Opening a new chapter in the history of ERJ 

London – We are pleased to announce a new chapter in the history of European Rubber Journal (ERJ), which has been at the heart of the global rubber industry since the inception of the magazine over 136 years ago.

This follows the acquisition, on 5 Feb, by our new company NUERJ Ltd from Crain Communications, which has passed the mantle after a decades-long association with the London-based publication. 

ERJ dates back to the launch of India-Rubber Journal (full name India-Rubber and Gutta-Percha Rubber and Electrical Trades Journal) on 6 August 1884 - published by Abraham Kingdon & Co. of Moorfields, London.  

In 1900, India-Rubber Journal magazine was sold to Maclaren and Sons of Glasgow, Scotland for £750. 

In 1955, Maclaren shortened the name of the magazine to Rubber Journal and, three years later, renamed the title again; this time to Rubber Journal and International Plastics. 

In 1967, the UK joined the European Economic Community (forerunner to the European Union), prompting Maclaren to rename the magazine European Rubber Journal.

Family-owned Crain, based in Detroit, Michigan, purchased European Rubber Journal magazine from Maclaren in 1981. 

ERJ’s new owner NUERJ includes many decades of experience in producing publications and events for professionals working in the fields of engineering, process-engineering and laboratory-science – as well as, of course, elastomers/rubber. 

“As editor of ERJ for the past seven years, it has been a privilege to be part of a Crain team, with some of the best industry journalists and publishing & events support staff I have ever worked with,” said Patrick Raleigh, editor, ERJ and director of NUERJ.

“With the NUERJ team, I now look forward to further enhancing the role of ERJ as the leading communications-platform and information service for the global rubber and tire industries,” added Raleigh.

“We wish editor Patrick Raleigh and the team at NUERJ the very best in this new chapter. The ERJ readers remain in excellent hands with Patrick leading coverage of this vital market,” said Brennan Lafferty, vice president and group publisher at Crain Communications.

Please note that the digital copy of ERJ Jan/Feb 2021 magazine will be issued this week. The ERJ March/April issue will be the first print edition under the new ownership. For all comments and enquiries please email the ERJ Desk.  

Also, we will soon be inviting views from readers everywhere on how ERJ can best meet their needs, particularly amid current market upheavals and trends such as digitalisation, sustainability and new-mobility. 

Our guiding aim is to continue to report on the invaluable contribution of elastomeric materials to modern society as well as on the ever-evolving role of our industry – still the most innovative and dynamic materials-science-based sector in the world.