Speciality materials company Trinseo reported a third-quarter net loss of USD 87 million, driven largely by restructuring and other charges totalling USD 26 million. 

This follows recently announced restructuring efforts aimed at streamlining operations. The company posted an adjusted EBITDA of USD 66 million, marking a USD 25 million increase year-over-year.

Despite a one percent year-over-year decline in net sales to USD 868 million, the company attributed an eight percent decrease in sales to intentional reductions in low-margin areas like polystyrene and latex binders. However, a seven percent increase from higher raw material prices partially offset this decline.

Commenting on the company’s third-quarter performance, President and Chief Executive Officer of Trinseo, Frank Bozich said, “As expected, market conditions and Adjusted EBITDA were sequentially similar to the prior quarter. Despite continued weak demand in many of our end markets, particularly building and construction and appliances, we saw significant year-over-year profitability improvement largely as a result of our restructuring actions and continued moderation of European input costs.”

Third Quarter Performance by Segment

Engineered Materials: The segment posted a 12 percent rise in net sales, reaching USD 207 million, driven by increased sales volume in consumer electronics and medical applications. Adjusted EBITDA for the segment rose by USD 20 million to USD 25 million, benefiting from improved margins and a favourable product mix.

 Latex Binders: Net sales increased eight percent to USD 242 million, primarily due to higher prices that offset a drop in sales volume for paper and carpet applications. Adjusted EBITDA increased by USD 8 million to USD 26 million, reflecting improved margins and a positive regional and product mix.

Plastics Solutions: Net sales rose three percent year-over-year to USD 268 million, driven by higher raw material costs. Adjusted EBITDA climbed USD 11 million to USD 28 million, aided by higher fixed cost absorption and inventory builds in preparation for the closure of the virgin polycarbonate facility in Stade, Germany.

Polystyrene: This segment saw a 28 percent year-over-year decline in net sales to USD 151 million, impacted by a 35 percent decrease in volume after the closure of the Terneuzen, Netherlands, facility and a reduction in low-margin sales. Adjusted EBITDA rose by USD 5 million to USD 4 million due to higher margins and cost savings from the Terneuzen facility exit.

Fourth Quarter Outlook

Trinseo projects a net loss of between USD 71 million and USD 81 million in the fourth quarter, with adjusted EBITDA expected to range from USD 40 million to USD 50 million. Bozich noted that while fourth-quarter EBITDA is anticipated to dip from year-end seasonality, restructuring benefits should sustain profitability above prior-year levels. The company also expects positive free cash flow due to seasonal working capital improvements.

Commenting on the fourth quarter outlook, Bozich said, “We expect Adjusted EBITDA to be sequentially lower from year-end seasonality, but still higher than the prior year due to the benefits from our restructuring initiatives. We also expect free cash flow to turn positive in the fourth quarter due to typical seasonal working capital improvements.”

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Apollo Tyres Ltd is broadening its cycling portfolio with a new all-season, high-performance option: the Vredestein Superpasso Pro 4S. Engineered for competitive cyclists, this tyre is designed to provide reliable speed and handling throughout the year, regardless of weather or road conditions. It will be available across Europe from 1 March 2026 in four different width sizes to accommodate various road bikes.

Developed at the company's European Global R&D Centre, the tyre builds upon the existing Superpasso Pro platform. It aims to merge the low rolling resistance and responsiveness of a summer performance tyre with the enhanced grip, durability and puncture resistance necessary for consistent year-round use. A key innovation is the proprietary ‘TriComp’ technology, which utilises multiple rubber compounds. A harder, reinforced centre section promotes efficiency and longevity, while softer shoulder compounds deliver superior traction and stability when cornering, even on wet or uneven surfaces.

Further contributing to its all-season capability is an optimised tread pattern. This design efficiently channels water away and maximizses the tyre's contact patch with the road, ensuring predictable handling. Underneath this tread, a 120 TPI casing and a reinforced breaker layer work in tandem to bolster puncture protection and overall resilience. Additionally, the model incorporates ‘Active Control Technology’, featuring a unique bridged centre structure. This construction method reduces overall weight and enhances the direct feedback transmitted to the rider, resulting in a more agile and connected riding experience.

Nic Knippers, Divisional Head – Vredestein Two Wheel Tyres, Apollo Tyres Ltd, said, “Following the success of the new-generation Superpasso Pro, we saw a clear opportunity to create an all-season variant that would allow competitive and enthusiast riders stay on the bike longer, regardless of the weather. The Superpasso Pro 4S achieves exactly that, faithfully transmitting rider power and steering inputs to all surfaces, year-round.”

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Polymer Alumni Welfare Association (PAWA), in association with Indian Rubber Institute (IRI) and Dr D Banerjee Centre of Excellence (DBCOE), Mysuru and with the support of Department of Polymer Technology at Karnataka (Govt) Polytechnic, Mangaluru, is jointly conducting the third edition of DPT-Con 2026, a national-level conference scheduled to be held on 23rd & 24th January 2026 at KPT College campus, Mangaluru.

Carrying the theme “Sustainable Polymer for a Smarter Future,” DPT-Con 2026 aims to bring together industry professionals, alumni, academicians, and students on a common platform to advance learning and collaboration for infrastructure development in polymer science and technology.

“Karnataka (Govt.) Polytechnic, a 78-year-old institution approved by AICTE, as India’s first Autonomous status Polytechnic, has been home to the Department of Polymer Technology since 1975. Over the past five decades, the department has produced more than 1,000 polymer technologists who today serve across the Tyre, Rubber, Plastics, TPE and composite industries in India and abroad. Many of these alumni now hold senior technical and leadership roles, forming a strong industry–academia bridge,” says S Vasudev Rao, convener, DPT-Con 2026. 

PAWA, established in 2017 by senior alumni of the department, has played a pivotal role in strengthening this ecosystem. The association focuses on enhancing student competencies through industry engagement, infrastructure upgrades and knowledge-sharing initiatives. Earlier editions of DPT Con, held in 2018 and 2023, directly contributed to the upgradation of the rubber processing laboratory and the establishment of a modern plastic processing laboratory at the institute.

Building on this legacy, DPT-Con 2026 has set ambitious objectives. The conference seeks to fundraising to establish a cutting-edge incubation centre for composites, to provide scholarships to meritorious & deserving students, and support the maintenance and modernisation of existing rubber, plastic, TPE and composite laboratories. Enhanced student exposure through advanced equipment and real-time industrial interaction is a key focus area, alongside fostering long-term collaboration between industry, alumni and academia. The two-day programme will feature technical paper presentations, expert lectures, networking sessions and cultural programmes. A structured sponsorship framework—ranging from main and platinum sponsors to gold, kit and lunch sponsors—has been designed to encourage active industry participation, with opportunities for technical presentations and brand visibility during the event.

Organisers have set a fund-raising target of INR 2 million to support the planned initiatives and have invited industry leaders, alumni and well-wishers to contribute through sponsorships, kind support or direct participation. According to the organising committee, contributions to DPT-Con 2026 will have a direct and lasting impact on student skill development and the creation of infrastructure aligned with contemporary industry standards.

"With sustainability, innovation and collaboration at its core, DPT-Con 2026 is positioned not merely as a conference, but as a collective effort to shape the next generation of polymer technologists and strengthen India’s polymer ecosystem for the future," adds S Vasudev Rao. 

In addition to Polymer Alumni dedicated team Indian Rubber Institute- DBCOE team joined hands to fulfill this noble cause.

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Pirelli’s 2025 was defined by exceptional innovation and acclaim across its product lines and pioneering technologies, earning numerous independent awards and test victories. The company’s flagship families – P Zero, Cinturato and Scorpion – collectively secured 27 podium finishes in 34 comparative evaluations, with 15 of those positions being first place. New global market launches were particularly successful; both the fifth-generation P Zero and the new Cinturato summer tyre each claimed two major victories. The P Zero was celebrated as the top ultra-high performance summer tyre by industry experts, while the Cinturato demonstrated an outstanding blend of safety and efficiency. Winter performance was also highlighted by the P Zero Winter 2, which won its category in rigorous testing by a leading Swedish automotive magazine.

Specialised technologies integrated into these tyres further enhanced their appeal, offering motorists tangible benefits such as increased puncture resistance and reduced cabin noise. Meanwhile, the all-season segment saw remarkable dominance from Pirelli, especially in the European market. The Cinturato All Season SF3 proved extraordinarily versatile, earning 11 test victories and widespread praise for its balanced safety profile across diverse conditions. Its SUV-oriented counterpart, the Scorpion All Season SF3, quickly replicated this success following its launch. This collective achievement led Pirelli to be crowned the All Season Champion and Top Manufacturer of All Season Tyres by prestigious German institutions.

Complementing these product triumphs, Pirelli’s Cyber Tyre technology received significant international recognition, underscoring its role in advancing connected mobility. This integrated system uses in-tyre sensors and proprietary algorithms to communicate vital data with vehicle electronics in real time, enhancing safety and performance. Over the year, it was honoured four times across different continents, including a top innovation award in the United States, a safety prize in France, a pan-European safety accolade and a Company of the Year title from a noted market analysis firm. These awards collectively affirm how Pirelli’s digital advancements are fundamentally transforming traditional automotive components, positioning the company at the forefront of the industry’s connected future.

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For over a decade, Continental has served as the exclusive tyre supplier to Cemex in the UK, providing comprehensive solutions for the building materials leader's entire fleet. This partnership, initiated in 2011, began when Cemex selected retreaded tyres from Continental’s Bandvulc brand and became an early adopter of the ContiConnect digital monitoring system. Cemex, founded in 1906 and a major supplier of concrete, asphalt and aggregates, operates an extensive UK network of quarries and plants serviced by a large fleet of cement vehicles, dump trucks, trailers and ships.

The demanding environments at Cemex sites, featuring sharp rocks and uneven terrain, previously made tyre-related vehicle breakdowns a significant operational hurdle. By equipping the fleet with Continental’s premium new and retreaded tyres, the company has substantially enhanced vehicle safety, reduced downtime and improved overall fleet efficiency. According to Carl Milton, Cement Logistics Manager – UK at Cemex, this open-book relationship has yielded continuous benefits, from lowering driving costs to increasing vehicle durability and performance.

A cornerstone of this collaboration is the ContiConnect tyre pressure monitoring system. Sensors in the tyres provide real-time data on inflation and temperature, transmitting this information to cab displays and a web-based platform for fleet management. Nigel Ponton, UK Fleet Engineering Manager at Cemex, notes that the system does more than monitor deflation; it analyses heat transfer to predict imminent brake or wheel bearing failures, enabling proactive maintenance. Email alerts from the platform allow both the transport team and tyre providers to address issues in advance, supported by additional checks from Yard Reader stations at Cemex plants.

The partnership has deepened through joint innovation and testing. Milton highlights that the two companies have worked closely to optimise tyre designs for Cemex’s unique operational environments, achieving the best possible fuel economy. Cemex is frequently invited to trial new tyre models, providing feedback that directly contributes to the refinement and development of Continental’s product range. Pina Wallace of Continental concludes that this cooperative relationship is a perfect example of mutual success, where tailored solutions meet specific customer demands while invaluable feedback enhances product offerings. This synergy underscores Continental’s customer-centric approach and the tangible, shared value born from a deeply collaborative alliance.

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