, who delivered the keynote address Oct. 11, during the Rubber Expo in Cleveland.

Handlos said Bridgestone has been delving into biomimicry, adapting the features of polar bears' paws, gekkos' gripping ability and sea mussels' ability to grasp wet rocks to design better tyre traction.

He also discussed numerous ways Bridgestone is being environmentally responsible in reducing manufacturing waste, recycling tyres and helping local nature parks at its facilities around the world.

The new research center Bridgestone is constructing in is expected to be gold LEED certified for environmentally-friendly features. The new building will reduce Bridgestone's carbon footprint by 90 percent compared with the 100-year-old Firestone building in which the research center is currently housed.

From Rubber & Plastics News (A Crain publication)