Rubber Heart Ltd, a dedicated marketing and communication company for the global rubber industry, has been established in the UK.

The start-up is founded by  David Cawthra and Gail Reader, who have more than 50 years of combined experience in the elastomer industry. 

Rubber Heart Ltd aims at providing services for the rubber industry sector offering assistance to clients with no or limited internal marketing function, or those with their own marketing staff that need additional resources for specific projects, campaigns or events.

Cawthra and Readers have  worked for the world-renowned Rubber Consultants/Tun Abdul Razak Research Centre R&D and testing facility just north of London in Hertford for more than 50 years combined. 

Noticing a gap in the market they decided the time was right to use their skills, contacts and expertise to start their new venture.

"David and I have been a great team for the last 20 years and our different but complementary skills and shared ambitions have led us to taking this decision to set up on our own,’ said Reader. ‘We both have loved being part of the elastomeric community and as well as providing bespoke marketing services, we have worked with industry experts across the globe so are in a great position to connect companies who may require any R&D and testing.’

‘We believe that our friendly approach, ready-made network of contacts and access to the industry worldwide puts Rubber Heart in an unrivalled position to offer clients fast and efficient services,’ added Cawthra. We have worked all over the world including Europe, USA, Asia and the Middle East and like to think that as well as gaining an in-depth knowledge of the industry and its complexities, we have a good understanding of cross-cultural communication when doing international business and marketing.’

Both Gail (BSc Chemistry) and David (BA Marketing & Communications) are skilled marketing and PR specialists with years of experience in branding and design, technical writing and editing, copywriting, event organisation, and exhibition participation.

As well as becoming social media sponsor for the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (IOM3) Rubber in Engineering Group, Rubber Heart has also partnered with AMI - Marketing for Manufacturing: a specialist digital agency offering websites, SEO, video and photography services.

‘We have been building the foundations of our business since January and of course never planned to find ourselves in the current situation where so many upcoming key events for our industry have been cancelled or postponed,’ said Reader. ‘During this challenging time, we believe businesses will need to stay visible in the marketplace so are looking forward to offering clients enhanced digital marketing opportunities to engage with potential new customers and suppliers, launch new products and exchange research innovations and ideas.’

Bridgestone will supply tailored-made tyres for Lamborghini’s Huracán STO, which will be launched in 2021.

Bridgestone ensured the high-performance tyre can maximise the Huracán STO’s traction, handling, control, and extreme overall performance.

Key to the tyre’s success in maximising the super sports car’s performance is the combination of pattern and cavity design. The Potenza tyres apply an asymmetric tread design for enhanced steering response and cornering stability, and an internal crown structure that distributes footprint pressure evenly when cornering.

As well as the road-focused, custom-developed Potenza fitment, Bridgestone will also be providing a track-oriented, road-homologated version of the tyre that applies “race” technologies to maximise the vehicle’s track performance, especially in dry conditions.

Steven De Bock, VP Consumer Replacement and OE at Bridgestone EMIA, said, “It’s been a pleasure for our team to work so closely with Lamborghini for the first time, and on such an exciting project. The Huracán STO is an incredible piece of engineering that deserves a custom tyre that can fulfill its full potential. I can proudly say that Bridgestone has delivered such a high-performance tyre. It has been fantastic for the team to have worked on a project that is at the forefront of technology in so many ways.”

Hankook, one of the major global tyre brands, has started testing and development operations at its new ultra modern facility in Spain.

The testing facility has been set up on the premises of the Applus+ IDIADA Group and can also cater to European premium car manufacturers that have their own demanding tyre tests. The facility is completely automated and will host a 20-member team from the Spanish testing centre, which is affiliated to the Hankook Europe Technical Centre.

Klaus Krause, Head of European Research and Development Centre, said, "With the further expansion of our testing capacities in Spain, we are reaching the next level together with our local partner Applus+ IDIADA."

He also added, "We are confident that the newly installed testing facilities in particular will significantly improve our efforts to provide the best tyre testing conditions and services to our employees and customers. In addition, we will also be able to conduct significantly more tests on site." (TT)

ASCENSO introduced a construction tyre - BLB 730- which is used for boom lift vehicles used in construction and other industries. It comes with several features that cater to the unique needs of aerial lifting equipment.

The BLB 730 tyre is available in different sizes to fit various boom lift vehicles. This range of sizes provides versatility and compatibility with different types of aerial lift work platforms.

“ASCENSO's BLB 730 tyre is a significant advancement in specialised equipment for the construction industry. It focuses on load capacity, stability, traction, and durability to improve the performance and safety of boom lift vehicles. Whether working at heights or manoeuvring on tough terrains, this tyre offers reliability and durability for efficient operations,” said the company in a statement.

The BLB 730 tyre is built to handle heavy loads and stabilise boom lift vehicles. It has solid lugs and a more extended shoulder design, which ensures good traction and prevents slipping during operation. This is important for safely carrying heavy weights at high elevations. ASCENSO has used a special rubber compound in making the BLB 730 tyre, making it durable and long-lasting, resulting in less downtime and more productivity on construction sites.

To make the tyre even better, the company has optimised its inner volume to reduce tyre fill consumption, reducing the risk of tyre punctures, minimising the need for maintenance, and keep the vehicles running smoothly.

Falken Tyre Europe is an official IHF Men's World Championship 2023 partner for the upcoming tournament, the company has announced. The tournament is taking place at nine venues in Sweden and Poland from 11-29 January, 2023. Falken Tyre claims that the partnership was organised by the sports marketing agency SPORTFIVE. SPORTFIVE is responsible for exclusive marketing and media rights for all IHF World Championships until 2031.

Falken Tyre claims that this is its second agreement with the International Handball Federation. In addition to title and logo rights (Official IHF Men's World Championship 2023 Partner), the company has also secured advertising rights, including the Falken logo in each goal and centre circle of the courts, as well as the presence of Falken branding in the official tournament social media communications and print materials. According to Falken Tyre, this is complemented by 30-second video ads that will be shown on the big screens in the nine sports halls before the start of each match and at half-time.

Sharing his views, Robert Müller von Vultejus, Chief Growth Officer at SPORTFIVE, said, “With Falken, the IHF World Handball Championships have secured a great partner who is positioned with far-reaching influence in the relevant core markets. We are delighted to have been able to bring two global partners together for one of the most exciting sporting events of next year.”

Markus Bögner, COO and President of Falken Tyre Europe GmbH, explained, “Handball isn’t just of great importance in Europe, but all over the world, which has led us to partake in this top-level tournament once again. The fact that the international tournament is taking place in countries that are among our core markets is another great reason for our involvement. We can also look back on a long partnership with our colleagues at SPORTFIVE, who always offers us excellent opportunities that are an excellent fit for the Falken brand, which stands for enthusiasm, performance and achievement.”