BRUSSELS (April 1, 2013) — The industry trade magazine European Rubber Journal (ERJ) will examine trends in the global tire industry, including supply/demand, environmental and new raw materials issues, at "Future Tire," a new conference to take place June 4-5 in Brussels.
ERJ, a sister publication of Tire Business under the Crain Communications Inc. umbrella, has put together a diverse list of speakers for this first-time conference, slated for Le Meridien Hotel in Brussels.
Among the topics to be covered are:
- What will the tire, and car, of the future look like?
- What alternative ingredients to rubber are viable in tire production of the future?
- What effects will the emergence of alternative ingredients have on future feedstocks?
- What must the natural rubber industry do to stay competitive?
- Retailing: the revolution in tire sales and service
Among those scheduled to speak, and their topics, are:
- Adam Page, business manager, Smithers Rapra UK — "green" tire report;
- Tim Fulton, vice president, Michelin Tweel Technologies, and Florian W Fischer, director business development, VMI Group-Netherlands — future tire design;
- David Hardy, technical marketing manager, Lanxess A.G., performance butadiene rubber — future of tires is green;
- Arkady Radbil, R&D director, Orgkhim CJSC — globalization of low-PCA processing oils;
- Botond Szalma, business development manager, tire & elastomer reinforcements, Teijin Aramid B.V. — new applications of aramid yarns in tires;
- James McGraw, managing director and CEO, International Institute of Synthetic Rubber Producers — markets trends in tire-related elastomers;
- Roger Griggs, director of communications, Kwik Fit U.K., and Fabien Bouquet, international managing director, Point S Development — the retail revolution in tire sales and service;
The conference will feature a panel discussion on European tire labeling legislation and marketing related to labeling, featuring:
Desmond Collins, director of public affairs, Continental U.K.; Harjeev Kandhari, Al Dobowi Group/Infinity Tires; Axel Vassen, head of corporate responsibility, Lanxess A.G.; and Lie Junius, director of public affairs, Europea/Middle East/Africa, Goodyear Dunlop Tires Operations.
ERJ is offering "early bird" registration before May 2 of €645 + Belgian value-added tax. After May 2 the delegate rate rises to €750 + Belgian VAT.
For more information, visit the conference's website.