Career in Rubber Technology

Rubber is a widely used household product which was initially used to manufacture ball for sporting purpose by boiling a substance called, ‘latex’ extracted from the bark of rubber tree. Ever since, utility of rubber as a raw-material for making household and industrial goods has seen rapid development. The end-products range from tyres and tubes to window and door profiles. It is also used to create rubber bands, erasers, toy balloons, gloves and other things one can imagine.

The popularity of this material and mushrooming of industries in large scale to cater to growing demands and variety has necessitated introduction of rubber technology as a branch of engineering study. Rubber technologists learn to extract best suited quality of rubber for finishing them into end-products using the right techniques.

A course in this branch of engineering will enable students learn the tricks of trade in processing latex, synthetic or natural rubber and convert it into useful end-product. The curriculum teaches and educates students about types of rubber, their inherent properties, and about the descriptions for formulating rubber compounds. Owing to rubber’s utility in automobile industry and other sectors where it forms a major part of manufacturing process, this branch of engineering is fast becoming a lucrative and promising career option.

To enter this industry, one has to undertake a course in rubber technology like undergraduate course for four years called, Bachelor of Engineering or Bachelor of Technology; or two year post-graduate programme called Masters of Technology. Although available in few universities, one can even pursue a B. Sc programme in rubber technology.

A student who has successfully completed 12th examination in Physics, Mathematics and Chemistry can apply for admission for the BE/B. Tech courses. In order to enroll for the Master’s Programme, students should have completed their BE/B. Tech or other equivalent degrees in Chemical Engineering, AMIE in polymer sciences or rubber technology; or completed M.Sc in Polymer Chemistry along with a valid GATE-score.

Admission for Bachelor’s degree course is done based on scores in All-India Entrance Examinations like AIEEE, IIT-JEE, or other separate engineering entrance examinations conducted at state-levels.

Since this is a relatively new branch of engineering, one may find fewer universities and institutes offering courses in rubber technology. Some of them are:

• Madras Institute of Technology, Chennai.
• Cochin University of Science and Technology, Kochi.
• Indian Institute of Technology, Kharakpur.
• Rubber Research Institute of India, Kottayam.
• Lalbhai Dalpatbhai College of Engineering, Ahmadabad.
• Hindustan College of engineering, Kelambakkam.
• Gujarat Technological University, Ahmadabad.
• Anna University, Chennai.

Demand for rubber technologists has popularized courses in rubber technology. Graduates and post-graduates in this field get job opportunities in private and public sectors industries including garment, water-proofing material, tyres, rubber processing and so on.

Some renowned tyre-manufacturing industries who recruit rubber technologists include MRF, Ceat, Apollo, and JK Tyres. Other industries making a beeline for these professionals include big-names like Bengal Waterproof Company, Ashok Rubber Industries, HCL Technologies, VPK Rubber Corporation, Haldia Pharmaceuticals and Gas Authority of India Ltd. Experienced and skilled rubber technologists can also explore international markets for better work-options.

This new branch enables beginners to start with a better salary than most of their counterparts. Freshers are often hired by companies with an annual pay-package of 2.5 to 3.5 lakh rupees. With higher qualification and/or experience, these professional can demand higher salaries apart from other benefits and perks. If one gets hired by foreign companies, the prospect of earning handsome salaries has no bound.