THERE is a growing trend towards the use of radial or tubeless tyers for buses and trucks in China and India, according to Lanxess, in lieu of the recent opening of its largest single investment butyl facility in Jurong island, Singapore.
The new EUR400 million plant will produce both regular and halobutyl rubber – the latter, the company says, is a more complicated material to manufacture, but provides better value to customers and demand for it is growing at a faster rate than regular butyl.
Moreover, it mentions of its recently developed new technology to incorporate bromobutyl rubber – a type of halobutyl – into tyre treads to enhance tyre safety by increasing the tyre’s wet grip and reducing its braking distance , likewise makes tubeless tyres possible, of which, Lanxess says, “is extremely important because radialisation is driving the truck and bus market segments in both China and India.”
The company also sees that tyres and inner tubes will continue to represent the leading use for butyl and halobutyl for many years to come.
“The mobility megatrend is driving demand for this sector, “ says Ron Commander, Head of Butyl Rubber Business Unit of Lanxess, likewise citing that the market for vehicles and transport services, especially in the fastest growing economies, has increased rapidly, and thus conjuring a steadily growing Asian market for halobutyl.
The tyre industry accounts for three quarters of sales at Lanxess’s butyl rubber business unit and 50% of sales is generated in Asia, the company says in its press release. (RJA)