Published: 8/14/2025

(Akron, Ohio) – August 14, 2025 - Smithers, a leading provider of testing, consulting, information, and compliance services, announces it is sponsoring both the welcome reception and the Women of Rubber Division (WORD) event at the 2025 Global Polymer Summit from September 9 to 11 in Cleveland, Ohio, in celebration of the company’s 100th anniversary. In addition, Josh Guilliams, Vice President of Consultancy, will be speaking on the evaluation of 6PPD alternatives for the tire industry.

Smithers was the Presenting Sponsor of the inaugural Women of Rubber Division (WORD) event in 2019 and has sponsored the event each year since. The event will take place on Monday, September 8th, featuring several speakers and networking opportunities. The welcome reception will be a great opportunity to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Smithers by showcasing how the company has evolved since its inception in 1925.

As part of the technical program, Guilliams’ presentation, titled “Balancing Performance and Environmental Impact: Holistic Validation of 6PPD Replacement for Tires,” will cover the importance of understanding both material performance and ecotoxicology when investigating 6PPD alternatives. He will detail a recommended two-pronged approach, focused on screening programs and literature review, designed to inform the next stage of development. Guilliams’ presentation is scheduled for Wednesday, September 10, at 11:00 AM EST.

Guilliams oversees Smithers technical consulting team based in Akron, Ohio. He manages client relationships and conducts in-depth investigations of rubber materials, products, and components. Prior to joining the team at Smithers, Guilliams worked at Polymer Valley Chemicals Inc., Hankook Tire, EASTMAN Chemical Corporation, LANXESS Corporation, and Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations.

“The Global Polymer Summit is an important gathering of the many experts who make this industry so vibrant and innovative—and who have played an important role in Smithers’ history,” said Jim Popio, PhD, North America Regional Vice President, Smithers Materials Science and Engineering Division. “I speak for everyone at Smithers when I say we are looking forward to gathering and celebrating this tremendous milestone with so many of our colleagues, clients, and friends.”

Smithers experts will be present in the expo hall throughout the event at booth 2025 to discuss testing and development challenges with attendees. 

Those interested in attending the Global Polymer Summit and the women’s networking event can register here.