Rubber & Plastics News (14th December 2020)

24 pages. Volume 50, number 10. Features: *Smiley Monroe brings its belt making to America, 'for America' *2020 a 'landmark' year for electric vehicles *Pitstick guides Gates through pandemic *Signs of recovery: Tire shipments rebound, still will fall short of 2019 *Bates to close in Tenn. *Semperit to keep medical unit at least short term *Vibracoustic to shutter its Indiana plant *BCI Rubber looks for growth after acquisition *On the block: Bridgestone mulls potential sale of building products unit *California again considers tire efficiency standards *DuPont renames silicone line Liveo *Teklas eyes opening of first U.S. hose factory *Michelin focuses on people, profit, planet *Nextis using Kraiburg TPE on medical device *Aubie Coran, 1995 Charles Goodyear medalist, dies at 88 *A year unlike any other: COVID-19 brings challenges, opportunities in rubber *Conti restructures with eye toward e-mobility *Trade dispute focuses on Asian P/LT tire imports *Quite a year for Goodyear: Tire maker makes headlines with plant closures, Trump tweet *Eaton deal to sell hydraulics unit highlights M&A activity *EVs continue march into future *Rubber industry deaths in 2020 *2020 industry innovations wait for no pandemic *Steady leadership brings clarity to Gates' global staff