Industry Trends
July 2024
See what has been happening in Asia’s plastics & rubber industries over the last weeks. What are experts and industry magazines talking about?
What has been happening?
Top five all-electric injection moulding myths, Recycled PE grades with up to 100% PCR for shrink films, Concept tire using lignin-based material, and more. Find out what plastic & rubber journals and industry experts have been discussing in the last four weeks.
Latest Plastics & Rubber Articles
Top five all-electric injection moulding myths
Ashlee Gough, area sales manager at Sumitomo (SHI) Demag UK delves into and discredits the top five injection moulding myths regularly encountered.
Recycled PE Grades With Up to 100% PCR for Shrink Films
An innovative family of recycled PE resins has been launched by Dow and is the result of a collaboration with long-time customer RKW Group, a leading European shrink film manufacturer. The company says its new Revoloop resins mark a milestone in their commitment to advancing circularity. By 2030, Dow aims to “Transform the Waste” and commercialize three million metric tons of circular and renewable solutions annually.
Nokian Tyres and UPM create concept tire using lignin-based material
Nokian Tyres has entered a collaboration with UPM, a biomaterials production expert, to enhance sustainability in the tire industry. They are introducing a concept tire made with UPM’s BioMotion RFF, a new renewable material that can replace a large portion of the carbon black traditionally used in tire production.
A more sustainable Method for packaging with ‘coastal' plastics
The brand, owned by SC Johnson & Son Inc., now says half-a-dozen products utilize plastics recovered within 31 miles of coasts.
Americhem launches line of PFASfree internally lubricated compounds
Americhem, a designer and manufacturer of custom colour masterbatch, functional additives, engineered compounds, and performance technologies, has launched the EcoLube line of PFAS-free internally lubricated compounds.
European Trio Targets Tires-to-Polymer Recycling
Borealis, Covestro, and Neste aim at closing loop for automotive industry by converting discarded tires into polycarbonate.
Vynova announces R&D programme on PVC recycling technologies
Vynova has announced the launch of a research & development programme to further advance PVC recycling and help the PVC value chain accelerate towards circularity.
ExxonMobil highlighting certified circular resins
Certified-circular resins were in focus for ExxonMobil Corp. at NPE2024 in Orlando. “Sustainability is a core part of what we’re talking about,” Matt Loach, global polyethylene marketing manager, said at the event. “We’re designing materials for recycling in monomaterial products and for downgauging to do more with less material.”
Enso plans to build US$500m carbon-neutral tire factory in the US
Enso, a tire technology company focused on electric vehicles (EVs), has signed a letter of interest (LOI) with the Export-Import Bank of the United States (US EXIM Bank) to establish America’s first carbon-neutral tire factory. This facility, valued at US$500m, will produce 5 million EV tires annually by 2027, eventually creating 600 jobs and potentially expanding to 2,400 jobs as production scales to 20 million tires per year.
BKT joins Global Platform for Sustainable Natural Rubber
Off-highway tire manufacturer BKT has announced its membership of the Global Platform for Sustainable Natural Rubber (GPSNR) which, it says, signifies its commitment to promoting long-term sustainable practices and environmentally friendly production in line with GPSNR principles. Natural rubber production presents opportunities for environmental and social improvements.
Pirelli introduces first FSC-certified bicycle tire
Pirelli has announced that its P Zero Race TLR RS tire is now the first in the cycling industry to use FSC-certified natural rubber. The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification ensures that the natural rubber comes from responsibly managed plantations that preserve biodiversity and support local communities and workers. The P Zero Race TLR RS, produced at Pirelli’s Bollate, Milan plant, is the initial model in a future range featuring FSC certification.
Algae’s Remarkable Role in Sustainable Packaging’s Future
Cutting-edge algae-based bioplastics could revolutionize sustainable packaging (and beyond) while meeting consumer and regulatory demands.
Falken launches Ziex ZE320 tire with enhanced environmental credentials
Falken Tyres has introduced its latest tire model, the Ziex ZE320, which incorporates sustainable rice husk silica to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The Ziex ZE320, the successor to the Ziex ZE310 Ecorun, is designed to provide improved performance and be more environmentally friendly. The first 12 sizes of the tire are expected to be available in Europe by early summer 2024, with an additional 48 sizes planned for release by spring 2025.
Transluscent Colorants for Injection Molded Parts
A new series of translucent color and effects have been developed by Ampacet for injection molded parts that are meticulously crafted to evoke the beauty of celestial phenomena. The Artemis Collection of masterbatches is said to harness the dazzling look of backlighting or dead-fronting, leveraging advanced pigment technologies to create three-dimensional, crater-like surfaces.
Yokohama to build new tire plant in China
Japanese tire maker Yokohama has announced it will build a new passenger car tire plant in China, located in the Qiantang New District of Hangzhou City, Zhejiang Province. The new facility will have an initial annual production capacity of 9 million tires, with further expansion to be considered in the future. Planned capital investment is approximately ¥36.7bn (approximately US$227.6m), and production at the new plant is scheduled to start in the second quarter of 2026.
Continental opens fourth expansion at Hefei plant
Continental has celebrated the grand opening of the fourth expansion phase of its tire plant in Hefei, China, which recently received an International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC) Plus sustainability certification.The company says the expansion will increase the facility’s annual production capacity to 18 million passenger and light truck tires by 2027. The total investment in the Hefei site now stands at close to €1bn (US$1.
Even as plastic bag use at supermarkets declines, Singapore is in early phase of sustainability transition: Experts
Singapore’s implementation of a plastic bag charge has led to the beginning of a change in norms, but mindset changes at a different rate for everyone, says a consumer behaviour expert.
Mondelēz International Achieves Plastic Packaging Goals in the Philippines
Global snacking leader Mondelez International strives to advance its support for a more circular economy for packaging in the Philippines. Recently, the Company has made strides to advance more sustainable snacking by reducing its packaging use, evolving its packaging, and helping improve diversion systems in the Country.
PHL rubber producers pushed to raise raw material sales to Yokohama Tire
TheDepartment of Trade and Industry (DTI) said it the rubber industry could end up generating P1 billion in revenue if it can supply 100% of Yokohama Tire Philippines, Inc.’s raw material requirements. Trade Secretary Alfredo E. Pascual told reporters at a recent briefing that the Japanese parent company, Yokohama Rubber Co., is planning to expand its Philippine footprint with an additional investment in its Clark facility.
TFEX deal to publish standardised rubber reference prices
Thailand Futures Exchange (TFEX) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Rubber Authority of Thailand (RAOT) to jointly establish standardised rubber reference prices for both domestic and international players.
Stats Dept: Malaysia's natural rubber output drops 20.9pc in April
Malaysia’s natural rubber (NR) production fell by 20.9 per cent to 21,325 tonnes in April 2024 from 26,966 tonnes in March of this year, according to the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DoSM). Year-on-year, NR production decreased by 9.1 per cent to 23,460 tonnes in April 2023, it said in a statement. Chief statistician Datuk Seri Mohd Uzir Mahidin stated that smallholders contributed 89.
Malaysia can achieve double digit growth in rubber gloves export in 2024
The Ministry of Plantation and Commodities is cautiously optimistic that Malaysia will be able to achieve a double digit growth in rubber gloves export revenue this year.
Related Articles & Trends
Plastics & Rubber Trends – August 2024
Aug 9, 2024
Top tools for injection molding, Additives boast sustainability without sacrificing performance, Why did this ice cream brand pick plastic pints over paperboard, and more. Find out what plastic & rubber journals and industry experts have been discussing in the last four weeks.
Plastics & Rubber Trends – June 2024
Jun 10, 2024
Cool paint made sustainable using recycled plastics, Materials companies show off sustainability at NPE2024, and more. Find out what plastic & rubber journals and industry experts have been discussing in the last four weeks.
Plastics & Rubber Trends – May 2024
May 12, 2024
Sustainability in molding, Rubber production and the path to sustainability, Sustainable seating from packaging waste at the Olympics, and more. Find out what plastic & rubber journals and industry experts have been discussing in the last four weeks.