German specialty chemicals company, Evonik, recently opened a new 20,000 metric tonne expansion at its precipitated silica site in Chester, Pennsylvania, US.
Andreas Fischer, Head of Evonik’s Silica Business Line commented on the opening that Chester is an integral part of Evonik’s global silica business. He says that since the company has expanded plants and constructed new facilities in Asia and Europe, building capacities for precipitated silicas in North America are also called for.
Fischer explained the capacity addition in Chester was part of Evonik’s initiative to increase world-wide capacities for precipitated silica by 30% since 2010.
Fisher says that demand for precipitated silica is increasing, along with demand growth in industries where it is used. David Elliott, site manager at Evonik’s Chester facility says that among the applications for precipitated silica is in the automotive sector, where it is used to manufacture fuel-efficient tyres with reduced rolling-resistance and maxed-out fuel savings compared with conventional car tyres. Fuel efficient tyres help to cut fuel consumption by up to 8%, added Elliot.
Precipitated silica is also used as an ingredient in the food and animal feed industries, as well as in paints and coatings.
In July, Evonik announced plans to build a plant to produce precipitated silica outside São Paulo, Brazil. The facility is scheduled to go on stream in 2016. The increased development in North and South America follows expansions that have already been completed in Europe and Asia. A production plant extension was completed in Thailand in March 2014.
Evonik is one of the leading producers of silica; it has a global capacity of about 550,000 metric tonnes of precipitated and fumed silica and matting agents per year.