Category: News Releases

ITW Pro Brands is promoting a new mold release agent, DiamondKote™ DKW-4185, for faster and easier mold cleaning. This water-based, semi-permanent product releases polyacrylate rubber, butyl rubber, natural rubber, SBR, EPDM, and most sulfur-cured elastomers from mold surfaces. DiamondKote™ DKW-4185 can also be used with FKM that is amine-cured or bisphenol-cured, and with rubber-to-metal bonded parts.

RDAbbott has named Levi Jim Cottington Vice President, Head of Supply Chain. In this vital role, Cottington is responsible for driving speed and predictable results for RDAbbott’s customers through prioritization, risk mitigation, and complexity management.

NovationSi, the manufacturing subsidiary for RDAbbott, has named Brian Swanton as Director of Process Engineering. Swanton holds a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Michigan Technology University and has over 28 years of silicone experience, including extensive service with Dow and Dupont. Swanton holds multiple patents and has developed or scaled up at least forty products, which now represent a minimum of $100M in annual sales.

RDAbbott has hired Gabriel Rodriguez as Senior Account Manager for R.D. Abbott de México. Rodriguez joined RDAbbott’s Mexico subsidiary on January 1, 2023, and is responsible for developing business relationships, fostering sales growth, and providing technical support to customers in the northern territories of México.

Alpha Technologies is offering an extension for its Premier™ Rubber Process Analyzer (RPA) that can increase safety and reduce costs. Known as “Sub-Zero Technology,” this enhancement can test compounds at temperatures as low as -25°C without the use of liquid nitrogen.

NovationSi, the manufacturing subsidiary for RDAbbott, has named Steve Hersey Plant Manager. Prior to joining NovationSi, Hersey was the General Manager for HEXPOL Compounding in Akron, Ohio. While at HEXPOL, he managed substantial volume growth over four years and sales revenue experienced exponential growth during his tenure. Hersey brings a veteran approach to silicone manufacturing as he began his HEXPOL career as a Lead Operator and later served as a Production Supervisor. He has also owned a construction business and worked as an Operations Lead for Portage Precision Polymers before it was acquired by HEXPOL.

Alpha Technologies has published a study about rubber process analyzers (RPA), viscoelastic properties, and mix quality in a recent Technical Notebook for Rubber News. Authors John Dick and Richard Hanzlik compare the relative advantages of various viscoelastic properties that an RPA can measure. This article is the first in a two-part series by the authors.

Alpha Technologies has published a study about measuring the quality of mixes that contain recycled rubber powders (RRP). The authors compared ASTM test standards that are designed for use with rubber process analyzers and determined which tests are most and least effective with RRPs.

Starting February 23, RDAbbott will launch its 2023 webinar series that will feature technical insights, material updates, and processing recommendations from our supplier partners throughout the year.

RDAbbott has named Mat Dove as National Sales Manager and Jason Huff as East Coast Sales Manager. Both promotions will become effective on January 1, 2023. Dove, the current East Coast Sales Manager, will assume a newly created position that is responsible for managing all sales efforts nationwide. Huff, a current Senior Account Manager for the U.S. Midwest, will assume Dove’s previous position and manage East Coast sales.