LONDON — European Rubber Journal, in its 136th year of publication, has a new owner.
London-based NUERJ Ltd., with decades of experience in publishing and events for professionals working in engineering, process engineering, laboratory science and elastomers, has purchased the publication from Crain Communications Inc. The sale was finalized Feb. 5.
Patrick Raleigh, editor of ERJ and director of NUERJ, called it a "privilege to be part of the Crain team, with some of the best industry journalists and publishing and events support staff I have ever worked with."
Mr. Raleigh said he looks forward to enhancing ERJ's role "as the leading communications platform and information service for the global rubber and tire industries."
ERJ began in 1884 with the launch of India-Rubber Journal (full name India-Rubber and Gutta-Percha Rubber and Electrical Trades Journal) on Aug. 6 that year. It originally was published by Abraham Kingdon & Co. of Moorfields, London.
In 1900, India-Rubber Journal magazine was sold to McLaren and Sons of Glasgow, Scotland, for £750.
McLaren shortened the name of the magazine to Rubber Journal in 1955 and, three years later, renamed the title again, this time to Rubber Journal and International Plastics.
In 1967, the United Kingdom joined the European Economic Community, the forerunner to the European Union, which prompted McLaren to rename the magazine European Rubber Journal.
Family-owned Crain, based in Detroit, purchased ERJ from McLaren in 1981. With Crain, ERJ was part of the Global Polymer Group, which included, among others, Tire Business, Plastics News and Rubber & Plastics News.
"We wish editor Patrick Raleigh and the team at NUERJ the very best in this new chapter," Brennan Lafferty, vice president and group publisher at Crain, said. "The ERJ readers remain in excellent hands with Patrick leading coverage of this vital market."
ERJ is asking readers to share views from around the industry, particularly on how the publication can best meet their needs as the industry continues to adapt to new trends, including digitalization, sustainability and new mobility.
For suggestions or subscription questions, email ERJ at [email protected].