Goodyear to cut emulsion SBR production

HOUSTON (April 11)—Goodyear plans to cut its emulsion SBR production by 100 million pounds and eliminate 40 jobs at its Houston plant because of lower demand for the synthetic rubber. E-SBR use has declined 10 percent in the past 10 years, according to International Institute of Synthetic Rubber Producers figures, Goodyear said, as manufacturers increasingly turned to solution SBR for tires. The company will start consolidating polymerization equipment April 20, a move that should improve manufacturing efficiencies, the firm said. Goodyear said some of the job cuts could come via attrition.