ERJ News: Rubber Industry Players of the Week

1. J2A Expert Panel

This week’s top spot goes to the lead experts (listed below) on the judging panel for the inaugural Journey to Automation (J2A) Awards. Their unstinting dedication, backed by vast knowledge and expertise in the fields of tire design, manufacture, logistics and sustainability, are at the heart of establishing the J2A Awards as a valuable platform for discussion and debate around the digital transformation of the global tire industry. 
The J2A panel comprises: Mohammad Behroozi, senior vehicle dynamicist, General Motors; Malory Davies, former editor Logistics Manager Magazine; Pieter van der Klooster, director of international business development, International Society of Automation; Nikesh Mistry, sector head - industrial automation, GAMBICA, Jacob Peled, founder and executive chairman, Pelmar Group; Charlotte Stonestreet, editor, Controls, Drives & Automation; Dr. Harald Weber, project manager for technology and innovation, VDMA Plastics and Rubber Machinery.  Watch the J2A Video for the Awards Ceremony on 16 Sept and click the link for free registration.

2. Cokoon starts to spin 

With its open-technology model, there is a lot riding on this joint project between Continental AG and Turkey's Kordsa to introduce a new, more sustainable tire cord adhesive technology. The initiative is now making significant progress, according to the two companies. Read more

3. Nokian boss forecasts rebound, after 100 days

To mark his 100th day in office, new Nokian CEO and president Jukka Moisio said the company is in a good position for a post-Covid recovery. Nokian is aiming to bring production capacity at its manufacturing plants in Vsevolozhsk, Russia, and Dayton, Tennesee, up to capacity to prepare for an uptick in demand. Read more

4. China tire makers catching up with global leaders

Chinese tire makers that are performing better than their international counterparts during Covid economic downturn. China’s top 11 manufacturers registered an overall decline of 11% in sales in the first half of 2020, compared to a 23% decline in sales by the top eight global manufacturers. Read more 

5. Partial recovery for NR supply, demand

A better-than-expected economic recovery in China has improved the second half outlook for the natural rubber industry, with both demand and supply set to recover partially from the lows of early second quarter. Read more 

6. New Yokohama off-highway tire plant in India

Yokohama is setting up a new off-road tire production plant in southeastern India to meet growing demand for heavy tires produced by its subsidiary ATG. Read more

7. Michelin in major European ELT recycling project

Michelin has agreed to coordinate a €16m European consortium to design “world first” processes to recycle end-of-life tires (ELTs) for the production of new tires. Read more

8. Nexen enhances supply chain sustainability, joins GPSNR

Korean tire manufacturer Nexen Tire has joined the natural rubber value-chain, the Global Platform for Sustainable Natural Rubber (GPSNR), as part of an effort to increase the sustainability of its supply chain. Read more

9. Teknor TPEs for taps 

US compounder Teknor has launched a new series of thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs) that meet stringent German standards for drinking water applications. Read more

10. Bridgestone light tire technology on VW Golf 8

Two months after debuting its “revolutionary” Enliten tire technology on VW’s all-electric ID.3, Bridgestone is now supplying lightweight tires as OE fitment on the new Volkswage Golf 8. Read more