US carbon black supplier Orion Engineered Carbons has entered into a US$650 million-equivalent seven-year sustainability-linked Term Loan B, across Euros and US Dollars. With this transaction, Orion has replaced its existing Term Loan B that was scheduled to mature in July 2024…
Synthos to build 120 kt/yr butadiene unit
Polish chemical firm Synthos has made a final investment decision for the construction of a new butadiene extraction unit with associated logistic infrastructure to be built in Plock, Poland. The commissioning of the butadiene extraction unit and first production are scheduled…
Vittoria invests US$20 mn to double bicycle tyre capacity in Thailand
Italian bicycle tyre maker Vittoria Group says it is constructing a new factory in Thailand. The US$20 million investment will see its local subsidiary Lion Tyres Thailand (LTT)’s factory premises grow from 36.000 to 52.000 sq m in the Bangpoo…
Bridgestone consolidating auto seat pad plants in Japan
In line with its restructuring plan, tyre maker Bridgestone Corporation says that it will consolidate its plants for automotive seat pads in Japan, which are now manufactured in four plants owned by its group companies, out of which three plants are owned…
BKT trials OTR tyre production in new facility
Indian tyre maker BKT has announced the start of trial production at a new facility in Waluj, in the Indian state of Maharashtra, following an investment of US$65 million. Spanning an area of 22 acres, BKT’s latest plant is situated…
Nokian to use wind-powered electricity for Finnish facility
Finland’s Nokian Tyres has signed a ten-year agreement with the Nordic energy company Gasum to supply renewable wind energy for the electricity used in the Finnish factory and in Vianor operations in Finland. The power will be produced by a new…
Michelin to decarbonise French tyre plant
French tyre firm Michelin has tied up in a ten-year contract with low-carbon utility company Engie to optimise energy consumption at its tyre factory in Clermont-Ferrand, central France. In addition to utilities management, the ten-year contract provides for the design and operation…
TAIF, Sibur merger finalised; fifth global producer
Russian petrochemical firms Sibur and TAIF have entered into an agreement finalising the creation of a combined entity that will leverage the facilities of PJSC SIBUR Holding. The move follows an announcement in April that the firms had initiated steps to…
Continental to separate ContiTech and tyre businesses
In line with its restructuring, German technology firm Continental says thatits tyres business and ContiTech non-tyre rubber and plastics products sectors will be independent business units, effective 1 January. Meanwhile, it will split its Automotive Technologies branch into five business…
Fenner’s acquisition of conveyor belt maker strengthens offerings
UK’s Fenner Precision Polymers, a Michelin Group Company and supplier ofreinforced polymer technology, has acquired Lumsden Corporation, a manufacturer of industrial conveyor belting and wire cloth for the quarry and mining industry, as well as related solutions for a wide…






