US carbon black supplier Orion Engineered Carbons has commissioned the first new reactor for carbon black production in the European Union in over 40 years at its plant in Italy, and this week will begin commercial sales with the line.
The new 25-kilotonne line at the facility in the northern city of Ravenna produces both specialty and technical rubber carbon blacks, primarily for the European market.
“The new line offers customers seeking long-term solutions a unique strategic opportunity to align with a dependable plant that has been operating for more than 60 years in Europe,” Orion CEO Corning Painter said.
Additional investments at the plant include a new co-generation facility to convert waste heat into electricity, generating up to 120 MWh of electricity per year. Almost 70% of the electricity is supplied to the national grid, serving about 30,000 households. Orion is a net exporter of electricity in Europe and worldwide.
Carbon black is used to tint, colorise, provide reinforcement, conduct electricity, increase durability, and add UV protection. Orion has innovation centres on three continents and 14 plants worldwide, offering a diverse variety of production processes in the industry.