Aug. 5 issue: Custom mixers ranked; manufacturers, compounders on growth paths

This week's issue of Rubber News features a special report on custom mixing, which includes our Custom Mixing Ranking. This year's ranking highlights over 25 companies with data on their number of employees, materials used, mixing volume, capacity and manufacturing sites.

Here's what's included in the special report on custom mixing:

• AirBoss of America Corp. is moving forward with purpose as the company is in the midst of a long-term restructuring;
• Chinese rubber compounder Jiangsu Guanlian New Material Technology Co. Ltd. has started up a new plant in China;
• Tina Darnell of Chardon Custom Polymers (who is on track to be board chair of the ACS Rubber Division in 2028) talks about her journey into the rubber industry during one of the division's WORD Conversations from earlier this year;
• Laur Silicone Inc. is investing $1 million toward the safety of its work force and quality of its silicone compounds; and
• Bill Hyde, vice president of olefins and elastomers for Chemical Market Analytics, gives a breakdown on what to expect for feedstock costs.

Global adhesives and sealants manufacturer H.B. Fuller Co. continues to help customers reach their own sustainability goals, now offering a waterborne product in its popular Cilbond series.

Goodyear is selling its off-the-road tire business to Yokohama Rubber Co. Ltd. in a $905 million cash sale, significantly bolstering the Japanese tire company's OTR unit for a second time in just over a year.

Hexpol Compounding Americas is making major investments in equipment, automation and sustainability efforts. The company expects capital expenditures to reach between $20 million and $25 million in 2024.

Nokian Tyres P.L.C. is hiring Paolo Pompei, former Trelleborg Wheel Systems president, to be its president and CEO. Pompei replaces Jukka Moisio, who announced in March his intention to retire.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration cited reclaimed rubber flooring producer Ecore International Inc. with 16 violations related to worker safety at the company's Mexia, Texas, facility.

Kuriyama of America Inc. is on a steady growth path. To support this, the Schaumburg, Ill.-based firm opened a new centralized distribution center earlier this year not far from its headquarters.

American Roller Co. also is on a path toward growth as the company added its 12th location in the U.S. with the acquisition of a Schaefer Rolls location in Covington, Va.

A healthy aviation industry is signaling opportunity for Michelin. The company is seeing year-over-year improvements as the commercial aviation sector finds its way back to pre-pandemic levels.

The tire maker also reported its first-half financial results, boasting the strength of its value-driven approach. While sales were down slightly for the first half of 2024 compared to 2023, Michelin saw year-over-year increases in segment operating income and segment operating margin.

Ansell completed its acquisition of Kimberly-Clark's Personal Protective Equipment business on July 2, a "strategic acquisition" valued at $640 million.

Global Rubber Industries Pvt. Ltd. has plans to double or triple its existing business over the next three to five years.

This issue's Technical Notebook features HF Mixing Group's Georgia Sharp, Ricarda Kendler, Henrike Steiner and Maik Rinker and their look at new intermeshing rotor technology to increase throughput and energy efficiency.