Bruce Meyer
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I am Editor of Rubber News. We cover the tire and rubber product industry. I also am a long suffering Cleveland baseball fan. RTs don't = endorsement.
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Articles by Bruce Meyer
Zillow Faces a New Major Lawsuit Over an Alleged Monopoly
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Better Than You Think: Long-Run Trends in Poverty, Inequality, and Mobility
In anticipation of the annual release of new Census Bureau income and poverty estimates on September 15, this event provides an opportunity to assess long-running trends in hardship, inequality, and economic mobility. Recent analyses—often drawing less attention than the research they overturn or temper—have shown that declines in poverty have been much larger than most people realize, while increases in income concentration and declines in absolute mobility have been much smaller.
Misleading Estimates from Nonlinear Models with a Binary Outcome
When estimating nonlinear models for binary outcomes, such as probit and logit models, researchers often rely on average partial effects (APEs) to summarize the effect of a regressor. Because the marginal effect of a variable in these models depends on the values of all other variables, the value of an APE hinges on the portion of the sample used for the calculations.
Talking tire technology: Goodyear CTO Chris Helsel ranks 3 decades of R&D trends
Goodyear relies heavily on computer-aided and simulation technology for its tire testing. The company has two simulators like the one shown here, one is in Akron the other in Luxembourg.
Goodyear CTO breaks down three decades of R&D trends
Chris Helsel will be the first to tell you that he failed to perform the job he was hired for when he came to Goodyear in 1996. After earning a bachelor’s degree at Cleveland State University and a master’s from the University of Akron—both in mechanical engineering—he worked as an engineer at Babcock & Wilcox, designing nuclear propulsion equipment for Navy ship systems.
Talking tire technology: Goodyear CTO Chris Helsel ranks 3 decades of R&D trends
AKRON—Chris Helsel will be the first to tell you that he failed to perform the job he was hired for when he came to Goodyear in 1996. Chris Helsel has worked as part of Goodyear's technical team for over 30 years. He shares insights into the top tire trends during that time.
BKT, Pirelli, Michelin execs talk journey of sustainability at TRAC event
A panel discusses "Driving Sustainability in Tire Manufacturing" at the recent Tire and Rubber Association of Canada's Rubber Recycling Symposium in Calgary, Alberta. From left are Pirelli's Maureen Kline, TRAC's Carol Hochu, BKT's Keshav Das and Michelin's Louise Touze.
TRIB’s Stevens: Low-cost imports threaten future of retreading
While retreading is a proven technology that works on both an economic and environmental level, a number of factors are making life difficult for those in the sector.
Meyer: What one word do you associate with 'sustainability'?
Carol Hochu took a bit of a twist on the standard "introduce yourself to your table mates" when she opened the Tire and Rubber Association of Canada's 2025 Rubber Recycling Symposium. Rather than just give our name and company, the TRAC CEO gave us an assignment: Summarize in one word what comes to mind when you hear the word "sustainability." A simple request, but one that cuts right to the heart of how people view one of the most important topics in the tire and rubber industry.
Mesnac brings in Arie Kroeze to put firm atop N.A. machinery sector
CLEVELAND—When Arie Kroeze agreed to join Mesnac Americas Co. Ltd. as CEO in late 2024, the mission was simple: Make the Chinese-owned firm the top supplier of tire and rubber machinery in North America. Afterall, Mesnac leads the sector worldwide, but sits at No. 3 in North America, operating a service center out of Akron to sell and service its customers with machinery made in China and Slovakia.
Lion Elastomers exits Orange, Texas, as butadiene market contracts
ORANGE, Texas—Lion Elastomers L.L.C. plans to cease synthetic rubber production at its facility in Orange, a plant it purchased from Firestone Polymers in 2019 Lion said in an Oct. 9 statement that it "informed employees, customers, community leaders and other public stakeholders" of its decision to shut down operations at the Texas factory.
Polymer Industry Cluster moves forward in its mission
AKRON—The Polymer Industry Cluster has been an organization for several years, but it's just now getting to the point where its vision and potential impact on the Akron and Northeast Ohio region is coming into focus. That was clear during the PIC's annual Connectivity Conference, held Oct. 1 at House Three Thirty in Akron's Highland Square area. It's a community center formed by none other than LeBron James, who's had almost as much impact on his hometown as the tire, rubber and polymer sectors.
Polymer Industry Cluster moves forward in its mission
AKRON—The Polymer Industry Cluster has been an organization for several years, but it's just now getting to the point where its vision and potential impact on the Akron and Northeast Ohio region is coming into focus. That was clear during the PIC's annual Connectivity Conference, held Oct. 1 at House Three Thirty in Akron's Highland Square area. It's a community center formed by none other than LeBron James, who's had almost as much impact on his hometown as the tire, rubber and polymer sectors.
Michelin leads adhesion innovation with non-toxic ResiCare technology
CLERMONT-FERRAND, France—Maybe it's because Michelin is the largest tire company in the world that it wants to be the leader in everything it does.
Dorfi brings right experience, tools to lead Polymer Cluster to next level
AKRON—For Hans Dorfi, his hiring as executive director and chief innovation officer for Akron's Polymer Industry Cluster (PIC) is more than just a new job. It's a chance for him to make a larger mark on the tire, rubber and polymer sectors than he could from the perspective of just one company, and do that to the benefit of the region he has called home for more than three decades.
Dorfi brings right experience, tools to lead Polymer Cluster to next level
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection is blocking imports of tires manufactured at Linglong International Europe's plant in Serbia, alleging the use of forced labor. Linglong says the allegations are "completely incomprehensible."
Meyer: First unifieid 'Global Polymer Summit' a success
Well, the inaugural Global Polymer Summit is in the books. And by most measures and perspectives, the event was a success. The conference and expo, held in Cleveland the week of Sept. 8, combined the ACS Rubber Division's International Elastomer Conference and Rubber News' International Tire Exhibition & Conference.
Rubber News honors Flexsys' Fred Ignatz-Hoover with Harold Herzlich Medal
CLEVELAND—Fred Ignatz-Hoover knows better than anyone that the process of mixing rubber compounds and manufacturing tires is as much art as it is science. Maybe more so. He worked for 37 years in the rubber chemicals business, starting at Monsanto Chemical Co., which became Flexsys, with periodic ownership by Solutia then Eastman Chemical Co. He retired as a technology fellow from Flexsys America in 2024. And during that career, Ignatz-Hoover found an industry that was characterized by art.
Wyko expands portfolio with purchase of BPS Engineering's tooling division
CLEVELAND—Wyko Tire Technology has purchased the assets of the tooling division of BPS Engineering L.L.C. in a deal that will boost Wyko's capabilities to serve the global tire industry. The two companies are both based in Greenback, Tenn., and the deal—effective Sept. 9—also involves a cooperation agreement going forward where each will represent some aspects of the other's business, according to Wyko President Kenny McCleery. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
23 technical presentations worth watching at 2025 Global Polymer Summit
CLEVELAND—When Rubber News and the Rubber Division of the American Chemical Society joined together to put on the Global Polymer Summit, one thing was clear: The backbone of the event would be the technical program. With the Rubber Division's International Elastomer Conference and our International Tire Exhibition & Conference, the technical presentations were a way to take the temperature, so to speak, of where the state of technology and innovation stood in the tire and rubber industries.
Tales from the road: How Flubber flubbed up
When my wife Megan and I travel, I like to call us "journey people." Rather than hopping on a plane and getting right to our destination, we prefer to drive and, yes, enjoy the journey. And because of our backgrounds, some of our conversations on the road may seem atypical. Both of us worked in the rubber industry, me covering it as a journalist for 37-plus years and Megan was an inside salesperson for General Tire.
No simple solution: Making NR supply chain sustainable requires multi-faceted approach
DUBLIN, Ireland—In theory, ensuring a sustainable natural rubber supply shouldn't be that difficult. Natural rubber is, after all, tapped from rubber trees, a sustainable source on its merits. About 68 percent of the world's supply of natural rubber comes from Thailand, Indonesia, the Ivory Coast and Vietnam, according to data from the Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia-based Association of Natural Rubber Producing Countries (ANRPC).
New Jersey gains $2 billion PFAS settlement from Chemours, DuPont, Corteva
WILMINGTON, Del.—DuPont and two of its spinoff companies—Chemours Co. and Corteva Inc.—have reached a settlement that would resolve all pending environmental and other claims by the state of New Jersey in a variety of litigation matters, including PFAS contamination. The total value of the agreement totals more than $2 billion, including clean-up activities along with funds paid to a remediation funding source and an additional reserve fund, according to an Aug.
ANRPC: Factors leading to natural rubber shortfall go back decades
DUBLIN, Ireland—The natural rubber sector is projected to have a production shortfall in 2025, but some of the reasons for this go back years. Now, the NR supply chain is an interesting animal in its own right, with a supply chain that operates on a whole different level than most materials used in industrial applications.
Hyde: Rubber feedstock sectors in for volatile period
DUBLIN, Ireland—When compiling a forecast for synthetic rubber feedstocks, the focus today is on three things: disruptors, risks and the ever-present overcapacity. That was the message Bill Hyde, vice president of olefins and elastomers for Chemical Market Analytics, delivered during his presentation at the Annual General Meeting of the International Institute of Synthetic Rubber Producers in Dublin.
Eight returnees, one newcomer earn Best Places to Work status
CUYAHOGA FALLS, Ohio—It's time once again to learn which companies have earned the right to be called the Rubber News Best Places to Work for 2025. And most of the names should be familiar to those who follow this program from year to year. Rubber News once again identified nine firms as Best Places to Work in the sixth annual program conducted in conjunction with Workforce Research Group, which independently determined the rubber-related companies that qualified under its criteria.
For innovation and impact: Meet the 2025 Harold Herzlich Medal honoree
A retired expert in the chemistry of rubber vulcanization and antidegradants with a focus on tire compounds has been named the 2025 recipient of the Harold Herzlich Distinguished Technology Achievement Medal, presented by Rubber News. Fred Ignatz-Hoover worked for 37 years in the rubber chemicals business, starting at Monsanto Chemical Co., which became Flexsys, with periodic ownership by Solutia then Eastman Chemical Co. He retired as a technology fellow from Flexsys America in 2024.
Obituary: Charles Rader, champion for Santoprene brand, dies at 89
AKRON—Charles Rader was a strong advocate for many things in his lifetime. And during his more than 40-year career in the rubber industry, he was passionate about a number of topics, the ACS Rubber Division and the Santoprene-brand thermoplastic vulcanizates chief among them. Called "bigger than life" by one of his former colleagues, Rader died June 6 in Akron at the age of 89.
Meyer: China surging ahead in automotive market
When it comes to forecasts, ones pertaining to weather may get the most attention on a daily basis, but those relating to automotive sales can't be far behind. That's because the GDPs of many nations are built on the transportation world. Not just the mammoth assembly facilities, but down to the supplier tiers, all the way through the supply chain. A thriving automotive production infrastructure brings growth and jobs. On the contrary, when things turn down, that can mean layoffs and unemployment.
Waiting to pounce: Ammega poised to grow, focusing on Americas
BRASELTON, Ga.—Ammega Group CEO Maciej Gwozdz is itching to turn the belting manufacturing major loose on the market. He sees the Netherlands-based firm as poised for growth—particularly in the Americas—with a combination of product excellence, top-shelf manufacturing capability, market diversity and a service network that allows the global company to operate locally wherever its customers are.
Meyer: On finding balance with work and health
I'm going to get a bit personal in this column. Some of you know bits of the story, but I thought I'd share with you what's been going on with me the past 12 months. It started in June 2024, when I started feeling some health symptoms troubling enough for me to contact my cardiologist. That led to an EKG and an admittance to Akron General Hospital, part of the Cleveland Clinic network. And with that, a journey that moved frustratingly slow left me in a state of limbo for the next seven months.
GlobalData analyst outlines 2025's emerging light vehicle projections
DUBLIN, Ireland—Before Robert Simmons gave his automotive market developments at the recent International Institute of Synthetic Rubber Producers' Annual General Meeting in Dublin, he confided he updated the presentation twice in the days leading up to the session. That's because the director of tire and rubber market research for GlobalData had to deal with the stop-and-go whipsawing that was getting into gear because of the tariffs war started by President Trump.
US keeps water standards for PFOA, PFOS, but drops limits on others
\The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said it will keep maximum contaminant levels (MCL) in drinking water for two of the PFAS chemicals thought to be the most egregious of the "forever chemicals." At the same time, however, the agency plans to extend the time to meet the target levels into 2031, and rescind and reconsider whether four other PFAS materials should be part of the drinking water regulation.
U.S. keeps water standards for PFOA, PFOS, but drops limits on others
WASHINGTON—The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said it will keep maximum contaminant levels (MCL) in drinking water for two of the PFAS chemicals thought to be the most egregious of the "forever chemicals." At the same time, however, the agency plans to extend the time to meet the target levels into 2031, and rescind and reconsider whether four other PFAS materials should be part of the drinking water regulation.
Unemployment Insurance
Report American Enterprise Institute SNAP and Employment: What Is the Evidence?
Another barrier broken: Petrovic hits groove as IISRP's first female leader
HOUSTON—The sound of breaking glass you may have heard was another ceiling being shattered in the global rubber industry. This time it was courtesy of Roxanna Bauza Petrovic, who became the first woman CEO and managing director of the Houston-based International Institute of Synthetic Rubber Producers (IISRP) when she took that leadership role last September.
Saved by Medicaid: New Evidence on Health Insurance and Mortality from the Universe of Low-Income Adults
Skip to main content We are grateful to the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, the Russell Sage Foundation, the Charles Koch Foundation, the Menard Family Foundation, and the American Enterprise Institute for their support of the Comprehensive Income Dataset project. Wyse thanks the National Institute on Aging for their support. The views expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Bureau of Economic Research.
Doug Wilson of LCY Elastomers will lead synthetic rubber producers association
DUBLIN, Ireland—The International Institute of Synthetic Rubber Producers has chosen an executive from LCY Elastomers L.P. as its president-international until next year's Annual General Meeting (AGM). Douglas Wilson is general manager of the Americas business for LCY Elastomers L.P., with profit and loss responsibility for all aspects of the firm's styrenic block copolymer business in North and South America, including the Baytown, Texas, manufacturing operation.
GlobalData forecast: Tariffs could cost U.S. up to 1.5M units in light vehicle sales
DUBLIN, Ireland—The U.S. can expect light vehicle sales to drop by between 1 million and 1.5 million units in 2025 if the tariffs put in place by the Trump administration stay intact. That prediction was part of an auto market report delivered by Robert Simmons, responsible for tire and rubber market research for GlobalData, on April 9 at the International Institute of Synthetic Rubber Producers's Annual General Meeting in Dublin.
International Institute of Synthetic Rubber Producers honors General Award, Technical Award winners
DUBLIN, Ireland—The leader of a Taiwan-based maker of thermoplastic elastomers and other chemicals, along with a professor at a Chinese university, were honored at the International Institute of Synthetic Rubber Producers' Annual General Meeting in Dublin. LCY Group Chairman Bowei Lee received the 2025 IISRP General Award, while Zhang Liqun, currently a professor at Xi'an Jiaotong University in China, was the Technical Award honoree during an April 8 ceremony.
GlobalData forecast: Tariffs could cost U.S. up to 1.5M units in light vehicle sales
DUBLIN, Ireland—The U.S. can expect light vehicle sales to drop by between 1 million and 1.5 million units in 2025 if the tariffs put in place by the Trump administration stay intact. That prediction was part of an auto market report delivered by Robert Simmons, responsible for tire and rubber market research for GlobalData, delivered April 9 at the International Institute of Synthetic Rubber Producers's Annual General Meeting in Dublin.
ARG Industrial using multi-pronged approach to growth
ANCHORAGE, Alaska —Slowly but surely, ARG Industrial is spreading its footprint beyond its Alaska roots. The Anchorage-based distributor of hose, fittings and rigging products is using a multi-pronged approach to growth, through acquisitions, opening greenfield sites, and even through its digital platform, according to Mike Mortensen, president and CEO of ARG Industrial.
Meyer: DEI is not a four-letter word
In a perfect world, there shouldn't be a need for diversity, equity and inclusion programs. Everyone would be treated the same, have equal opportunities, and our world and the businesses in it would reflect that. But the world we live in doesn't work that way. Given the anger with which many in the U.S. view DEI today, some of you may not agree with what I have to say.
A look back to Bridgestone's early years at LaVergne tire plant
When Bridgestone Americas closes its truck/bus tire plant in LaVergne, Tenn., at the end of July, Japanese parent company Bridgestone Corp. will be closing the book on its first foray into manufacturing in the U.S. Before Bridgestone bought Firestone in 1988, the Tokyo-based firm five years earlier had dipped its toes into the U.S. market by purchasing the Tennessee factory. During the decade that followed, the factory and its place in the organization took a variety of twists and turns.
Poverty During the Pandemic and the Role of Government Transfers
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Registration open for Rubber News 2025 Best Places to Work program
CUYAHOGA FALLS, Ohio—It's time once again to find out which companies qualify as Rubber News Best Places to Work. This is the sixth year our publication has conducted the survey program, but this year we're adding a twist. Rather than just announcing the overall winner in an issue of Rubber News, we're going to invite the finalists to the Global Polymer Summit, where we will unveil the overall Best Place to Work in the rubber industry. The Global Polymer Summit is Sept.
On innovative thinking: 5 leadership questions with Ticpo's Rob Lyons
Rob Lyons has been in rubber goods distribution for decades, but you won't find him living in the past. The Tipco Technologies Inc. name goes all the way back to 1888, and his parents took ownership in 1982. Rob and his sister, Terri Lyons, took over the business in 2001, and in late 2023, Tipco merged with HydraTech Industrial Solutions under the ownership of private equity firm, Denver-based Platte River Equity.
Premier Hose Industrial succeeds with niche, made-to-order hoses
SAN DIEGO—There's a simple reason Premier Industrial Hose Manufacturing Ltd. doesn't have a catalog of all the goods it produces. It's because as a maker of specialty hoses, virtually everything the Granby, Quebec-based firm produces is made to order. Everything that is a bit out of the ordinary, according to Vice President Marco Giusti. "We were born to do whatever the others don't, or don't like to do. Odd sizes, odd hoses," he told Rubber News. "Anything that is custom made or custom built.
Meyer: Someone new, memorable across my radar at NAHAD
During my nearly 37 years reporting on the tire and rubber industry, I've come across all types of individuals and companies. I've covered multi-billion dollar global conglomerates, as well as many of the small- and medium-sized players that in many ways are the heart of the rubber industry. When I addressed a conference earlier this year, I told the audience that everybody has a story to tell. And sharing those stories is what I enjoy doing best.
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