Kraton Corporation, a leading global producer of speciality polymers and high-value biobased products derived from pine chemicals, has decided to exit its Dover, Ohio, manufacturing site and transition away from the Dimer and Polyamides business lines as per a strategic realignment of its operations to sharpen its focus on core capabilities and accelerate long-term growth.

In a statement, the business acknowledged the effect of the decision and reaffirmed its commitment to a safe, courteous and encouraging transition. It also stated that its top objectives continue to be the health, safety, and well-being of its workers and the Dover community. With operations on many continents and a wide range of solutions, Kraton will keep using the power and adaptability of its worldwide presence to promptly respond to changes in the market and client demands, added the statement.

Minco van Breevoort, President, Kraton Pine Chemicals, said, “Our strategy is clear: focus where we have the greatest impact and drive the most value. By streamlining operations, we can direct investments toward core Pine Chemical assets and innovation. Our Crude Tall Oil refinery rates will not be impacted by this decision.  We will have greater ability to support our customers with Tall Oil Fatty Acid supply.”

WACKER, one of the largest silicone manufacturers worldwide, has started production of hybrid polymers at its Nünchritz site.

The state-of-the-art production line at the Nünchritz location is equipped with a variety of technological advancements. Short distances and extremely effective continuous manufacturing operations are made possible by the building's fully integrated essential operating phases. The current production plant at the Burghausen location will be replaced by the new high-speed facility, which will significantly increase the capacity for producing hybrid polymers. WACKER's alpha-silane-terminated hybrid polymers make it possible to create consumer-friendly goods without tin. The new production facility is expected to cost tens of millions of euros and create 50 new jobsat the location.

Among the business division's most significant growth areas are hybrid polymers. Under the brand name GENIOSIL STP-E, the materials are silane crosslinking binders used to create high-performance sealants and adhesives for use in construction and industrial settings, as well as, more recently, liquid waterproofing membranes. Consumers and the environment may benefit from hybrid polymers based on WACKER's exclusive alpha-silane technology as they can also be utilized to create tin-free goods.

Managing Board member Christian Kirsten said, “With annual growth rates of well over five percent in some cases, the market for hybrid polymers is extremely attractive for us. Expanding our production puts us in a position to support the growth of our customers. The facility thus aligns with our strategy of increasingly focusing on tailor-made specialties that offer great innovation potential, high vertical integration and high customer benefit.”

Tom Koini, Head of the Silicones business division, said, “The new facility’s production capacity will increase our output many times over. If the market continues to grow as dynamically as before, we will be able to significantly boost our production capacity once again.”

ARLANXEO, one of the world's largest synthetic rubber producers and a wholly owned subsidiary of leading energy and chemicals producer Saudi Aramco, and TSRC have inaugurated their newly relocated and expanded joint venture NBR (nitrile-butadiene rubber) plant in Nantong, Jiangsu Province.

Stephan van Santbrink, CEO of ARLANXEO; Joseph Chai, CEO of TSRC and Chaoyang Jiang, Chairman of the ARLANXEO-TSRC joint venture, addressed the inauguration event. Customers, JV firm officials and senior leadership from ARLANXEO and TSRC also attended the ceremony. With a planned capacity expansion to 40,000 tonnes annually, the new facility produces a wider range of high-quality NBR products to meet China's long-term market demand development and fortify the worldwide NBR supply chain.

ARLANXEO-TSRC (Nantong) Chemical Industrial Co. Ltd. was founded in 2010 and is a 50:50 joint venture that is ultimately controlled by TSRC Corporation and ARLANXEO. In December 2021, ARLANXEO and TSRC announced that the joint venture company would be moving from the northern to the southern section of the Nantong Economy and Technology Development Area (NETDA) Chemical Park, Jiangsu Province, in order to support the government's agenda for environmental protection along the Yangtze River.

The new JV facility has continuously maintained high standards for safe operations with enhanced performance in resource efficiency, energy consumption and environmental protection since moving in and starting up. While continuing to produce Krynac and Taipol NBR products, the joint venture company has further enhanced its business competitiveness in response to the increasing demand for premium synthetic rubber by introducing Perbunan, a fast-cure NBR grade that is well-suited for specialised applications in automotive, aviation, oil and gas and food contact materials.

Stephan van Santbrink, CEO, ARLANXEO, said, "The new JV plant underscores our commitment to strategic growth in the China market and the sustainable development of the rubber industry. Built on a decade-long partnership and deep engineering expertise, this new JV plant strengthens our production capabilities, ensuring a reliable supply of high-quality NBR products to our customers.”

Joseph Chai, CEO, TSRC, said, “This project marks yet another successful collaboration with ARLANXEO to support the NBR customers. We remain confident in the long-term growth of the China chemical market and this new JV plant to capture new industry opportunities and deliver sustainable growth leveraging on ARLANXEO’s global leading position in NBR and the JV’s strong local operation.”

Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company has appointed Grégory Boucharlat as senior vice president of Global Commercial, the company announced today. In this newly created position, Boucharlat will join Goodyear’s senior leadership team, which will strategically coordinate the company’s worldwide commercial tyre business.

Boucharlat, who will report directly to Chief Executive Officer and President Mark Stewart, will continue to lead Goodyear’s Tires-as-a-Service (TaaS) organisation as part of his expanded responsibilities.

The appointment comes as part of the American tyre manufacturer’s efforts to create what it describes as “a unified and aligned global company” following its recent streamlining of operations, which included the sale of its off-the-road tyre business to Japan’s Yokohama Rubber earlier this year.

With more than thirty years at Goodyear, Boucharlat has built extensive experience in the company’s commercial tyre operations. He started in truck tyre sales before progressing through various leadership positions in Europe, including vice president of Commercial EU. His most recent role was vice president of TaaS, where he gained broader global commercial experience beyond the European market.

“Grégory brings to this new role proven abilities to drive innovation in our business and expand his leadership responsibility. He is well-positioned to have a fast start and ensure a seamless transition for our Commercial business,” said Stewart. “I have enormous confidence in his ability to lead our Commercial business on a global scale as our next step in creating a unified and aligned global company.”

The appointment takes effect immediately, with Boucharlat continuing to be based in Brussels, Belgium.

The move comes as Goodyear focuses on strengthening its commercial vehicle operations after divesting its mining and construction tyre division to Yokohama in a $919 million deal that closed in February 2025.

Pyrum Innovations AG, a technological pioneer in the field of pyrolysis, focusing on the recycling of end-of-life tyres and composite materials, has announced that football legend Felix Magath has joined the company as brand ambassador and investor with immediate effect.

Pascal Klein, CEO, Pyrum Innovations AG, said, “The fact that such a well-known personality as Felix Magath has chosen to actively support a young company like Pyrum is a great sign of confidence for us – and also a leap of faith. We hope that his charisma as a brand will help to bring our vision and technology closer to a broad public and decisively advance Pyrum.”

“I am convinced by the combination of technological pioneering spirit, entrepreneurial consistency and social relevance. I am looking forward to contributing my experience and my network to make Pyrum even better known – among investors, in industry and among political decision-makers. It is about making a real contribution to our country’s green tech offensive. We need companies like this to get back to the top of the world,” said Magath.