Rubbercon 2024, hosted for the first time in Kerala, India, marked a milestone in the global rubber and tyre industry by addressing key sustainability challenges and opportunities. Held in Kochi from 5 to 7 December 2024, the event attracted over 850 delegates from around the world, including MSMEs, machine manufacturers, tyre producers and leading researchers.

On 5 December 2024, the stalwarts of the rubber industry ecosystem gathered in Kochi, Kerala at Rubbercon 2024 to discuss and debate the current and future trends facing the global as well as Indian rubber industry.

This also was the first time that Rubbercon was hosted in Kerala, which also is the base of natural rubber producers in the country. The 3-day event saw participation of over 850 delegates from all across the globe ranging from rubber producers, raw materials suppliers, machine makers, MSMEs, rubber product makers, universities and even tyre manufacturers.

Tyre industry veteran and former Chief of R&D at Apollo Tyres P K Mohamed said, “We have selected Kochi, the Financial capital of Kerala. At present, Kerala accounts for 90 percent of natural rubber production. I am fortunate enough to start my career with a product that is immensely rich in elastomeric materials, commonly known as rubbers, that revolutionised the life of mankind and made them wealthier, happier and more mobile. The mobility the world enjoys today would not be possible without rubber, which is the basic component used to manufacture tyres.”

He highlighted that since the invention of vulcanisation by Charles Goodyear in 1839, the scientific community has been working to improve the rubber goods, performance and failure properties to match the expectations of never-ending customer requirements.

“In recent years, the industry has been tested by numerous challenges, such as the electrification of automobiles, mobility-related issues, sustainability, circularity, carbon neutrality and regulations. The World Institute study published in the year 2015 indicates that coal, crude oil and natural gas, which are the primary materials used for the production of monomers such as isoprene, styrene, butadiene and other critical materials, may disappear by the end of this century. The price of petroleum products and natural rubber is shooting up daily, and the industry is finding it difficult to pass on this price increase to its customers. It is also observed that the industry’s bottom line is shrinking daily, some industries are even sinking into the negative bottom lines. We use approximately 18 kg to 25 kg of natural rubber and petroleum products to 130-140 litres of oil in a truck tyre. These reasons prompted the conference’s organisation to select the theme of sustainable development in the rubber industry – challenges and opportunities to create awareness and impart new knowledge among the rubber community,” added the industry veteran.

Mohamed was also honoured with Hancock Medal in recognition of his contribution to the global and Indian tyre industry.

R Mukhopadhyay, Chairman of the Indian Rubber Institute (IRI), in his address, mentioned that the per capita consumption of rubber in the country was set to double from the current 1.3 kg to 2.5 kg by 2030. This means that in addition to capital investment, the industry will also require human capital to take advantage of the numerous growth opportunity across the natural rubber ecosystem.

He also highlighted the pivotal role of IRI in advancing global expertise in rubber technology from education, research to skill development, aligning with international standards.

Mukhopadhyay shared that to accelerate and support innovations in the rubber industry, IRI is setting up The Centre of Excellence in Polymer Science and Rubber Technology at JSS Science and Technology University Campus, Mysore. Expected to be ready by April 2025, it is estimated that the world-class facility will see an expense of INR 5 billion.

Dr Tessy Thomas, Former Project Director of Agni Missile and Currently Vice-Chancellor of Noorul Islam Centre for Higher Education, Chief Guest at the event, said, “Sustainability is no longer an aspiration – it’s a necessity.”

She outlined concerns such as deforestation, biodiversity loss and emissions tied to rubber production, as well as raw material shortages driven by climate change and geopolitical uncertainties.

Dr Raghupati Singhania, Chairman & MD, JK Tyre & Industries, addressed the gathering virtually.

Roopak Karnik, Managing Director, Bekaert India, spoke about ‘Transformational Journey of Bekaert with Steel’ on how the company was developing new advanced products with high degree of dematerialisation in sustainability. “Adding recycled content will only exponentially support the sustainability drive by reducing the emission during life and usage of tyres,” he explained.

Srikanth Chakravarthy, MD, Eonix Management Solutions, gave a brief presentation on the topic of ‘Co-Creating a Sustainable Future’.

MAKING MOBILITY SUSTAINABLE

The topic of sustainability is now a global concern, with each stakeholder expected to do their bit to make tomorrow greener and better.

Rubbercon 2024 saw experts present and share their views on different aspects ranging from sourcing, manufacturing to processes, applications and even recovery & recyclability of rubber.

The speakers, ranging from technocrats to researchers to professors, represented various organisations such as University of Lincoln; Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur; Rubber, Chemical, and Petro Chemical Skill Development Council (RCPSDC); Confederation of Indian Industry (CII); Emissions Analytics; Cabot Corporation; Birla Carbon; Coesfeld & Co; Tekna Automazione e Controllo; Xingda International; Balkrishna Industries; Synthos; Silpara Technologies; Solvay and Kumho Petrochemicals, among others, shared their perspectives on a wide variety of topics pertaining to the rubber and tyre industry.

Several topics had a niche focus for the tyre industry ranging from the need for skilled manpower for rubber tapping to recycle of tyre waste rubber and extraction of diesel like oil and pyrolytic carbon black to tyre emissions.

Some interesting presentations also focused on solid tyres, truck/bus tyre applications, to the industry’s commitment towards enabling sustainable mobility and the need to meet strict EU regulations.

Retreading truck tyre test – breakthrough for natural rubber silica/silane systems, green tyre technology, sustainable rubber processes, role of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) to advance sustainability in tyre industry, moving towards green supply chain strategies & technology were some of the presentations made by industry speakers.

The event also saw over 90 presentations and 18 poster sessions from experts across the rubber and tyre value chain from India, Germany, Sri Lanka, South Korea, China, Italy, France, UK and US, among others.

The conference concluded with a focus on collective action, emphasising the importance of collaboration across the value chain. From sourcing raw materials to recycling end-of-life tyres, stakeholders demonstrated their commitment to sustainable practices.

Rubbercon 2024 reaffirmed its position as a key forum for driving innovation, fostering collaboration and shaping a sustainable future for the global rubber and tyre industry.

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Kraton Corporation, a leading global producer of speciality polymers and high-value bio-based chemicals derived from pine wood pulping co-products, has named Sangwoo Ryu as its new Chief Executive Officer. Ryu possesses over 25 years of leadership in finance and operations within international markets. He is currently the CEO of Cariflex Pte Ltd, a former Kraton spin-off now under DL Chemical, where he initially served as Chief Financial Officer starting in February 2020. He assumed the Cariflex CEO role in April 2025 following the promotion of its former CEO, Prakash Kolluri, to President of Kraton's Polymer business.

Ryu’s deep expertise in financial strategy, investment controls and operational planning is expected to strengthen Kraton’s standing as a reliable leader in global Pine Chemical and Polymers markets. In his new position, he will collaborate with Kraton’s Executive Leadership, Board of Directors and Cariflex Leadership to guide strategic decisions and operational excellence, reinforcing the company’s commitment to sustained growth and organisational stability.

Ryu said, “I want to express my gratitude towards the members of the Board of Directors and the Kraton Leadership Team for their unwavering dedication to Kraton’s success. I’m looking forward to leading Kraton into the next era of excellence, building upon the strong foundations and principles set forth in our vision and values.”

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As part of its strategic growth into Central Europe, FORNNAX TECHNOLOGY, a global leader in recycling equipment manufacturing, has established a new sales partnership in Germany. The company has appointed industry veteran Dieter Jerschl as its representative for the region to drive the promotion and implementation of its recycling systems. Jerschl’s extensive expertise, built over two decades with prominent firms like BHS, Eldan and Vecoplan, encompasses a deep understanding of diverse waste streams such as tyre, cable, municipal solid waste and e-waste.

This collaboration, initially targeting Germany, Austria and adjacent countries, is designed to be flexible and scalable. Its primary aim is to cultivate a strong project pipeline and solidify FORNNAX’s regional footprint. The partnership extends beyond sales to include comprehensive technical support, with Jerschl’s team providing vital value-added services like installation, maintenance and spare parts assistance. This local service framework is intended to ensure efficient project execution, minimise operational downtime and elevate customer satisfaction.

By leveraging Jerschl’s profound market insight and established networks, FORNNAX seeks to accelerate the adoption of its high-performance shredding and pre-processing technologies. The move underscores the company’s global strategy of embedding local expertise within key markets, which it deems crucial for developing technically sound solutions tailored to specific regional waste challenges. This initiative reinforces FORNNAX’s dedication to innovation and environmental stewardship, advancing its mission to deliver sustainable recycling solutions worldwide.

Jerschl said, “I’ve known FORNNAX for over a decade and have followed their growth closely. What attracted me to this collaboration is their state-of-the-art technology; it is powerful, sustainable, and economically viable. There is great potential to introduce FORNNAX’s innovative systems to more markets across Europe, and I am excited to be part of that journey. We are committed to increasing market awareness and establishing new reference projects across the region. My goal is not only to generate business but to lay the foundation for long-term growth. Ideally, we aim to establish a dedicated FORNNAX legal entity or operational site in Germany over the next five to 10 years.”

Jignesh Kundaria, Director and CEO, FORNNAX, said, “We see tremendous potential in the Central European market. Partnering with someone as experienced and well established as Jerschl gives us a strong foothold and allows us to better serve our customers. This marks a major milestone in our efforts to promote reliable, efficient and future-ready recycling solutions globally.”

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Dr Gerard Nijman of KraussMaffei Extrusion has been selected as the 2026 recipient of the prestigious Fernley H. Banbury Award, one of the rubber industry’s highest international honours, presented by the Rubber Division of the American Chemical Society (ACS). This award annually recognises outstanding scientific and technological contributions to the field.

The award commemorates the inventor of the internal mixer and highlights sustainable innovations in production technology, instrumentation, process control and the development of processing methods for rubber and similar materials. Dr Nijman’s career exemplifies such innovation, having significantly advanced rubber rheology, pioneered new mixing and multiplex extrusion technologies and modernised the production of silica compounds for the tyre industry.

His work has effectively bridged the gap between scientific research and industrial application. Notably, in the 1990s at Vredestein, he introduced novel mixing technologies and multiplex extrusion to tyre manufacturing. He also contributed to pioneering processes for silica compound processing, foundational to technologies like Michelin’s ‘Green Tyre’. Furthermore, his rheology-based designs for extruder screws and flow channels have helped shape enduring industrial standards.

Dr Nijman, who joined KraussMaffei Extrusion in 2017, brings decades of expertise from previous roles at Apollo Tyres Ltd and Vredestein Banden BV. His ongoing collaborations with the German Institute for Rubber Technology (DIK) and the University of Twente have also profoundly influenced his approach. KraussMaffei Extrusion itself is globally recognised for its tyre technology, building on longstanding Berstorff expertise to deliver advanced extrusion solutions for treads, sidewalls, innerliners and other components, as well as high-performance multiplex and calender systems.

The award acknowledges not only his specific technical achievements but also his distinguished career and lasting impact on rubber processing. The official presentation will be held in September 2026 during the Global Polymer Summit in Louisville, Kentucky, US.

Dr Nijman said, “It is a great honour for me to receive the Fernley H. Banbury Award. This recognition confirms the importance of the close connection between research and industrial practice in rubber processing and motivates me to continue to drive forward innovative solutions for our industry.”

Ralf Benack, Managing Director, KraussMaffei Extrusion, said, "We warmly congratulate Dr Nijman on this outstanding award. With his in-depth knowledge, many years of experience and tireless dedication, he has had a decisive influence on the rubber and tyre industry and has further developed our technologies in a targeted manner. This recognition is more than deserved. We are very proud to have Dr Nijman in our team!"

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Michelin has appointed James Dimmock as its new Commercial Communications Manager for the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. Based at the company's Stoke-on-Trent headquarters, he will report to the Northern European Communications team. In this capacity, Dimmock will oversee all commercial communications, including public relations, social media and influencer partnerships.

His mandate involves crafting the brand's commercial narrative, fostering stronger connections with media and content creators and producing innovative digital content to support the brand's growth. He brings more than two decades of extensive experience with Michelin to the role, having held various senior marketing and communications positions both internationally and domestically. His most recent role was as Social Media and Influencer Manager. He will now lead these efforts locally while integrating with the broader communications team.

John Howe, Managing Director, Michelin UK, said, “James has already made a significant contribution to Michelin communications activity in the UK & ROI. His deep understanding of our business and products, combined with his strategic and creative approach, makes him ideally placed to lead our commercial communications as we continue to evolve our brand.”

Dimmock said, “I am excited to be taking on this new role at Michelin. It is a privilege to continue building on the work we have already achieved and to help drive the next phase of our commercial communications strategy across the UK & ROI.”

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