As a direct response to the rising customer demand for Solution-Styrene Butadiene Rubber (S-SBR), a key component in increasing energy efficiency, safety and durability in performance tyres, Trinseo recently announced its plans to expand capacity for the critical technology in its world-class synthetic rubber manufacturing complex in Schkopau, Germany.
The asset upgrade will add 50 KT of S-SBR capacity, increasing the company’s global S-SBR production by 33%. This additional capacity is expected to be online in January 2018.
“This expansion in Schkopau is the fastest solution to meet our customers’ growing demand for our Sprintan Rubber products, as well as next generation development grades of advanced S-SBR,” said Hayati Yarkadas, Senior Vice President and Business President, Performance Materials.
Trinseo’s Sprintan Advanced S-SBR Rubber grades provide a unique combination of properties in tyres: improved lower rolling resistance for performance and fuel efficiency, as well as wet grip and durability.
As CO2 emissions regulations and tyre labelling requirements continue to expand beyond the EU to other regions, there is a strong drive in the automotive industry towards energy efficient tyres.
As a result, consumers around the world are becoming more aware of how their choice of tyres affects the fuel efficiency of their cars. This consumer focus is driving energy efficient tyres as one of the most important trends in sustainability globally.
“Tyres with reduced rolling resistance are in demand because they make vehicles more fuel efficient, thereby reducing greenhouse gasses,”said Samer Al-Jabi, Global Business Director for Synthetic Rubber.
Trinseo is a global materials solutions provider and manufacturer of plastics, latex binders and synthetic rubber