IISRP names recipients of its 2022 General, Technical awards

HOUSTON—The International Institute of Synthetic Rubber Producers has selected recipients for its top two honors, which will be presented at its Annual General Meeting next May in Saint Petersburg, Russia.

Liang Amin of China's Sinopec will receive the IISRP General Award, while Lucio Spelta, retired from Versalis A.G., will be the recipient of the association's Technical Award.

Liang received his bachelor's in polymer chemical engineering in 1984, and in 1997 earned his MBA from Renmin University of China. He currently is the chief expert in synthetic materials for Sinopec, serving as director of four national, provincial and ministerial level research and development centers. In addition, he is editor or editorial board member of six journals and magazines, and serves as the president of the China Synthetic Rubber Industry Association and vice chairman of the Rubber Institute of Chemical Industry and Engineering Society of China.

The Sinopec official has played a key role in helping develop the synthetic rubber in China since 2001, according to the IISRP. "He organized experts to compile the medium- and long-term development plan of the synthetic rubber industry in China, guiding the industry in China to develop as the most significant player in terms of production and consumption worldwide," the IISRP said in a news release.

During his long career in the polymer industry, Spelta worked on multiple projects in the Elastomers unit of Eni, helping develop such elastomer tpes as NBR, BR, SBS, EPDM, acrylic rubber and others. He authored numerous papers, received a number of patents and has spoken at a variety of international conferences, according to the IISRP.

Spelta has application experience in tires, technical rubber goods, plastic material modification, thermoplastic compounds, adhesives, oil modification, paper impregnation, mattresses, and wire and cable. He served more than 20 years on the IISRP's Technical Operational Committee, where he was chair and vice chair, and also was acting chair of the EMEA and Standing Technical and Operating Committee.

The IISRP's meeting is scheduled for the week of May 16, 2022, and the awards will be presented by Juan Ramon Salilnas, the Houston-based association's managing director and CEO.