From Tree to Stretch

January 9, 2025 – Philippines

Small, simple, and often overlooked — yet absolutely essential. Rubber bands power countless industries, from agriculture to aerospace. At Pacific Sole Manufacturing (PSM), these elastic loops are engineered with the same care and precision as the most complex industrial components.

Founded in 1979 and now a vital part of Neyius Textiles, PSM combines decades of experience with modern innovation to deliver durable, high-performance rubber bands for industrial and consumer applications worldwide.

Step-by-Step: How Rubber Bands Are Made

The journey of a rubber band at PSM begins with natural and synthetic rubber blends — selected for their flexibility, tensile strength, and sustainability profile.

1. Compounding
   Natural rubber (often sourced sustainably from local rubber trees) is mixed with synthetic rubber, fillers, pigments, and curing agents to form a custom rubber compound.
2. Extrusion
   The compound is heated and extruded into long, continuous tubes or sheets depending on the final product design. These are shaped to a consistent diameter.
3. Vulcanization
   Through a heat-curing process, sulfur crosslinks are introduced to stabilize the rubber. This gives rubber bands their characteristic snap, flexibility, and durability.
4. Cooling and Cutting
   Once cured, the long rubber tubes are cooled and precision-cut into small loops of uniform size — creating the finished bands.
5. Finishing and Packaging
   Bands are tumbled, dusted with powd