Published: 9/22/2026
(Akron, Ohio) - 9/ 21/ 2026 — Smithers, a leading provider of testing, consulting, information, and compliance services, announces that Josh Guilliams, Vice President of Consultancy, is speaking at the 2026 Global Polymer Summit from September 28 to 30 in Louisville, Kentucky. Guilliams is also participating in a panel discussion and leading a training course. Additionally, Smithers is once again sponsoring Women of Rubber Division (WORD), a women’s networking event.
Guilliams’ presentation, titled “The Application Challenge: Sustainable Carbon Blacks Progressing on Performance,” is scheduled for Tuesday, September 29, at 11:10 AM EST. Guilliams will discuss the current state of the sustainable carbon black market and the latest advancements in processing techniques and feedstock choices. He will also touch on testing and validation methods for assessing critical performance requirements.
Shortly after his presentation, Guilliams is participating in a panel discussion, titled “Meeting the EV Challenge: The Next Generation of Tire Technology.” Guilliams and his fellow panelists will explore how the tire industry is preparing for the next phase of electrification.
On Wednesday, September 30, Guilliams is co-leading a training course on non-tire specialty elastomers with Ken Kulbaba of ARLANXEO Inc. The agenda will cover fundamental chemistry, performance characteristics, and processing considerations of EPDM, nitrile, silicone, neoprene, fluorosilicone elastomers, and fluorocarbon elastomers. The course is designed to equip participants with a working knowledge to make confident decisions when selecting elastomers for real-world product design and compound development applications.
"So many of the industries we serve at Smithers are experiencing higher levels of materials development and change that are only made possible by innovations in the world of polymers", said Jim Popio, PhD, North America Regional Vice President, Smithers Materials Science and Engineering Division. “Josh brings a remarkable breadth and depth of knowledge to the table, and I’m confident anyone who has a chance to hear him speak will walk away with fresh insight to support their development projects.”
Guilliams oversees the 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.
Guilliams and other Smithers experts will be present in the expo hall at booth 820.
Those interested in attending the Global Polymer Summit and the women’s networking event can register here.
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About Smithers:
Founded in 1925 and headquartered in Akron, Ohio, Smithers is a multinational provider of testing, consulting, information, and compliance services. With laboratories and operations in North America, Europe, and Asia, Smithers supports customers in the transportation, life science, packaging, materials, components, consumer, cannabis, dry commodities, and energy industries. Smithers delivers accurate data, on time, with high touch, by integrating science, technology, and business expertise, so customers can innovate with confidence.
