James McGraw, former Managing Director and CEO of the International Institute of Synthetic Rubber Producers (IISRP),  passed away on June 8th, 2020 in Houston, Texas.

The company extends its sincerest condolences to his family in this difficult time and expresses its enduring gratitude for his decades of leadership and inspiration. “We are deeply saddened by his loss,” said Juan Ramon Salinas, actual Managing Director & CEO of the IISRP.

“Jim was a visionary leader, who had a true passion for the Rubber Industry and an exceptional commitment to our Members. His energy, drive and leadership will be missed.” He was born on June 27, 1949 in Louisville, Kentucky. Jim graduated from Corydon Central High School in 1967. From 1972-78 he was a medic in the Indiana Army National Guard. In 1975 he earned a BS in Mechanical Engineering Technology from Purdue University and in 1985 a MS is Engineering Management from the University of Louisville. Jim began his 40-year career in 1975 in Louisville as an American Synthetic Rubber Corporation (ASRC) and during his 23 years at ASRC Jim held various assignments all of which included compliance management. Jim McGraw served the International Institute of Synthetic Rubber Producers, Inc. (IISRP) for 36 years, both as an IISRP chair and active committee member while employed by ASRC and subsequently as both Deputy and as Managing Director and CEO for over 17 years. Jim has tirelessly travelled the world to support current members and recruit new ones. During McGraw’s tenure, membership has expanded to include upstream companies affiliated with IISRP and agents and distributors. More recently, he added members from subsidiaries and joint ventures of producer members. Under his leadership, IISRP developed single-product manufacturing benchmarking exercises, the life cycle assessment project, and enhanced statistical exercises. His focus on the future led to the Strategic Direction Initiative, designed to take IISRP into the next decade. Jim’s passion for the industry throughout his career has been evident in his dedication to the mission of IISRP.

Jim managed complex, multi-year scientific research to meet members’ safety and health needs. This research, conducted at renowned international universities, was presented to agencies around the world through published Proceedings following periodic scientific symposia which McGraw organized. He began his transition into retirement in 2015 and was advisor to the IISRP Executive Committee. His publications include numerous proceedings of the IISRP’s annual general meetings and scientific proceedings of IISRP Symposia. Jim was recognized for the “Best Paper of the Year Award” by the Southern Rubber Group of the ACS Rubber Division. He was a keynote speaker at many industry international conferences during his career, all in furthering IISRP's members businesses. One of his greatest joys was traveling the world with his wife Pat, he also loved working on his family’s farm in Corydon, cooking, wood working, collecting HO scale trains, and restoring his 1966 Super Sport Chevelle. Jim is survived by his wife of 42 years, Patricia; mother, Alma; brothers, Mike, Roger, Tom; sister, Jeanie; numerous nieces and nephews and great-nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his father, James “Jack” McGraw.

Apollo Tyres Ltd has secured a one-season shirt-sleeve sponsorship agreement with AS Monaco, one of French football's most successful clubs, to increase awareness for its premium Vredestein brand.

This partnership will leverage Ligue 1's ranking as the fifth most watched football league in the world to raise awareness of Vredestein's award-winning products among a large audience in France and abroad. On November 22, AS Monaco's home league game against Brest will have the new sleeve branding for the first time. The Vredestein brand will be heavily promoted at Stade Louis-II for the 2024–2025 season, including on player sleeves and LED screens around the field. Exclusive social media initiatives will further help make the brand prominent, reaching a large and interested audience.

Yves Pouliquen, Vice President – Commercial, Europe, Apollo Tyres, said, “This partnership is an exciting opportunity to strengthen Vredestein’s presence in one of our key markets. AS Monaco’s rich history and commitment to excellence mirror our focus on performance and innovation. We look forward to building a successful relationship with the club and celebrating its achievements this season.”

Thibaut Chatelard, Marketing and Revenue Director, AS Monaco, said: “We are delighted to welcome Apollo Tyres and its Vredestein brand to the family of AS Monaco partners. This collaboration makes sense in view of the values we share, such as the constant pursuit of performance and excellence. There’s no doubt that this new support will be precious for the rest of our season, which promises to be thrilling.”

Nexen Tire, a leading global tyre manufacturer, has launched the Nexen N´Blue S tyre, adding to its range of summer tyres and providing drivers with advanced safety, energy efficiency and superior driving stability in wet and dry conditions.

Developed using highly dispersed silica and equipped with an optimised structural design, the Nexen N´Blue S tyre provides reduced road noise and improved driving stability. The tyre features an innovative tread compound, formulated with hydrophilic fillers and microstructure-controlled polymers, and provides lower rolling resistance and exceptional dry and wet grip. The tyre also excelled in test results by demonstrating an 11 percent improvement in wet braking distance compared to its predecessor.

Apart from providing excellent performance, the Nexen  N´Blue S also scores high on the sustainability index. The tyre provides an eco-friendly solution for environmentally conscious drivers by minimising fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. The Nexen N´Blue S summer tyre is available in 58 sizes, which makes it compatible with different types of vehicles.

Kumho Tire Vietnam Co., Ltd. is all set to expand its investment project in Binh Duong province of Vietnam, with the phase 3 of expansion commencing in early 2025. This was discussed at a recent meeting between Vo Van Minh, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee (PPC), and Kim Hyun Ho, General Director of Kumho Tire Vietnam Co., Ltd.

The meeting was held on 13 November at the Administrative Centre of Binh Duong province, as per an official statement. Apart from the company’s investment till date and the planned investment for phase 3, the two also discussed about the challenges and obstacles regarding procedures and processes to have more land funds to expand the manufacturing plant, along with taking measures to tackle the obstacles. Kim Hyun Ho also conveyed to the PPC Chairman that Kumho Tire Vietnam Co., Ltd. belongs to South Korea's Kumho Tire Group and is currently ranked 10th in the car tyre manufacturing industry.

The company had invested in a tyre manufacturing plant in My Phuoc 3 Industrial Park in 2007 with a total initial investment of USD 308 million, which was supplemented by another USD 300 million in 2021. This extended the factory scale to six hectares and increased the production capacity to 12.5 million tyres annually. With the expansion in early 2025, the company will raise its total investment to USD 908 million and increase the factory's production capacity to 17 million tyres annually. The expanded capacity is expected to be operational by early 2026.

Yokohama-ATG, a leading manufacturer of all-terrain and off-the-road tyres, has expanded its Galaxy MFS 101 SDS range of forklift tyres with the launch of white, non-marking tyres.

The Galaxy MFS 101 SDS range consists of puncture-proof SDS tyres with extended wear limits designed for high-intensity working shifts and long durability. These are premium, solid rubber tyres developed for tough demands, a long service life and high driving comfort. The addition of white, non-marking tyres is specifically aimed at clean working environments.

Marked by a 3-stage construction process, the forklift tyres feature reduced heat build-up, effective shock absorption and minimised vibrations. The pattern design guarantees a smooth ride and good steerability thanks to its continuous centre lug and circumferential grooves. Furthermore, the flat walls and wide flat profile offer excellent stability when using a forklift for vertical stacking. The tyres are also equipped with anti-slip steel beads for improved rim fitment

In a case study on a CAT 2.5-tonne forklift that was used for handling heavy pallets on asphalt, the Galaxy MFS 101 SDS outshone the competitors with impressive performance. The tyre delivered an approximate 900 working hours before replacement against competitors’ 500 working hours.