The German automotive supplier Fischer Automotive has opened a new factory in Jagodina, Serbia in June 2021. The new site increases the company`s production capacity in Europe. Fischer will use the new site for the production of ventilation nozzles for clients like Mercedes and BMW.

Since 1 April 2021 Dietmar Dieing is leading Sesotec’s Plastics Industry division as the new Vice President of Sales.

Trinseo and BASF announced the intention to expand their businesses with the production of styrene based on circular feedstock. Trinseo has procured first supplies of styrene based on circular feedstock from BASF for use in its Solution-Styrene Butadiene Rubber (S-SBR) and polystyrene (PS) products. Trinseo supplies S-SBR to major tyre manufacturers while its PS products are used in applications such as food packaging and appliances. The first few customers have already processed the material, said the company.

The trade association of the German rubber industry (Wirtschaftsverband der deutschen Kautschukindustrie – wdk) with Stephan Rau, Technical Managing Director, will be the new patron of the innovation forum for end-of-life tyre recycling AZuR (Allianz Zukunft Reifen).

According to Messe Düsseldorf, now that the deadline for registrations for K 2022 has been reached, it is clear that the interest taken by exhibitors in the world’s most important trade fair for the plastics and rubber industry, to be held in Düsseldorf, Germany, from 19 to 26 October 2022, continues unabated. “K 2022 will again occupy the entire fairgrounds,” said Erhard Wienkamp, Managing Director at Messe Düsseldorf, and added: “When talking to exhibitors we feel that there is an enormous demand for personal exchange on a global level.” 

On 7 June 2021, the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company announced that it has completed its acquisition of Cooper Tire & Rubber Company, finalising the merger agreement made public on 22 February 2021. Goodyear said the combination unites two leading tyre companies with complementary product portfolios, services and capabilities to create a stronger U.S.-based leader in the global tyre industry. The combined company will offer more options across the value spectrum making it easier for customers and consumers to choose Goodyear- and Cooper-branded tyres, said the company.

The Automotive Division of the Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE) announced a new category for its 50th annual Automotive Innovation Awards Gala, the oldest and largest recognition event (established in 1970) in the automotive and plastics industries.

Ten leading personalities from the international plastics industry were recently inducted into the "Plastics Hall of Fame" - one of them is Ulrich Reifenhäuser, CSO of the Reifenhäuser Group, Chairman of the Exhibitors' Advisory Board of the “K” plastics show and Chairman of the Plastics and Rubber Machinery Association in the VDMA.

On 17 May 2021, Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd. announced that it has established a new plant in Mexico, the Tapex Mexicana, S.A. de C.V. Monterrey plant, and has started production of the bags that are a main component of automotive airbags in March 2021.

Elkem Silicones announced that its Saint-Fons plant (south of Lyon, France) has obtained ISO 14001 certification, the international standard for environmental management systems (EMS). The certification comes after an audit in December 2020. According to the company, this environmental approach is part of the Elkem Group's sustainable development strategy. The Saint-Fons site thus joins all the production sites of the company (perimeter 2020) already certified alongside the manufacturing site of Roussillon in France, which is having the dual certification ISO 14001 and ISO 50001 for four years.