Individually, We Are a Drop –Together, We Are an Ocean!

One of the wonderful things about living in this great country of ours is witnessing how people support each other in times of crisis. TV news scenes of great destruction caused by natural disasters or other unfortunate circumstances almost always are countered by human acts of heroism, generosity and unbelievable kindness. Those who have survived such situations often reflect upon the ways that the spirit and support of the community in which they live were the driving factors in getting their lives back on track.

The rubber industry is experiencing a time of crisis, and the ARPM community is reacting.

International entities are proposing to ban more than 10,000 PFAS substances in the REACH Restriction Dossier, despite the fact that a substantial body of scientific data already has demonstrated that fluoropolymers do not pose a risk to human health or the environment. To remove PFAS from the world of rubber would take extraordinary measures and ultimately would endanger the sustainability of many companies in the North American rubber industry.

The North American rubber industry is dangerously vulnerable due to its dependency on the overseas chemical supply chain, and this represents a security threat to our country and North America. Currently, over 40% of all critical rubber chemicals needed in the US – those used for curing (vulcanizing) and those used to protect rubber –are controlled through China’s manufacturing dominance. In some cases, we do not even possess the capability of producing some of these key ingredients, such as MBTS or dicumyl peroxide.

The current chemicals market for curing and protecting rubber represents nearly 1,995,000 tons, and a whopping 850,000 tons are controlled directly by China. If China unexpectedly slows production (name any reason), the current capacity infrastructure remaining within North America would not be capable of supplying the rubber industry’s growing needs,

Letha Keslar, ARPM

and this would have devastating consequences both in the US and North America.

ARPM is working to change the perception of the rubber marketplace and raise the awareness of government representatives that these critical issues must be addressed. Senators, Congressmen and all leaders in DC must understand the importance of the rubber products industry.

No matter the size of your business, as rubber products business leaders, we are responsible for educating these decision-makers. Please set aside 15 minutes to connect with your state representatives and contact those who serve on your behalf. Contact the MADE IN THE USA office in Washington, DC (https://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/) and tell them the impact the broad ban on PFAS would have on your business and on the rubber industry, as well as the industry’s vulnerability because of the foreign supply chain.

If each rubber products company acts today, there will be an ocean of influence to positively impact the industry for tomorrow. n

By Lindsey Munson, editor, Inside Rubber 10

By Greg Vassmer, technical coordinator, ARPM

By Andrew

An interview with Gustavo Mosquera, vice president of operations, SIGMASOFT®

ARPM’s EHS Summit Scheduled for May 2023

By Josef Keglewitsch, partner, Ice Miller LLP

ARPM Team

Executive Director Troy Nix – tnix@arpminc.org

Managing Director Letha Keslar – lkeslar@arpminc.org

By

Kuehl,

By Rick Arnold,

By

By Liz Stevens,

Marketing Director Marcella Kates – mkates@arpminc.org

Analytics Director Tony Robinson – trobinson@arpminc.org

Analytics Lead Andrew Carlsgaard - acarlsgaard@arpminc.org

Director of Publications Susan Denzio – sdenzio@arpminc.org

Membership & Events Director Kaitlyn Krol – kkrol@arpminc.org

ARPM Officers and Board of Directors

President

Travis Turek, Bruckman Rubber Corporation

Vice President

James Wideman, MBL (USA) Corporation

Treasurer

Marel Riley-Ryman, Southern Michigan Rubber

Secretary

Joe Keglewitsch, Ice Miller LLP

ARPM Board of Directors

Rich Balka, Home Rubber Company

Bill Bernardo, Ebco, Inc.

Kirk Bowman, The Timken Company

Russ Burgert, Maplan Rubber Machinery

Aaron Clark, Danfoss

Joe Colletti, Marsh Bellofram

Randy Dobbs, Sperry & Rice

Ryan Fleming, Freudenberg-Nok Sealing Technologies

Doug Gilg, Continental ContiTech

Diya Garware Ibanez, Fulflex, Inc.

Seth Johnson, Zochem LLC

Donovan Lonsway, BRP

Jon Meigan, Lake Erie Rubber & Manufacturing

Mike Rainey, HBD Industries Inc.

Mike Recchio, Zeon Chemicals L.P.

Brandon Robards, Ace Extrusion

Vice President, Editorial: Dianna Brodine

Editor: Lindsey Munson

Vice President, Design: Becky Arensdorf

Graphic Designer: Hailey Mann

Published by: 2150 SW Westport Dr., Suite 101 Topeka, KS 66614 Phone: 785.271.5801