Trinseo (Berwyn, Pa.; www.trinseo.com) announced that it will expand capacity for Solution-Styrene Butadiene Rubber (S-SBR). This increased investment is a direct response to rising customer demand for this critical technology, which is a key component in increasing energy efficiency, safety and durability in performance tires.
The asset upgrade at Trinseo’s world-class synthetic rubber manufacturing complex in Schkopau, Germany, will add 50,000 metric tons (m.t.) 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 investment is in line with Trinseo’s strategy to grow our Performance Materials businesses, in particular our S-SBR business, which has seen very strong market demand,” said Hayati Yarkadas, Senior Vice President and Business President, Performance Materials. “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.”
As CO₂ emissions regulations and tire labeling requirements continue to expand beyond the EU to other regions, there is a strong drive in the automotive industry towards energy efficient tires. As a result, consumers around the world are becoming more aware of how their choice of tires affects the fuel efficiency of their cars. This consumer focus is driving energy efficient tires as one of the most important trends in sustainability globally.
“Our expansion of S-SBR is a direct response to customers’ demand, and consistent with sustainability trends around the world,” said Samer Al-Jabi, Global Business Director for Synthetic Rubber. “Tires with reduced rolling resistance are in demand because they make vehicles more fuel efficient, thereby reducing greenhouse gasses. Sprintan Rubber products are another example of how Trinseo’s materials are intrinsic to our customers’ products, providing technology that enables products to address global sustainability trends.”