ERJ: Players of the Week

1. Continental addresses Nazi-era past

This alert is intended partly as a sideways glance at news from the rubber industry each week, but there is no making light of Continental’s programme to openly examine, understand and detail its activities in the dark years before and during World War II. Conti execs said lessons from the painful findings of an independent historical report – showing that the group was a “pillar” of the National Socialist regime – will guide global corporate strategy going forward.  Read more

2. Petronas, LG to build nitrile rubber plant in Malaysia

The lifeblood of the rubber industry is investment, not least in synthetic elastomer facilities. The plan by these Asian petchem majors to construct a 200ktpa nitrile rubber facility – to meet burgeoning global demand for protective latex gloves – is very welcome news for many stakeholders across the supply-chain.  Read more

3. Conti digital-tracking to support rubber supply-chain

Perhaps to emphasise its corporate and social responsibility credentials, Continental this week also unveiled its lead role in a German government-backed project to digitally trace all stages from cultivation of natural rubber through to tire production. Early results from a pilot involving 450 rubber growers in Indonesia indicate that the initiative can deliver significant gains for small farmers and the environment.   Read more

4. ELT recycling partnership targets multiple plants in Europe

As many ERJ readers will know, this is not the first time Danish group WindSpace have emerged in or around the ELT arena. There are still T&Cs attached to the agreement with carefully selected technology partner EWS, but could this play be the one to make real in-roads in the vast amount of scrap tires being generated each year?  Read more

5. Enviro deal with Michelin 'still on-track'

Swedish tire recycling group expects to finalise deal as per letter-of-intent, which grants contractual exclusivity for French group, preventing collaboration between Enviro and other tire makers or suppliers.   Read more

6. Maxam Tire unveils new solid tire factory

Few details given, but US-based Sailun subsidiary says facility delivers “advanced manufacturing” of solid OTR, construction and material-handling tires.   Read more

7. Magna rolls out Made in Holland earthmover tIre

Good to see European tire manufacture coming home:.“Demand from the market for Made in Holland tyres is increasing strongly...."  Read more

8. Trelleborg targets ‘bluer skies’ in China 

Swedish rubber company intensifies environmental investments at two Chinese production plants. Read more

9. Hexpol TPE expands bio-based compound offerings

Feature levels of renewable-content "to over 90%", for applications including automotive interior parts.  Read more

10. Apollo Covid-relief reaches over 1m people 

Kanwar: “Pandemic continues to impact all of us... being safe is the need of the hour.”   Read more

11. Flip-flops a small step for biodegradable PU...

Materials scientists tap the power of foam-eating enzymes to depolymerise polyurethane products.   Read more