Crain News Service report
WLOCLAWEK, Poland (July 9, 2015) — Belgian chemicals producer Solvay S.A. has launched production of highly dispersible silica (HDS), a material used in compounding rubber for low rolling resistance tires, at a new plant in Wloclawek.
The $100 million plant has a rated annual capacity of 85,000 metric tons and is expected to create more than 100 jobs in Poland's Pomeranian region. The company broke ground on the plant in 2013.
The factory will provide for central and eastern European customers, said An Nuyttens, president of Solvay's Silica Global Business Unit, adding that the facility will offer the latest Solvay tire technologies.
Solvay, Ms. Nuyttens said, aims to meet tire industry requirements around improving passenger and truck tires while lowering CO2 emissions.
The site will produce Solvay's latest grades of HDS, including Zeosil Premium and Efficium.
Solvay's silica operation has nine sites across Europe, South America, North America and in Asia. In South Korea, Solvay is building a plant which will also produce Efficium and, once on stream, raise Solvay's annual silica capacity by close to 50 percent between 2014 and 2016.
This report appeared on the website of European Rubber Journal, a UK-based sister publication of Tire Business.