26 May 2015
DETAILS
• Largest investment in North America in the past five years
• Completion of the plant is scheduled for the end of 2017
• Energy-saving tire trend drives demand for precipitated silica in North America
Evonik Industries has started basic engineering
for a new production plant for precipitated silica
with focus on the rubber and especially the growing tire industry.
The world-scale facility is planned to be built
in the South East of the United States,
in close proximity to major American tire production sites.
Completion is scheduled for late 2017
to provide the North American market
with products from local production.
The overall project still needs the approval of the relevant bodies.
Between 2010 and 2014, Evonik increased its global capacity for
precipitated silica by around 30 percent.
In September 2014, Evonik already put into operation
a plant expansion at our US facility in Chester, Pennsylvania
for an additional annual production capacity of
around 20,000 metric tons.
The demand for highly dispersible silica is growing,
specifically influenced by the North American economic dynamics
and an above-average sales growth
for tires with reduced rolling resistance.
By using a silica-silane combination, manufacturers are able to
produce tires that allow for fuel savings of
up to eight percent
thanks to a significantly reduced rolling resistance
(compared to conventional passenger car tires).
WWW.CHEMWINFO.COM BY KHUN PHICHAI
