International Rubber Conference 2018 – IRC 2018, 4 – 6 Sept 2018

Chairman’s Welcome

Selamat Datang ,welcome to the bustling, vibrant and sunny Malaysia,

a major producer of natural Rubber and a wide spectrum of manufactured rubber products.

It has been a decade since Malaysia last hosted the International Rubber Conference (IRC2008), which was successfully organized by the Malaysia Rubber Board. I like to take this opportunity expressing our grateful thanks once again for their excellent effort in hosting the previous event. The baton of being a member of International Rubber Conference Organization (IRCO) has now been handed over to The Plastics & Rubber Institute Malaysia. PRIM evolved from the former Institute of Rubber Industry (IRI) and later PRI which subsequently merged with other professional bodies forming the current IOM3 headquartered in London.

PRIM is privileged to organise the coming IRC 2018 under the auspices of the IRCO which is an organisation of rubber associations worldwide which plan the calendar for the main international rubber conferences. PRIM exists to promote and enhance the practice of polymer science and technology through educational and related programs to fulfill the professional needs of both individual and industrial members. For almost 60 years since inception, PRIM has supported the rise of the Malaysian rubber industry to international importance.

IRC 2018 will be held in conjunction with the 9th International Rubber Glove Conference & Exhibition 2018, which is a must visit bi-annual event for the medical care, oral dental, food handling, laboratories and other industrial handling users. “Transforming Technology; Driving Innovation’ is the common theme for both events to be held at the renowned Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre.

The upcoming IRC 2018 along with the 9th IRGCE will provide an excellent platform for rubber scientists, technologists, academicians and industrialists to share knowledge while exchanging idea, technology and latest research findings. We expect at least 200 papers and posters to be presented covering keys topics including Novelty in rubbers; Science & Technology, Environmental/Green Technology & Sustainability; latex products, tyres, engineering & automotive products, etc.

We look forward to your participation at the IRC 2018 and 9th IRGCE 2018 which we anticipate to be the largest rubber show in Malaysia.

P. K. Chan

Organising Chairman, IRC 2018.

About International Rubber Conference Organisation (IRCO)

The International Rubber Conference Organisation (IRCO) is an association of rubber societies around the world which plan the calendar for the main international rubber conferences. By careful selection of conference proposals and monitoring of events, the IRCO ensures that all conferences run by its member societies meet the very demanding requirements dictated by the IRCO and thus provide delegates with first-class conferences.

A main IRCO conference is held annually. In 2009 the IRCO Committee decided to re-introduce the RubberCon series, starting in 2011. This series provides for smaller, more specialised events, but still adhering to the high IRCO standards.

PRIM is Malaysia’s official representative to IRCO.