When most people think about rubber, the first thing that comes to mind is probably car tyres. After all, we see them everywhere on our streets and roads, and many of us have to ensure that they are regularly inspected and replaced.

Lanxess and the Taiwanese TSRC Corporation will enter into a 50:50 joint venture in China called Lanxess-TSRC (Nantong) Chemical Industrial Company Ltd. The two companies are jointly investing USD 50 million (EUR 36 million) in a new plant that will produce NBR in Nantong, north-west of Shanghai, for the Chinese market. The plant will have an initial capacity of 30 kt/y and employ about 100 people.

Kraton Polymers LLC, a global producer of styrenic block copolymers, announced a general price increase in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East of EUR 150 per tonne for Kraton SIS and SIBS polymers across all markets and end-uses.

The United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York has confirmed LyondellBasell's plan of reorganisation. The plan received broad-based support from virtually all creditor classes entitled to vote on the plan. LyondellBasell affiliates currently in voluntary reorganisation are projected to emerge from Chapter 11 protection today (30 April 2010).

Evonik Industries, a provider of methacrylate chemicals, has expanded its production at the new site in Shanghai, China, to 25 kt as part of overhauling its methacrylic acid production.

TPE compounder, VTC TPE Group, has announced they will be changing their name to Elasto. The businesses, which comprise Vita Thermoplastic Polymers in the UK and VTC Elastoteknik in Sweden, were recently acquired by Swedish polymer group Hexpol

On 26 April Kraton issued a statement announcing plans to invest approximately USD 27 million in its Belpre, OH, USA, plant for the production of polyisoprene rubber. The company said that this strategic decision will support increased customer demand and the projected long-term needs of the market.

With the rubber and polymer industries expanding into new biomaterials and providing products to the health care industry, the Rubber Division of the American Chemical Society has formed a new partnership to expand its Rubber Expo to include Advanced Materials in Health Care. The inaugural "Rubber Expo and Advanced Materials in Health Care" show will take place October 11-13, 2011, at The International Exposition Center (I-X Center) in Cleveland, Ohio.

At Chinaplas 2010, PolyOne/GLS announced that it is exhibiting a multi-layer technology co-developed with Kautex Machines, Bonn, Germany. This new technology is said to give packaging designers new options. PolyOne is displaying co-extruded, blow-moulded HDPE bottles layered with TPE made using this technology at its stand at the fair in Shanghai.

No other trade fair in the plastics and rubber industry presents an array of products and novelties as large and varied as K 2010, says organiser Messe Düsseldorf. The high international representation among the 3,000 exhibitors who will be in Düsseldorf from 27 October to 3 November 2010 guarantees that all segments will be reflected at world market level. And because each participant naturally wishes to showcase attractive innovations, preparations for K 2010 are in full swing at all of the exhibiting companies.