NERPG celebrates past chairs at meeting

FRANKLIN, Mass.—More than 60 people, including 22 past chairs, attended the New England Rubber & Plastics Group fall technical meeting, held Nov. 3 at the Franklin Country Club.

The meeting celebrated the past chairs of the Northeast region rubber groups. Eight graduate and undergraduate students represented the University of Massachusetts Student Chapter of the Rubber Division at the meeting.

Bob Ohm of Lion Elastomers, a past chair, and Charles Slack were among the presenters. Ohm offered a lecture on the history of rubber development, types of polymers, their properties and markets.

Slack, who wrote “Charles Goodyear's Noble Obsession” and the new 2016 book “Liberty's First Crisis: Adams, Jefferson, and the Misfits Who Saved Free Speech,” gave a talk relevant to the presidential election that was held five days later.

Ed Miller, executive director of the ACS Rubber Division, also addressed the group, reviewing the tradition of the industry and the work necessary to apply the lessons from the past in order to move forward.

NERPG is a product of the merger of the Boston, Rhode Island and Connecticut Rubber Groups. The merger was finalized in 2014. New England has a rich history tied to the American rubber industry, as Charles Goodyear worked in Connecticut and Massachusetts and conducted business activity in Rhode Island.

Following the invention of vulcanization in 1839, numerous rubber factories prospered in New England, and as professionals emerged within the industry, the Boston, Rhode Island and Connecticut Rubber Groups were founded between1928-46.

NERPG says it is the guardian of the tradition, history and innovation mentality of these groups and their members.