MOSCOW (MRC) -- Evonik Industries has inaugurated a new building to house precipitated silica applied technology for tire and rubber at its Wesseling site near Cologne, reported the company on its site.
In so doing, the leading specialty chemicals company has added applied technology to the world’s largest facility for precipitated silica production and research. Evonik invested an amount in the low tens of millions of euros in the new building.
A combination of precipitated silica and sulfur-functional silanes produced for the tire and rubber industry enables tire manufactures to reduce their products’ rolling resistance and improve their wet-grip. This can reduce fuel consumption by up to 8% in comparison to conventional tires.
Evonik supplies precipitated silica to the tire industry globally from Wesseling where silica production and research were previously located. Thus it made sense to re-locate application engineering to the Wesseling site.
Innovative products for the rubber industry are being developed and tested in the new 2,500 square meter building. Strict quality control, which is standardized worldwide, is applied to several thousand mixtures annually.
To be closer to its worldwide customers and provide them with first-class products, Evonik has undertaken a robust worldwide capacity expansion. In March 2014, it opened an expanded precipitated silica facility in Thailand; in May 2013, it initiated planning for a new facility in Brazil; and it will begin operations later this year in an expanded facility in Chester, Pennsylvania, USA.
As MRC wrote previously, Evonik’s global silica production capacity will increase by approximately 30% over its 2010 capacity by the end of 2014.
Moreover, as part of the company's strategic portfolio expansion, Evonik has recently announced its plans to launch a new generation of PVC plasticizers. Apart from its product lines expansion, the company will also develop a new brand of products. Thus, Evonik is broadening its range of sustainable plasticizers.
Evonik, the creative industrial group from Germany, is one of the world leaders in specialty chemicals. Its activities focus on the key megatrends health, nutrition, resource efficiency and globalization. Evonik benefits specifically from its innovative prowess and integrated technology platforms. Evonik is active in over 100 countries around the world. In fiscal 2013 more than 33,500 employees generated sales of around EUR12.7 billion and an operating profit (adjusted EBITDA) of about EUR2.0 billion.
MRC