July

Ansell Ltd. launches a global restructuring program that will include the closure of its U.S. Hawkeye military glove operation in Eupora, Miss.

Bridgestone Corp. buys hose distributor Masthead Industries Ltd.

ContiTech A.G. acquires the assets of power transmission belt, hose and metal components distributor Cadna Rubber Co. Inc.

Semperit A.G. plans to build an examination glove factory in Kamunting, Malaysia.

H.B. Fuller Co. agrees to buy Chinese engineering adhesives maker Tonsan Adhesives Inc.

Lanxess A.G. completes the expansion of its Baypren polychloroprene solid rubber plant in Dormagen, Germany.

Apollo Tyres Ltd. approves a $340 million expenditure to improve two plants in India.

The long-delayed construction of a tire plant in Macon, Ga, is restarted by Kumho Tire Co. Inc.

Rep International sets up a joint venture with LWB Steinl GmbH & Co. K.G. to handle business of rubber molding machines in China.

ContiTech A.G. adds a hose factory in Kaluga, Russia.

Midwest Elastomers Inc. celebrates its 35 years in business as a supplier of granulated rubber and plastics.

Universal Polymer & Rubber Ltd. buys Universal Rubber and Plastics Corp. and completes a plant expansion.

Hexpol A.B. signs an agreement to acquire Kardoes Rubber Co.

Cooper Standard Holdings Inc. opens an Asia-Pacific technical center in Shanghai, China.

Trostel Ltd. completes an upgrade of its Lake Geneva, Wis., headquarters, and adds two injection molding presses.

Lord Corp. makes plans toexpand plants in Cambridge Springs, Pa., and Spring, Texas.

The Rubber Association of Canada changes its name to the Tire and Rubber Association of Canada/L'Association canadienne du pneu et du caoutchouc.

The July 17 downing of a Malaysian airlines flight over Ukraine takes the lives of VMI Group's chief financial officer, Auke Dalstra, and his wife Aafke.

The Rubber Manufacturers Association lauds the decision by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration not to create a safety standard based on a tire's age.

Goodyear names its new blimp Wingfoot One.

West Pharmaceutical Services Inc. completes construction of its first factory in India.

Medical component maker UFP Technologies Inc. expands its Georgetown, Mass., operations.

APS Elastomers boosts thermoplastic elastomers production by 10 percent.

August

Cooper Standard Holdings Inc. enters a joint venture with Inoac Corp. to increase its reach with fluid transfer systems products in the Asia-Pacific automotive market.

James McGraw, longtime managing director and CEO of the International Institute of Synthetic Rubber Producers, discloses he will retire in a year.

Lanxess A.G. announces it will consolidate its business units from 14 to 10.

A Trelleborg A.B. business unit agrees to buy most of the assets and operations of Uretek Ar-cher L.L.C.

Crowne Group L.L.C. plans to buy Trico Products Corp.

The founders of Poly-vulc USA Inc. and two subsidiaries put the company up for sale.

R.D. Abbott Co. Inc. begins expanding a lab at its Cerritos, Calif., site.

Ampacet Corp. agrees to buy color and functional additive masterbatch producer Allied Color and Additives Pty. Ltd.

CQLT SaarGummi Technologies S.a.r.l. launches a program to add four plants worldwide.

Megadyne S.p.A.'s Jason Industrial Inc. unit moves to purchase Belt Corporation of America to boost its specialty belting and manufacturing operations.

Bridgestone Corp.'s natural rubber plantation company in Liberia aggressively takes steps to combat the Ebola epidemic.

Kraton Performance Polymers Inc. opens an innovation center in Belpre, Ohio, and terminates a deal to merge into operations of LCY Chemical Corp.

Industrial tire specialist Camoplast Solideal Inc. purchases Argentinean industrial tire maker Rodaco Argentina S.A.

The U.S. rubber product trade deficit increased 3.1 percent in 2013, according to the latest figures from the U.S. Department of Commerce.

Toyo Tire Holdings of Americas Inc. wins cease-and-desist orders from the U.S. International Trade Commission against eight tire importers/distributors.

Firestone Natural Rubber Co. reports it will quit producing liquid NR latex at its Liberian plantation, concentrating on black rubber.

Lubrizol Corp. acquires Vesta Inc., a maker of silicone catheters, tubing and other medical components.

Source: rubbernews.com