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The modern world can hardly be imagined without a host of rubber and rubber products. Rubber products are prevalently used across construction, footwear, and automotive. Their manufacturing involves the science & engineering of rubber and rubber additives, including processing aids and fillers. In common parlance, rubber compounding suggests the addition of specific chemicals to raw rubber to obtain the desired attributes. The most prevalent chemicals are reinforcements, crosslinking agents, colorants, and antidegradants. Business Research Insights estimates the market for rubber compound to reach USD 9,545.6 million by 2026.
Manufacturers are counting on the properties of rubber compounds to overcome prevailing challenges. Some of the factors that could influence the compounding process are temperature, duration, energy input, and mixer rotor speed. Leading companies could inject funds into real-time data collection and advanced technology capabilities. Some of the major companies to watch out for in the market are elucidated below:
1. Phoenix Compounding Technology GmbH (Continental)
Phoenix Compounding Technology GmbH is a Germany-based company incorporated in 2001. Headquartered in Hamburg, the company deals in synthetic rubbers, rubber compounds, testing systems, and inquiry compounds. The company claims it has more than 2,000 formulas for rubber compounds and uses state-of-the-art production methods and quality controls. It reportedly manufactures products on 27 mixing lines in Germany, China, Hungary, Mexico, and the U.S.
2. Cooper Standard
Founded in 1960, Cooper Standard is a leading materials science and manufacturing expert headquartered in Michigan, U.S. The company employs around 25,000 people globally and functions in 21 countries. The American company develops components, systems, and materials for a host of diverse markets. Cooper Standard focuses on breakthrough technology innovations and has manufacturing locations in Surgoinsville, Tennessee; New Lexington, Ohio; and Ontario, Canada, among 107 manufacturing locations globally and 32 other manufacturing locations in North America.
3. American Phoenix Inc.
American Phoenix is a privately-held company established in 1992. The company serves customers in the U.S. and offers rubber mixing services, including a supply of runner compounds. It also provides pre-weighted chemical packaging services for the rubber sector. It has more than 400 employees with seven companies in the American Phoenix corporate family.
4. HEXPOL Compounding
HEXPOL Compounding is a Sweden-based company reportedly established in 1893. The company is one of the leading suppliers in the manufacturing and developing of high-quality advanced polymer compounds for a host of applications. With a global presence, the company has upped its focus on organic and inorganic strategies. For instance, in July 2019, Hexpol announced buying Preferred Compounding in a USD 232 million deal. The latter company has six factories, one in Mexico and five in the U.S.
5. TSRC
TSRC was established in 1973 in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, by the founder Mr. Glyn T.H. Ing. The company claims to be a leader in synthetic rubber and Styrenic Block Copolymer (SBC). The Taiwan-headquartered company is profoundly bolstering its business to boost commercial teams and production bases in the U.S., India, Vietnam, Thailand, and China (Nantong in Jiangsu and Song-Jiang in Shanghai).
6. Dongguan New Orient Technology
Founded in 2004, Dongguan New Orient Technology manufactures and distributes plastic and rubber products. The China-based company produces high-temperature silicone rubbers, sealed silicone rubbers, mixing silicone rubbers, and accessory materials. The company’s annual production capacity of raw rubber is around 30,000 tons.
7. Shin-Etsu Chemical
Shin-Etsu Chemical is a chemical manufacturer headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. Established in 1926, the company has manufacturing bases in 19 countries with 93 overseas sales bases. Shin-Etsu Chemical has upped investments in the Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), energy conservation, and renewable energy. The company focuses on electronics materials, functional materials, infrastructure materials, and processing & specialized services.
Driving Innovations in Rubber Compounds
Major companies are promoting innovations in high-performance rubber compounds. So much so that HNBR, a hydrogenated version of NBR (nitrile) rubber, is sought-after in a slew of applications such as industrial, automotive, food, pharma, oil & gas industries, and medical. Some upsides, including high mechanical strength, tremendous media resistance, enhanced wear resistance, and tremendous heat & oxidation stability will expedite the product's adoption.
Considering the unprecedented product demand, development engineers and chemists will vouch for state-of-the-art production methods and rigorous quality controls. Further, leading companies could reshape boundaries to provide sustained value globally.