Skip to main content
Sister Publication Links
  • European Rubber Journal
  • Plastics News
  • Tire Business
Subscribe
  • Login
  • Register
  • Subscribe
  • News
    • Tire
    • Airless Tires
    • Non-Tire
    • More News
    • Suppliers
    • Silicone
    • Latex
    • Technical Notebooks
    • Opinion
    • Online Exclusive
    • Special Reports
    • Automotive
    • Executive Action
    • Government/Legal
    • Sustainability
    • Blogs
      • Products
      • Wacky World of Rubber
    • Best Places to Work
    • War in Ukraine
    • Rubber Division IEC
    • ITEC
    • Women Breaking the Mold
  • PFAS
  • Custom
    • Sponsored Content
    • White Papers
  • Resources
    • Directory
    • Classifieds & Mold Mart
  • Data
  • Events
    • RN Events
    • RN Livestreams/Webinars
    • Industry Events
    • Past Events
    • Rubber News M&A Live
    • PFAS Live
    • Ask the Expert
    • International Tire Exhibition & Conference (ITEC)
    • Women Breaking the Mold Networking Forum
  • Advertise
  • DIGITAL EDITION
MENU
Breadcrumb
  1. Home
  2. News
September 14, 2015 02:00 AM

McGraw looks back on career in SR industry

Bruce Meyer
  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Share
  • Email
  • More
    Print
    Bruce Meyer
    James McGraw, a 40-year industry veteran who served as the IISRP managing director since 1999, has retired from the post. He is working with new Managing Director Juan Ramon Salinas during a three-month transition and will serve as an adviser to the Executive Committee for a year.

    HOUSTON—James McGraw is in the twilight of a 40-plus year career in the synthetic rubber industry, and he has seen much change in that time.

    He joined Michelin's American Synthetic Rubber Co. in 1975 and remained with the company until 1997, when he became deputy director of the International Institute of Synthetic Rubber Producers. He took over as the association's managing director two years later, a post he retired from July 1, and he is now helping to train his successor and serving a one-year stint as adviser to the Executive Committee.

    McGraw has seen much rationalization and consolidation in the SR industry, along with a significant shift of capacity to Asia. Membership in the institute used to be split fairly even between the Americas, Asia and the Europe, Middle East and Africa section, he said, but Asia now probably accounts for 45 percent of members.

    He will continue to manage two projects he has been intimately involved with that are ending. One is putting together the proceedings from a health and safety meeting on major monomers that the IISRP co-sponsored with the American Chemistry Council's Olefins unit.

    The other is an epidemiology research report that has been ongoing since the late 1970s in conjunction with the University of Alabama on SBR workers in North America. “We're now nearing the end of that where the manuscripts are being prepared,” McGraw said. “I'll still be managing that activity because if you've never had the exposure to this kind of research, it's hard to get up to speed quickly, and that will be phasing itself out in the next few months.”

    One accomplishment he is most proud of during his tenure was greatly improving the association's efficiency. When he came on board, he observed that too many errors were being made. He said he implemented a simple quality control process and also discovered that too many people were involved in the planning of each individual activity.

    “Once we developed some accountability, our error rate went way down, and our efficiency went way up,” he said.

    Feedback from members led to development of an improved website and the forging of a strategic alliance with the China Rubber Industry Association to gather more accurate statistical data on the SR industry in China.

    One of his regrets was not being able to re-recruit Lanxess A.G. as a member of the association. The German company and others pulled out in 2003 when the SR industry was hit by a price fixing scandal.

    “It was a difficult time for the industry,” McGraw said. “We lost a lot of members. It was bad for the industry as a whole because of what a few companies did.”

    He added that none of those members have returned to the IISRP fold.

    McGraw has one bit of advice for his successor, Juan Ramon Salinas: “You've got to stay close to the membership. That's the lifeblood of the organization.”

    Related Articles
    Nelson elected IISRP president
    Former Dynasol executive to lead IISRP
    IISRP elects two new members
    Changes atop IISRP: Transition going well for Salinas
    Changes atop IISRP: Transition going well for Salinas
    SW Safety Solutions hires two executives
    IISRP published new edition of Worldwide Rubber Statistics
    Video: IISRP leaders present and past
    IISRP publishes Synthetic Rubber Manual
    IISRP to honor McGraw, Wouters
    McGraw reflects as he receives IISRP honor
    Letter
    to the
    Editor

    Rubber News wants to hear from its readers. If you want to express your opinion on a story or issue, email your letter to Editor Bruce Meyer at [email protected].

    Most Popular
    1
    UAW adds 38 GM, Stellantis parts distribution centers to strike
    2
    WDK warns of 'immense pressure' on German rubber industry
    3
    ARPM webinar: Prolonged UAW strike would hit auto suppliers hard
    4
    Federica Tondini, Prometeon Tyre Group | Women Breaking the Mold 2023
    5
    Breaking molds, inspiring an entire industry | Women Breaking the Mold 2023
    SIGN UP FOR NEWSLETTERS
    EMAIL ADDRESS

    Please enter a valid email address.

    Please enter your email address.

    Please verify captcha.

    Please select at least one newsletter to subscribe.

    Get our newsletters

    Staying current is easy with Rubber News delivered straight to your inbox, free of charge.

    Subscribe Today

    Subscribe to Rubber News to get the best coverage and leading insights in the industry.

    SUBSCRIBE
    Connect with Us
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • Twitter

    MISSION

    To serve companies in the global rubber product industry by delivering news, industry insights, opinions and technical information.

    Contact Us

    2291 Riverfront Pkwy, Suite 1000
    Cuyahoga Falls,
    OH 44221

    Customer Service:
    877-320-1726

    Resources
    • About Us
    • Digital Edition
    • Staff
    • Advertise
    • Order Reprints
    • Privacy Policy
    • Privacy Request
    • Terms of Service
    • Careers
    • Ad Choices
    • Sitemap
    Partner Sites
    • Tire Business
    • European Rubber Journal
    • Plastics News
    • Urethanes Technology
    • Automotive News
    • Crain Brands
    Copyright © 1996-2023. Crain Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    • News
      • Tire
      • Airless Tires
      • Non-Tire
      • More News
        • Automotive
        • Executive Action
        • Government/Legal
        • Sustainability
        • Blogs
          • Products
          • Wacky World of Rubber
      • Suppliers
      • Silicone
      • Latex
      • Technical Notebooks
      • Opinion
      • Online Exclusive
      • Special Reports
        • Best Places to Work
        • War in Ukraine
        • Rubber Division IEC
        • ITEC
        • Women Breaking the Mold
    • PFAS
    • Custom
      • Sponsored Content
      • White Papers
    • Resources
      • Directory
      • Classifieds & Mold Mart
    • Data
    • Events
      • RN Events
        • International Tire Exhibition & Conference (ITEC)
        • Women Breaking the Mold Networking Forum
      • RN Livestreams/Webinars
      • Industry Events
      • Past Events
      • Rubber News M&A Live
      • PFAS Live
      • Ask the Expert
    • Advertise
    • DIGITAL EDITION