Thursday, July 18, 2019 - Indianapolis, IN - In a major expansion of its U.S. warehouse capacity, Maxxis will open a new distribution facility just northwest of Indianapolis, IN, later this year. The facility will feature more than 350,000 square feet of warehouse space, including 10,000 square feet of office space and two 2,500-square-foot administrative warehouse offices. One of the world’s top ten tire manufacturers, the Taiwan-based Maxxis International has operated in the U.S. since 1985. The company offers automotive, light truck, bicycle, motorcycle and ATV tires as both original equipment and aftermarket products. In addition to the Indiana facility, scheduled to open in August, Maxxis has U.S. distribution centers in Rancho Cucamonga, CA; Grapevine, TX; and at its corporate headquarters in Suwanee, GA. The new facility is located in the Park130 at Whitestown corporate industrial park in Lebanon. At a time when the company is rapidly expanding its business with major automakers, Whitestown is thought by Maxxis’ management to be an ideal location. “Indiana was an appealing choice for our new facility due to this state’s excellent transportation infrastructure, friendly business environment and proximity to major automakers,” said Maxxis International USA President James Tzen. “Whitestown is a rapidly growing area, with easy access to both major interstates and rail. This is an exciting time to locate a facility here, and we look forward to becoming a part of this community.” Located near I-65, the new center is just minutes from I-465 and is less than a five-hour drive from all of the midwest’s auto manufacturing hubs. “We’re pleased to welcome Maxxis Tires to Whitestown, and believe they will be a valuable asset to Boone County,” said Molly Whitehead, executive director of the Boone County Economic Development Corporation. “We’re excited for Maxxis’ future plans and look forward to a productive relationship in the years to come.” Positions for which Maxxis will recruit in the Indianapolis area include those of warehouse manager and warehouse supervisor.

Thursday, July 18, 2019 - Cleveland, OH - The Lubrizol Corporation announces the acquisition of Bavaria Medizin Technologie GmbH (BMT), a designer and manufacturer of both intravascular (coronary, peripheral and cranial) and nonvascular devices, including drug-coated balloons, by its German subsidiary Lubrizol Deutschland GmbH from its current majority shareholder Custos Vermögensverwaltungs GmbH, as well as from the minority shareholders. This acquisition builds upon Lubrizol's expertise in precision thermoplastic extrusion and product development, establishing Lubrizol as a true end-to-end partner to the global medical device and pharmaceutical industries. With over 100 employees, BMT is headquartered near Munich, Germany, and operates a manufacturing facility in Sibiu, Romania. A pioneer in catheter-based technologies, BMT developed the first commercial drug-coated balloon, the Paccocath catheter. Today, BMT holds over 50 patents and continues to innovate through self-funded research and development projects, as well as contract research and development services. Additionally, BMT offers private label manufacturing of proprietary catheters and balloons, along with original equipment manufacturing (OEM) services, which include the manufacturing of sub-assemblies and components, sterilization, packaging and labeling, stent crimping and logistics management. The acquisition of BMT expands Lubrizol's product design, development and manufacturing expertise, and provides access to proprietary catheter and balloon technologies. BMT's experience and reputation in the drug-coated balloon (DCB) space aligns well with Lubrizol's pharmaceutical CDMO business and positions Lubrizol as the ideal partner for developing next generation DCBs. "Lubrizol continues to invest in opportunities that position us as a full-service development partner for innovative OEMs in the interventional space," said Uwe Winzen, general manager of the Health business of Lubrizol Life Science. "Our customers will benefit from additional design capabilities, an increased global footprint, and synergies with our existing formulation and manufacturing services."

Thursday, July 18, 2019 - Bowie, Md. – The Tire Industry Association (TIA) has named David Zielasko, former Tire Business editorial director and publisher, as vice president of marketing and communications. In his new role, Zielasko will be responsible for coordinating the association’s communications activities to its membership and to the tire industry community, as well as promoting TIA’s many offerings centering around tire safety and political lobbying. In addition, he will help in membership recruitment and spreading the word about TIA’s well-respected certified training programs, its Global Tire Expo at the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show and the annual Off-the-Road Tire Conference. Zielasko also will play a role in the association’s plans for TIA’s 100th anniversary celebration in 2020. “We are delighted to have Dave join TIA and bring his many years of tire industry experience and knowledge of independent tire dealers to the association,” said Roy Littlefield III, TIA CEO. “As we prepare to recognize the association’s centennial, we look to Dave to help us in developing the many exciting events we are planning for this milestone.” Zielasko spent nearly 35 years reporting on the tire industry and tire dealers for Tire Business and Crain Communications Inc., where he was most recently a company vice president. In addition to his roles at Tire Business, he also served as publisher of Rubber & Plastics News and European Rubber Journal. “I am honored to be joining TIA, an association that I have long respected and that plays a pivotal role in the success of independent tire dealers,” Zielasko said. “It is especially exciting, too, to be working with TIA as it prepares to celebrate 100 years of serving the tire industry and tire dealers.”

Thursday, July 18, 2019 - Chicago, IL - According to the market research report, "Specialty Tapes Market by Resin (Acrylic, Rubber, Silicone), Backing Material (PVC, Paper, Woven/Non-Woven, Pet, Foam, PP), Application (Electronics, Healthcare, Automotive, White Goods, Construction, Printing), and Region: Global Forecast to 2024," published by MarketsandMarkets, the specialty tapes market is projected to grow from $44.2 billion in 2019 to $59.3 billion by 2024, at a CAGR of 6.1 percent during the forecast period. The major factor driving the specialty tapes market includes the increase in demand from applications such as electrical and electronics, healthcare and hygiene, automotive, white goods, paper and printing, building and construction, retail and graphics, and others. These specialty tapes have wide acceptability due to factors such as low cost and easy availability, as compared to its substitutes, staples and glue. The acrylic segment is expected to account for the largest market share during the forecast period because of its better adhesion to a variety of substrates. Acrylic specialty tapes are designed with high or low tack and high or low peel strength. These tapes are permeable to moisture that is measured by the moisture vapor transmission rate (MVTR). Acrylic specialty tapes release off from body or skin without leaving adhesive residue. PVC is the most popular backing material used in the manufacturing of specialty tapes. Easy availability, flexibility and a high degree of printability are driving the demand for PVC backed specialty tapes. Also, these tapes are inherently flame retardant and have electric insulation properties. PVC tapes can be printed on and are available in different colors. They are used in a variety of applications such as general purpose, electrical and electronics, lane marking, hazard warning, duct sealing, vapor barrier, protection, construction, automotive, white goods, aircraft, and other industrial applications. APAC will account for the largest share of the specialty tapes market during the forecast period. The healthcare and hygiene, and electrical and electronics segments are the key markets for specialty tape manufacturers, as these industries are expected to witness significant growth. Also, demand from various industries in the developing countries such as Japan, India, China, South Korea, Vietnam, Taiwan and Singapore, among others, is contributing to the growth of the APAC specialty tapes market. China is the largest consumer of specialty tapes in the region and continues to drive global demand.

Thursday, July 18, 2019 - Rayong, Thailand - On July 10, Continental laid the cornerstone for a new motorcycle tire factory in Rayong, Thailand. In the course of the next few years, the company plans to invest approximately EUR 26 million on the factory. When the plant comes on stream in 2021, production will initially focus on radial tires, followed at a later stage by bias-ply/cross-ply models. In all, the factory will create approximately 100 new jobs. The plant is being built in the immediate vicinity of the passenger car tire factory which Continental opened in March of this year. The ongoing dynamic demand for Continental motorcycle tires in Europe, the USA, and the growth markets of Asia and South America, is driving this significant expansion in production capacity. According to Martin Burdorf, head of sales and marketing, motorcycle tires, at Continental Reifen Deutschland GmbH in Korbach, Germany, the expansion of motorcycle tire production in Asia will serve exclusively to meet demand in new markets: “Production operations in Rayong will neither replace any existing plants nor stand in the way of their expansion,” he said. “In Korbach, for example, the focus will remain on the development and production of premium tires, accompanied by a further substantial increase in capacity.” The same high-quality standards apply to all Continental tires worldwide, standards that the company has embraced in line with the motto “German Engineering since 1871.”