According to a new study by Report Ocean, the rubber processing chemicals market size is expected to reach USD 7.97 billion by 2028. That’s very close to Finorchem’s vision of being in the lead in chemical supplies to the tyre industry by 2030. We talk to the rubber processing chemicals manufacturer about the Acmechem-Merchem merger, how India can be at the forefront of the tyre industry and how quality speaks for everything.

In spite of Covid, tyre companies have come up with a lot of investments; green field projects are taking place and expansion has been happening. For the next 10 years, tyre organisations are talking about the growth of the domestic industry, which was seven to eight percent earlier. Plus, we can’t forget about the export market and another industry along with the tyre sector – the automobile sector. Along with the rubber industry, rubber chemical consumption will also grow.

One such company that believes it is in the right place at the moment, with all that’s going on across the world and because of the pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war, is Finorchem, a leading manufacturer of rubber processing chemicals in the APAC region. Speaking in this context, Kishor Katkar, Director – Sales & Technical Services, Finorchem, says, “The supply chain is disturbed, and with the Acmechem and Merchem merger, we now have a wide range of rubber chemicals. We are ready to support the rubber industry with sustainable quality products from the rubber plant.”

The Acmechem-Merchem merger
Further sharing information on the Acmechem and Merchem merger, Rishabh Holani, Director, Finorchem, asserts that Acmechem is originally into a lot of speciality rubber chemicals and Merchem was more into mainstream rubber chemicals. “So the merger was a perfect fit in the synergy for us as we were already in the chemical field with specialised products,” he points out and goes on, “But with the merger with Merchem and the new entity named Finorchem, we have also entered mainstream rubber chemicals, catering to a wider range of customers that are using these mainstream chemicals. Hence, this fits well within our portfolio which didn’t exist. So it has opened up a lot of opportunities for our company, in both India and the world.”

So, is it true that the future is of collaborations and mergers? We can’t help asking, to which Holani answers with a yes. He further explains, “That’s because a lot of consolidation is happening across the industries. So it was a good synergistic move for us to get involved in mergers.”

Why R&D is important
Finorchem is paying rapt attention to how it is flourishing in its R&D department. Dr Raj B Durairaj, Director of R&D, Finorchem, has been in the R&D of the chemical industry for at least 45 years and joined Finorchem about three months ago. “I have been involved with a lot of R&D activities in the last 45 years. So my products developed in the US and China are well known throughout the world,” Dr Durairaj tells us.

                       Rishabh Holani, Director, Finorchem
  

He further goes on to enlighten us that his concept is that any growth of a company depends on the strength of the R&D. “Hence, we want to put the infrastructure in such a way that our R&D can develop not only in the final product but from scratch,” he shares and continues, “We want to produce our own raw material so that we can develop the final product that is of high quality for our customers’ needs. If we do that, then we don’t need to depend on countries like China, or even Europe. With our knowledge in the chemical and rubber industry, we can develop advanced technologies. Right now, we are planning to develop advanced technologies in order to meet the challenges of the tyre industry, like rolling resistance, wet grip and dry grip. And those concepts are put in our developments.”

The company’s vision
It is just the beginning, definitely. Finorchem’s vision is that by 2030 it will be the dominant player in India, not only to supply raw materials for the Indian tyre industry but around the globe. So it is the right time where the company is putting its infrastructure in the manufacturing sector, R&D and the pilot plant facilities. With this, it plans on being at the forefront of chemical supplies to the tyre industry by 2030.

China’s impact on the tyre industry
Speaking of lands like China and Europe, China is still struggling with Covid and so is its tyre industry. China plays a huge role in the rubber chemical space; 70 percent of the supply comes from China, and it has impacted the whole industry because of the lockdowns that have taken place, Holani mentions. “However, we have made strategic moves in delinking ourselves from China and have strategically sourced our raw material partners and suppliers from different regions, whether it be India, the US, Europe or Japan,” he tells us.

Therefore, Finorchem was much more insulated from this entire tyre chaos that was taking place in China. This has helped the company in expanding its range while China was facing these difficult times.

However, the cost element needs to be taken into account. Today’s market situations are very volatile, and in some situations, China is much more expensive when even compared to countries like Europe or the US. Hence, the cost factor depends on situation to situation.

Shedding more light on this, Katkar elaborates, “We are talking about the China plus one policy, which even Japan is talking about. They have shifted their manufacturing base, so our tyre industry, as well as non-tyre industries, has really understood that over-dependence on China is going to fail miserably in the supply chain issue. With that, Finorchem is in the right position to supply locally, with quality and an economical product.”

Putting across his view, Holani adds, “In today’s industry, price is not the only factor. In fact, supply security has become a major question for every tyre industry and they are working towards the security of raw materials for themselves. This also happens to be one of the learnings from the Covid pandemic, which is why people are not going today for prices alone – they are making more strategic moves while selecting their raw materials supplier.”

                       Dr Raj B Durairaj, Director of R&D, Finorchem

 
How India is at an advantage
While China was a major exporter of tyres to the US, this developed market is also looking for a sustainable second source, and India is the best second source, Katkar informs us. “We are already exporting 30 percent, which will eventually increase. Therefore, it is not only the raw material; if the industry wants to export, it will obviously require the raw material and rubber chemical, which is a major factor,” he avers.

Katkar goes on to mention that the major production of off-road tyres was in China. But now we see India bucking up, too. That’s because these are not very huge in volume and are specialised. “India can take up a major role after China,” he says and adds, “Initially, we were talking about quality tyres. But our tyre industry has really come up well to match European legislations, the tyre labelling etc. so that they can export passenger cars as well as truck tyres. And when talking about exports in the automobile industry, our tyres will also go well with OEMs.”

Reaching the hotshots
Finorchem already has a presence of almost 20-30 percent in the export market and is looking to grow that further in light of the problems present in China. “Everybody is looking at India as an alternate option in the China plus one policy, and we are definitely going to encash on that opportunity. The entire world is our market now, and we are certainly trying to make an impact in the global space,” Holani puts across.

Katkar further remarks that global tyre companies are already there in India in terms of footprint. So when they use Finorchem’s products locally and when the approval comes (which are global approvals), it automatically makes Finorchem flexible to supply to their global plant as well.

However, the bottom line is that foreign companies, like Michelin, are quality-conscious companies. Dr Durairaj states that their company’s goal is that if they can develop a quality product, with a high- performance product and the infrastructure that they are building in their R&D, then they can develop the chemical, test it, take it to the big players and convince them that, technically, theirs is a technologically driven company. Therefore, convincing them will definitely lead to their using it.

Giving an example, Dr Durairaj pronounces, “My product that I invented in the US is well known globally. The product has set the benchmark for all the tyre industries across the globe. Likewise, I want to do the same at Finorchem – developing a new chemical, which we have already started working on. For example, carbon black coupling agent is a new concept for our company. But we have already started developing that kind of a chemical. Every tyre industry is looking for that kind of a chemical so that it improves the magic triangle in the tyre. Likewise, if the chemical works, then not only can we get the patents to protect Indian technology, but at the same time, we can convince the big tyre players like Bridgestone, Michelin etc. to try to consider our chemicals in their tyre foundations. Thus, quality speaks for everything, which is our goal.

Going a little deeper, Katkar tells us, “The global organisations usually take a little time. Once they know that a company gives quality, they don’t go for just one quality product; they talk about the quality system. Once they are convinced that the company is a quality system, they may take a little time for the approval. But once the approval comes, it is through. In fact, we are already supplying to Goodyear and Continental that come under the first six in company ratings globally.”

Challenges to deal with
With every vision and strategy, the share of challenges is inevitable. Holani says that for Finorchem, the challenges are what everyone is facing. For example, there’s supply security. Like we know, China controls almost 70 percent of the market, and sourcing raw materials from other strategic sources can be very challenging, which is due to the supply and logistics constraints that the company has seen due to Covid.

“But I think that Covid has really prepared us for seeing the worst and how we can channel ourselves even in these difficult phases. So not only us but the entire industry is prepared to meet these challenges,” Holani further expresses and adds, “It won’t happen overnight, of course. It will take a lot of time, maybe decades. Thus, we are working in that direction, especially in the direction of Atmanirbhar Bharat. We are trying to develop raw materials in-house, go local and become self-sufficient.”

Room to manoeuvre
The Covid pandemic, despite the losses it brought to the world, taught it a lot, too, including the tyre and other industries associated with it. While going global is important, being significant locally is as pivotal. It’s important that the Indian tyre and rubber chemicals industries spot the prospects various scenarios in the world bring them and strategise accordingly. Where cost alone won’t play a crucial role, the truly effective factor that will vanguard the industry is quality. And that comes with being opportune, investing in R&D and being judicious about making available exactly what the customer is looking for.

 

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Pirelli is all set for the winter season with its winter tyre range that is renewed over the past two years. The newly launched Scorpion Winter 3 joins the P Zero Winter 2 for high-performance cars and the Cinturato Winter 3 for saloons and crossovers. The range is available with Pirelli Elect technology for electric vehicles. Independent tests by European organisations have placed Pirelli winter tyres at the front in safety-related areas, while the Cinturato All Season SF3 has recorded four victories and six additional podium finishes.

Winter tyres or suitable equipment are required from 15 November to 15 April. Most winter driving occurs on dry and wet roads. Below 7°C, winter compounds offer more grip than summer compounds, and the tread pattern helps counter aquaplaning and generate traction on snow. Sidewall markings indicate capability: M+S identifies a product for challenging surfaces, while 3PMSF certifies testing in harsh conditions. An appropriate winter driving style includes increased safety distance, avoiding sudden acceleration and reducing brake use in favour of engine braking.

The Cinturato Winter 3 took first place in the 2026 ADAC winter tyre test in size 225/50 R17 against 16 models, earning a highly recommended rating with the best wet score and the highest assessment for driving safety. It won the AvD test in size 225/45 R17 against 15 tyres with a very good rating. It also finished first in the Auto Bild comparison in size 205/55 R16 on a Volkswagen Golf against 14 tyres with an exemplary rating. Podium finishes followed in tests by Auto Express, Auto Bild Allrad and Tyre Reviews, giving six podium finishes in seven tests, including three victories.

The Scorpion Winter 3 debuted with a victory in the alVolante comparison in size 235/60 R18 on an Alfa Romeo Stelvio, ranking first among six winter tyres. Its wet performance, shortest braking distance, fastest lap time and progressive reactions set it apart. It was judged consistent and predictable on snow and balanced on dry roads.

In the annual Auto Bild super comparative test, the P Zero Winter 2 finished on the podium with an exemplary rating, thanks to precise driving behaviour in wet and dry conditions and braking performance on both surfaces. The Cinturato Winter 3, Scorpion Winter 3 and P Zero Winter 2 are available with Pirelli Elect technology on dedicated fitments for Europe's electric vehicle fleet. Elect addresses low rolling resistance for range, acoustic comfort, longer tyre life, grip for immediate torque and a reinforced structure for battery weight.

All-season tyres suit drivers mainly in urban areas covering up to 20,000 km per year without frequent heavy snowfall. Higher mileage, regular mountain travel or high-performance cars generally call for winter tyres. The Cinturato All Season SF3 carries the 3PMSF marking and has four victories in comparisons by Auto Zeitung, Reifentester, Auto Express and Que Choisir, plus six additional podium finishes. The new Scorpion All Season SF3 extends the approach to SUVs.

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Nokian Tyres will withdraw its sponsorship of the 2027 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship should Russia be permitted to compete, the company has confirmed. The decision follows a Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruling that cleared Russian national teams to return to international ice hockey. Nokian Tyres stated that continuing the sponsorship under such circumstances would conflict with its values. Tiina Frazer, SVP of Brand, Marketing and Communications, explained that while the 2026 tournament cooperation proved highly successful, the company felt compelled to act on its principles regarding Russian participation.

The tyre manufacturer had been named an Official Sponsor for both the 2026 and 2027 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championships in late 2025. Its 2026 involvement included the ‘Carve the Corners’ contest, running from 6 February to 20 March, which offered fans in the United States and Canada a chance to win a trip to the tournament. The 2026 event, held from 15 to 31 May, featured 64 games with 16 top national teams competing for the title and stands as the world’s largest annual winter sports event.

Frazer said, “Our sponsorship agreement with the IIHF covers the 2026 and 2027 World Championships, and our cooperation around the 2026 tournament was very successful. However, under the current circumstances, continuing the sponsorship if Russia participates would not be aligned with our values. We have therefore decided to end our sponsorship of the 2027 World Championship should Russia be allowed to take part.”

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Sri Trang Agro-Industry Public Company Limited (STA), the world's largest fully integrated natural rubber company, has been honoured at the Intelligent Industry Awards 2026, an accolade bestowed by the National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA). The award was formally received on 30 October 2026 at Bangkok's S31 Sukhumvit Hotel by Executive Director Vitchaphol Sincharoenkul, accompanied by Akarat Mattayangkul, Factory Manager of the Huai Nang Branch, and Poowanart Laoprasert, Factory Manager of the Loei Branch.

Three of the company's production sites earned recognition under the award. The Loei and Huai Nang branches in Trang Province were cited for their technically specified rubber (TSR) operations, while the Kanchanadit Branch in Surat Thani Province was acknowledged for latex production. Evaluators placed weight on technology deployments that yield demonstrable outcomes, alongside sustained organisational development spanning operational processes, personnel, energy and sustainability.

Research and development form a central pillar of STA's strategy, merging its natural rubber know-how with digital tools and artificial intelligence. Among its flagship efforts is the Sri Trang AI Machine (SAM), which harnesses AI to bolster analysis and decision-making in production. The company also runs an ‘AI Clinic’ that invites staff from every department to pitch ideas, exchange experiences and obtain expert advice on embedding AI in routine tasks, thereby streamlining workflows, aiding decisions and lifting operational efficiency while nurturing a culture of technological learning.

The accolade underscores STA's drive towards Industry 4.0 through digital adoption, automation, innovation, workforce development and prudent resource management. It represents a further milestone in Sri Trang Group's evolution, reinforcing its emphasis on technology, people and resource efficiency as it continues to champion the sustainable development of Thailand's rubber sector.

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Professor James Busfield of Queen Mary University of London has been awarded the prestigious IRCO Medal by the International Rubber Conference Organisation (IRCO) in recognition of his longstanding contribution to international rubber conferences. The honour was presented by IRCO Executive Chairman Michael Clayton at IRC 2026 in Aichi, Japan, immediately before Busfield delivered his plenary lecture. The IRCO Committee unanimously approved the award at its meeting in Bangkok on 2 December 2025.

His involvement with the organisation spans more than a decade, having represented the United Kingdom on the IRCO Committee since 2013. He chaired and organised IRC 2019 in London, attracting 550 delegates, and led the organisation of RubberCon events in Manchester in 2014 and Edinburgh in 2023, the latter welcoming over 310 participants from 26 countries. A frequent plenary and keynote speaker, he also regularly involves postgraduate students in these international gatherings, providing opportunities to showcase their research and build professional connections.

Left to right: Michael Clayton, Executive Chairman of IRCO; Professor James Busfield, Queen Mary University of London; and Professor Mikihito Takenaka, Congress Chair of IRC2026 AICHI and Professor at the Institute for Chemical Research, Kyoto University.

Beyond his international conference work, Busfield has headed the Elastomer Group at the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (IOM3) since 1995. Under his leadership, the group has delivered more than 100 meetings and conferences for the rubber sector while introducing hybrid events to expand global accessibility. At Queen Mary, he serves as Professor of Materials, National Teaching Fellow, Deputy Head of School and Head of the UK's largest soft matter research group. His career began in automotive suspension engineering before he completed his doctorate under Professor Alan Thomas.

Busfield's research encompasses rubber friction, fatigue, fracture, recycling and smart materials, supported by more than 190 peer-reviewed publications and industrial collaborations with Bridgestone, Continental, Aston Martin F1 and Schlumberger. Elected a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering in 2020, he has also received the Colwyn Medal (2009), the American Chemical Society Rubber Division's George Stafford Whitby Award (2021) and the IOM3 T B Marsden Medal (2024).

Michael Clayton, Executive Chairman of IRCO, said, “James never travels alone. At every conference he brings his students, and gives them the chance to present, to meet people and to begin their careers in our industry. He is incredibly generous with his time, and one of our industry's most engaging speakers. Professor Busfield is an incredibly worthy recipient of the IRCO Medal.”

Professor James Busfield said, “It is a great honour to receive the IRCO Medal. IRCO has coordinated the International Rubber Conference and RubberCon events for about 60 years, and I have been fortunate to have been a part of that community for about half of that time. I enjoy greatly participating in these conferences and value the opportunity to meet the global rubber experts, discuss with them new innovations and together help to move the discipline and our industry forward. My thanks are extended to all of those from the global rubber community who have worked to make our IRCO events so successful.”

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