Feb. 17 issue: Trump's sweeping tariffs; Bridgestone restructuring; custom mixing directory

This week's issue of Rubber News features a special report on custom mixing with the latest directory of North American custom mixers.

Also included in this report:

• Hexpol Compounding Americas says it remains committed to sustainable solutions. The company also is streamlining its North American operations to remain a top rubber supplier.
• Circular Rubber Platform is dedicated to reducing rubber waste by working with companies around the world.
• Cabot Corp. is assessing the potential impacts of U.S. tariffs.
• Orion S.A. has entered into a long-term supply agreement with Contec S.A. for tire pyrolysis oil.

President Donald Trump has implemented 10-percent tariffs on Chinese goods, blanket 25-percent tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports, and has threatened to bring additional 25-percent tariffs against Canada and Mexico as early as March. It's an aggressive approach that is certain to have impacts across the rubber industry and manufacturing spaces.

Bridgestone Americas Inc. is shuttering its 53-year-old LaVergne, Tenn., truck/bus tire plant, resulting in the loss of over 700 jobs. This closure is the latest in a series of moves intended to streamline the tire maker's operations in North and Latin America.

APROMAC, a West African organization dedicated to enhancing rubber production and processing in Cote d'Ivoire, met with key industry stakeholders last month in Akron, seeking opportunities for Ivorian rubber in North America.

A worker died in an accident while working at the Hoosier Racing Tire Corp. plant in Plymouth, Ind. on Feb. 7.

Goodyear plans to eliminate 850 jobs with the previously announced transition of its tire manufacturing plant in Danville, Va.

The tire maker also completed the $905 million divestiture of its OTR operations to Yokohama Rubber Co. Ltd.

Kent Elastomer Products has spent over 60 years carving out a niche for itself in latex dip tubing. President John Danes believes that more work lies ahead as the firm moves into the future.

Continental A.G. has launched a restructure of its ContiTech business group sector, a move that is expected to impact 580 jobs and at least six locations.

Liberty Tire Recycling and Trek Bikes began a bike tire recycling pilot program in 2023. Less than two years later, the two companies have taken the "Retire Your Tires" recycling program nationwide.

A two-day strike by workers at Firestone Liberia L.L.C. that began Jan. 30 has "been paused" in an ongoing labor dispute with the company.

Bridgestone Americas Inc.'s new Blizzak 6 is the company's most sustainable winter tire offering yet with Enliten technology built into it.

This issue's Technical Notebook features Akron Rubber Development Laboratory Inc.'s Edward R. Terrill and Jonathan Martens and their evaluation of farnesene/butadiene and farnesene/styrene/butadiene liquid rubbers in a silica tread.