A mergers and acquisitions advisory firm has gone back to its roots to focus on deals in the fluid power industry, and they are banking on a team that has both operations and transactions experience in the sector to help it succeed.

Goodyear's tire factory in Gadsden, Ala., has been a part of the company's manufacturing footprint for more than 90 years, and the facility has had more than its share of ups and downs. It's been slated for shutdown on more than one occasion, only to be saved from the brink.

CLEVELAND—Himadri Specialty Chemical is aiming its carbon black products at both Europe and North America, and is using a new capacity expansion and local support to help make those plans a success.

CLEVELAND—The rubber processing oils market has seen a number of changes during the years, including a shift in the focus of big refineries that aren't likely to supply RPOs anymore and changes in materials brought on by regulations.

CUYAHOGA FALLS, Ohio—Guy Enta has seen a lot of changes during his 33 years in the rubber business, and he thinks the hose industry will evolve even faster over the next decade or so.

First it was the "Impossible Whopper" from Burger King, a plant-based version of its iconic Whopper. Now it's the "Forever Floatride Grow" performance running shoe from Reebok that is the shoe maker's latest sustainable footwear. What will be next?

When large acquisitions take place in our industry, sometimes the numbers can be staggering. And typically it's assumed that the proceeds are going to shareholders in the case of public companies, or the ownership group in the case of private firms. But, apparently, Thomas Lord had something else in mind.

FAIRLAWN, Ohio—It will be awhile before the ACS Rubber Division stages its marquee event, the fall International Elastomer Conference, in Cleveland again.

HANOVER, Germany—Since purchasing Veyance Technologies in 2015, ContiTech's conveyor belting business has increased exponentially. In the years since, the companies have integrated and the business continues to evolve.

Now that Rubber & Plastics News' inaugural Best Places to Work in the rubber industry is under our belt, I will say I was quite pleased with how the whole process went. And more than that, I really learned a lot about the eight companies that qualified to be named among the "Best Places to Work."

CERRITOS, Calif.—R.D. Abbott aims to create an environment where talented people can come and flourish. The company's employees have seized upon this notion of putting people ahead of profit, and they are helping to make R.D. Abbott one of the industry's Best Places to Work.

One of the things I like about covering expos in our industry is the chance to learn about companies I'm not familiar with, as well as meeting people I haven't come across in my more than 31 years covering the rubber sector.

CLEVELAND—There's no doubt that those who have spent their careers in the hose industry are passionate about their business.

CLEVELAND—When determining which hose assembly to recommend to a customer, sometimes it's best to go back to the basics.