Over 2,000 take part in Arlanxeo virtual 'technical marathon'

The Hague, The Netherlands – Arlanxeo has held a 24-hour online technical marathon on synthetic rubber, featuring “world-class” presentations and attended by more than 2,000 professionals.

The marathon started at 06:00 CET on 30 June and ended at 06:00 CET on 1 July, with an expert offering a detailed technical presentation at every hour, Arlanxeo said in a statement to ERJ 1 July. 

The presentations covered various topics including technology, innovative developments, Arlanxeo’s synthetic elastomer manufacturing and the different applications of all the company's rubbers.

Overall, the event mainly discussed the latest changes impacting synthetic rubber technologies and industry, and how Arlanxeo navigates the current uncertainty and future challenges. 

Speakers from Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, Singapore, the Netherlands, and the US, attended the online technical session. 

Some of the key areas discussed included butyl rubber (BR) in medical applications; a study of materials technology in passenger car tires; EPDM crosslinking chemistry and Arlanxeo’s Therban HT – a plastic re-enforced hydrogenated nitrile butadiene rubber (HNBR) with improved high temperature properties.

The interactive virtual space, according to Arlanxeo’s head of corporate communications Li Birnie, opened the door for customers, distributors, academia and employees to participate and discuss future concerns and needs. 

"Arlanxeo is constantly keeping in contact with customers,” said Christian Widdershoven, EVP high performance elastomers at Arlanxeo, “It's important to us that our customers know we are here for them through thick and thin."