Careers in Rubber Technology

Who had thought that an elastomer called rubber once used by the Olmecs in 1600 BC would ever become a widely used household product? Initially used to create a ball for sports by boiling the latex derived from the bark of the rubber tree, rubber has, since ancient times, grown and developed into a major raw material for producing and manufacturing a large number of products in households and industries. Right from tyres and tubes to door and window profiles to gloves and toy balloons to rubber bands and pencil erasers, rubber has finally made its presence felt in almost all industries. Such is the use and popularity of rubber products that companies and factories have now started recruiting professionals in rubber technology to extract the best from rubber and help in manufacturing a multitude of end products, using the right techniques. Rubber technology is a branch of engineering that constitutes processing of latex, natural rubber, or synthetic rubber to convert it into useful products. The curriculum for rubber technology usually instructs and educates students on the types of rubbers, their properties, and descriptions of formulation of rubber compounds. Largely used in the automobile industry and industries where rubber forms a major part of the production process, rubber technology is swiftly becoming a lucrative and fruitful career option.

Course Details
The best way to enter the rubber industry is by pursuing a course in rubber technology, offered by some institutions across India. The most common is the undergraduate course in the form of four-year BE or B.Tech, and M.Tech, a two-year post graduate program. Though rare, but a B.Sc degree in rubber technology can also be pursued, offered at very few institutes. The eligibility for seeking admission in Bachelor’s degree program in rubber technology is qualifying the 10+2 examination, with Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics as compulsory subjects. For obtaining admission in Master’s program, candidates should hold a BE/B.Tech degree, or any equivalent degree like AMIE in polymer science and rubber technology, chemical engineering, or M.Sc in Polymer Chemistry, with a valid GATE score. Admission into Bachelor’s degree courses is conducted through all-India entrance examination, such as IIT-JEE, AIEEE, or various engineering entrance examinations held at state level.

Career Prospects
Even though rubber technology is comparatively a newer entrée into the field of engineering, but the demand for rubber technologists are on the rise. Both the public and private sectors offer a large number of job opportunities for rubber technologists in umpteen industries, like tyres, garments, waterproofing materials, hospital supplies, rubber processing units, and all industries that make use of rubber for the manufacture of their products. CEAT Tyres, MRF, Apollo Tyres, Dunlop, and JK Tyres are some popular names in the tyre industry that recruit rubber technologists. Bengal Waterproof Company, VPK Rubber Corporation, Ashok Rubber Industries, Gas Authority of India Limited, HCL Technologies, and Haldia Pharmaceuticals are some prominent leaders hiring rubber technology professionals. Besides, exploring the international market is always open to skilled and experienced personnel from this engineering branch.

Top Colleges Offering UG/PG/Other Courses
Being a new addition in the engineering specializations, not many institutions can be spotted in India offering courses in rubber technology. Nevertheless, aspiring candidates can find a handful of esteemed universities and institutes conducting programs in the same. Some of them are: Madras Institute of Technology (MIT), Chennai; Cochin University of Science and Technology, Kochi; Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kharagpur; Rubber Research Institute of India, Kottayam; Lalbhai Dalpatbhai College of Engineering, Ahmedabad; Hindustan College of Engineering, Kelambakkam; Gujarat Technological University, Ahmedabad; and Anna University, Chennai.

Remuneration
This field of engineering usually awards higher salary packages compared to other specializations. Fresh graduates from leading institutes, with willingness to learn, are absorbed by companies at an annual pay of Rs. 2.5-3.5 lakhs. Experienced, highly qualified, and proficient rubber technologists are offered handsome salaries, along with perks and other benefits. When hired by foreign companies, rubber technologists can expect a money-spinning career ahead of them, with mouth-watering remuneration.