News from Notch Consulting, Inc.

November 13, 2019

Pyrolyx secures 5-year rCB supply agreement with Continental

Filed under: Carbon Black, Recovered Carbon Black — Notch @ 9:43 am

Continental A.G. and waste tire pyrolysis company Pyrolyx A.G. have signed a five-year contract for Pyrolyx to supply Continental with recovered carbon black (rCB) for use in tire production. The agreement calls for Pyrolyx to deliver up to 10,000 metric tons of rCB annually to Continental’s tire plants worldwide, according to a joint press release.

“Continental is excited to be entering this long-term relationship with Pyrolyx as it underlines our commitment to improving the sustainability of our products and operations. We are committed to innovative, environmentally beneficial technologies for our customers, while ensuring our tires meet the highest levels of safety performance,” said Dr. Andreas Topp, Vice President Material and Process Development and Industrialization at Continental.

Pyrolyx’s USA CEO, Thomas Redd, said, “This supply agreement is an extremely positive development for Pyrolyx and validates our approach to the recovery of carbon black from end-of-life tires and the acceptance of rCB globally. The validation of Pyrolyx’s rCB is a ‘game changer’ for Pyrolyx and the recovered carbon black industry.”

October 7, 2019

Orion introduces fuel-saving carbon black for tires

Filed under: Carbon Black — Notch @ 6:51 pm

Orion Engineered Carbons S.A. is presenting a new surface-modified carbon black for rubber applications at the 196th Technical Meeting of the Rubber Division of the American Chemical Society in Cleveland, Ohio on October 9, 2019. The meeting is part of the International Elastomer Conference (IEC), which provides a forum for the exchange of ideas, observations, regulatory reforms and emerging scientific technologies.

The paper is titled “Surface Modified Carbon Black for Modern Low Rolling Resistance Tires” and will be presented by Dr. Hauke Westenberg, Compounding Manager from Orion’s Innovation Group. According to Orion, the new carbon black filler system significantly reduces the energy loss of a tire tread compound and therefore the tire rolling resistance. This increases fuel efficiency and reduces the tire’s carbon footprint.

Hankook postpones truck tire plant in Hungary

Filed under: Carbon Black, Rubber Chemicals, Silica, Tires — Notch @ 2:06 pm

Tire Business (via European Rubber Journal) reports that Hankook Tire & Technology Co. Ltd. has postponed plans to establish a $318 million truck and bus tire plant at its existing car tire factory in Rácalmás, Hungary. The project was announced in March 2018 and involved the construction of a separate plant to produce 550,000 medium and heavy truck/bus tires per year. The postponement does “not mean the cancellation of that plan,” Hankook said in a written statement to ERJ on Oct. 2.

The current economic downturn, especially in the automotive industry, was a factor behind the decision, said Felix Kinzer, head of communications at Hankook Tire Europe. The tire maker, he added, is undergoing “mediations” with various stakeholders for future execution of the plan, which would mark the site’s fourth round of expansion.

“Our company has a mid- to long-term plan for truck tire sales growth on the European continent and is reviewing various options,” Mr. Kinzer said.

October 6, 2019

Nokian’s US plant begins production

Filed under: Carbon Black, Rubber Chemicals, Silica, Tires — Notch @ 7:22 pm

On October 2, Nokian Tyres celebrated the official opening of its North American production factory in Dayton, Tennessee. The 830,000-square foot complex will produce approximately four million tires per year once it reaches full capacity. At that stage, the company will employ as many as 400 workers. The factory is currently in the trial production stage and will be ready to make tires for commercial use in early 2020. Nokian Tyres broke ground on the factory in September 2017, and the company has set a goal to double its North American sales in five years. Founded and headquartered in Finland, Nokian Tyres operates factories in Finland, Russia, and now the United States. At the Dayton factory, the company aims to fill expanding North American demand and seize on opportunities in the all-season and all-weather markets.

 

September 22, 2019

Yokohama in talks to acquire Prometeon

Filed under: Tires — Notch @ 9:39 pm

Tire Business reports that Yokohama Rubber is in advanced talks to acquire Prometeon Tire Group, the former industrial tires unit of Pirelli.

In a written statement to ERJ, a source close to PTG minority shareholder Aeolus Tyres said negotiations were ongoing on the subject – without elaborating further.

“YRC have signed a ‘no shop’ [exclusivity] contract with PTG and are now conducting a thorough due diligence,” said another contact, adding that the deal was in a ” fairly advanced” stage.

 

September 18, 2019

Impact of Saudi drone attack on downstream markets

Filed under: Uncategorized — Notch @ 11:27 am

Rubber & Plastics News has a useful article on the potential impact of the drone attack on Aramco’s facilities in Saudi Arabia on downstream markets, particularly polyolefins.

Over the weekend, a number of companies announced feedstock supply disruptions as a result of the Sept. 14 attacks, which forced Aramco to reduce crude supply by around 5.7 million barrels per day, or about 50 percent of its total production.

Key producers, including Saudi Basic Industries Corp.; Sahara International Petrochemical Co. (Sipchem); Advanced Petrochemical Co.; National Industrialisation Co. (Tasnee); Yanbu National Petrochemical Co. (Yansab); and Saudi Kayan Petrochemical Co., all disclosed “curtailment” of feedstock supply, ranging between 30 percent to 50 percent.

September 17, 2019

Cancarb names new president

Filed under: Carbon Black — Notch @ 12:15 pm

On September 12, Tokai Carbon, parent company of Cancarb Limited, announced the appointment of Mr. Peter Donnelly as President, replacing Mr. Ken Tate, who will retire as of September 30, 2019. Mr. Tate will remain in an advisory capacity through December 31, 2019. Cancarb Limited is the world’s largest producer of medium thermal black.

Takashi Masaki, General Manager of the Carbon Black Division of Tokai Carbon stated, “We extend our thanks to Ken Tate for his efforts over the past five years, especially in seeing through the transition to Cancarb being a subsidiary of Tokai Carbon, as well as initiation and approval of the unit six expansion.”

Peter Donnelly has worked in various roles in Cancarb over the past 24 years including most recently as VP, Marketing, and prior to that as Director, Quality and Development. “We are confident that his vision and strong mindset will successfully guide Cancarb in the coming years,” Masaki said.

August 21, 2019

Cabot increases feedstock surcharge for rubber blacks in North America

Filed under: Carbon Black — Notch @ 10:35 pm

On August 19, Cabot Corp. announced that it will apply a Feedstock Surcharge of $0.03 per pound for all carbon black products sold by the Reinforcement Materials segment in North America, effective October 1, 2019 and to the extent allowed under customer contracts.  This replaces the previously announced feedstock surcharge of $.01 per pound that has been in effect since April 1, 2019.

According to a company press release announcing the increase, the carbon black feedstock market in North America is seeing increasing effects from changes in the types of crude oil being refined and an increase in demand for low sulfur fuel oil associated with the upcoming 2020 International Maritime Organization (IMO 2020) regulation, also known as MARPOL. As a result, Cabot is seeing changes to the type and availability of material with the specific quality required to produce carbon black.

 

August 14, 2019

BKT suspends plans for US tire plant

Filed under: Tires — Notch @ 3:38 pm

Tire Business reports that Balkrishna Industries Ltd. (BKT), an Indian producer of OTR tires, is suspending its plans for a U.S. tire factory, citing “business uncertainties” related to difficult macroeconomics and the “volatile” climate conditions. BKT announced plans to invest $100 million in a new tire plant in the US last October.

Nexen to inaugurate new Czech tire plant

Filed under: Tires — Notch @ 3:34 pm

Korea’s Nexen Tire will hold an opening ceremony for its new $1 billion tire plant in the Czech Republic on August 28. The plant, located in the Triangle Strategic Industrial Zone in Zatec, began trial production in April and recently began supplying customers. The 7 million-sq.-ft. factory had 3 million units of capacity at start-up and is expected to increase to 11 million by 2022. The Czech deputy minister of industry and trade, Petr Očko, is expected to join Nexen CEO Travis Kang and Chairman Byung-Joong Kang at the plant’s ceremonial opening on Aug. 28, Nexen said.

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