Wacky World of Rubber: Industry truly is a small world

Now I don't get across the pond for work travel as often as I'd like, but when I do I am amazed at how the rubber industry, while global in nature, truly is a small-knit community in many respects. But there are still some differences between the U.S. and Europe, as I found out on my recent trip to the Tire Technology Expo in Hanover, Germany.

So here are some of my observations from the journey, my first to Europe in about a half-dozen years.

First of all, where you are going from and to factors largely in how smooth—and long—your trip may be.

I was flying out of Cleveland and to Hanover, neither of which are major airport hubs. That meant it would take three legs to get there, with stops at JFK Airport in New York and Heathrow in London on each end of the trip.

I knew, though, the trip would be a good one overall when at the Heathrow Airport waiting for the flight to Hanover, I heard a person from behind ask, "Are you Bruce?" For a second, it kind of threw me for a loop, but the voice was a most recognizable one. It was Patrick Raleigh, editor of sister publication European Rubber Journal.

I knew the voice from being on many Monday morning conference calls with the managers of the Global Polymer Group of publications within Crain Communications Inc., our parent company. But until this show, while we had worked together on a number of projects over the years, we had never actually met.

The group of us from Crain all were staying at the same hotel, a Best Western located right across the highway from the sprawling complex that included the halls that would house the Tire Technology Expo. Now I knew that European hotel rooms can run a bit on the small size, but in trying to save the company some money by opting for the "Economy Room," I really didn't realize how much of a difference there could be.

The room had a twin size bed that definitely was meant for a child rather than a big guy like me, not to mention no room to store your clothes, suitcase or work. I knew spending six nights there wasn't a good option, but the hotel's staff was quite helpful in getting me switched to a "Business Room" for my stay.

I noticed another big difference at the hotel, and later at the show. The hotel had an actual cigarette machine, something I hadn't seen in the U.S. for years. Apparently a number of Europeans are still big on smoking, as was evidenced by the number of smokers who took advantage of the smoking area that was between two of the exhibit halls for the shows.

Before attending the event, a tire machinery executive in the U.S. had told me it was his experience that expos were still seen as "bigger deals" in Europe than perhaps they are in North America these days. And I will say I can see where he came to that opinion. The crowd stayed late for cocktail receptions on the exhibit floor after the show closed the first day, and they flocked to the awards banquet on night two, which was put on with some Vegas-like flair.

This is where the rubber industry being a small world comes in. As the sector truly is global in nature, there was quite a contingent of U.S.-based companies exhibiting and contributing to the extensive conference program. While most of my interviews were of officials from companies I normally don't get to see in person, I did have two sit-downs with firms that are literally 10 minutes from my offices back here in Ohio.

Now I didn't get to do much sightseeing while in Hanover. From Monday through Thursday, I and my Crain colleagues literally were either at the hotel or convention center, both of which were a quite a ways from the central part of Hanover.

On Saturday, though, I did take the train into Hanover (a mode of transportation not available in the Akron area) to see some of the city.

I did notice a couple other things during my day as a tourist. First is that Europeans are equally as attached to their smart phones as their American counterparts.

Second is that McDonald's restaurants, of course, are comfortingly similar everywhere around the world. So I couldn't resist ending my day in Hanover with a McFlurry. But this one was made with bits of Lion candy, a Nestle brand that originated in England.

Now there's one thing I won't find here in the U.S.

Bruce Meyer is editor of Rubber & Plastics News and he sees rubber-related stories nearly everywhere he goes. Follow him on Twitter @bmeyerRPN.