From Tire Business comes word that the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) will not order antidumping and countervailing duties from Chinese truck and bus tire manufacturers and importers. By a 3-2 vote, the ITC determined that the domestic truck and bus tire industry has not suffered material injury because of Chinese imports. The United Steelworkers union petitioned the ITC in January 2016, requesting antidumping and countervailing duty relief protection from Chinese truck and bus tire imports under Sections 701 and 731 of the Trade Act.
February 23, 2017
February 14, 2017
Evonik introduces Polyvest ST, an additive to improve silica/silane/rubber interaction
This week at the Tire Tech Expo in Hannover, Germany, Evonik Industries introduced a new product called Polyvest ST that is designed to improve the compatibility between silica, silane, and rubber in tire formulations. Green tire technology, which uses precipitated silicas and rubber silanes like Si 69, already reduces rolling resistance by up to 30 percent relative to carbon-black-filled tires. According to Evonik, the special feature of the new development is this: according to a fundamental principle in the tire industry, known as the magic triangle, any improvement in one of the core properties of a tire— rolling resistance, wet grip, and abrasion resistance—is always at the expense of at least one of the others. Evonik’s new development further improves the compatibility of silica and rubber in combination with Si 69® or Si 266®, thus pushing out the boundaries of the triangle. The press release does not give details on Polyvest ST, but Evonik Polyvest product range consists of a range of “stereospecific, low viscous and unsaponifiable liquid polybutadienes of different chemical compositions,” according to the company’s website.
Solvay introduces new highly dispersible silica at Tire Tech
Notch is at the Tire Tech Expo in Hannover, Germany this week. One of this year’s big product announcements at the conference came from Solvay Silica, which unveiled Premium SW, a new performance Highly Dispersible Silica (HDS). In a press release on the product, Solvay says that Premium SW is a benchmark for energy-saving and high- performance tires for passenger cars. Premium SW increases the rolling-resistance and safety in ultra high performance tires of up to 25% as well as a 15% improvement in durability for fuel efficient tires.
Premium SW also shows the most promising results compared to carbon black in the truck tire market, according to Solvay. Premium SW improves the rolling resistance by more than 30% while maintaining the same level of tread wear. Solvay is making Premium SW available from multiple production sites around the globe.
Pyrolyx USA plans tire recycling plant in Indiana
Pyrolyx USA, which is a new joint venture between Pyrolyx AG and ReKlaim, plans to build a new tire recycling plant in Terre Haute, Indiana. The 50,000-square-foot plant will be located in the Fort Harrison Business Park and, according to Pyrolyx USA’s CEO Tom Redd, will be identical Pyrolyx’s existing plant in Stegelitz, Germany. Tires will be shredded at other locations in Indiana and Illinois and shipped to Terre Haute by truck or rail. The Pyrolyx plant would generate 55 full-time jobs. Once all necessary approvals are granted, Pyrolyx expects to break ground in June and have the project up and running in summer 2018.
Notch updates report on Extended Mobility Systems (run-flat tires, tire repair kits, self-sealing tires)
In 2008, 68% of all passenger cars assembled worldwide came equipped with a full-size spare tire, but by 2015 that number had fallen to just 40% as automakers sought to reduce vehicle weight and save space. By 2020, the number of cars with full-size spares is forecast to fall to 36%. Notch Consulting has updated a multi-client market research report that examines the systems that are replacing the spare tire in new cars: Prospects for Extended Mobility Systems: Run-Flat Tires, Tire Repair Kits & Self-Sealing Tires in OEM Passenger Car Markets. This 78-page report includes 17 tables detailing demand for each of these three products in OEM passenger car markets by region and by customer, as well as average pricing, market share by supplier, and profiles of leading suppliers. The report provides data in units for all years from 2008 through 2016, with forecasts for all years from 2017 through 2020, as well as 2025. Data on run-flat tires cover all years 2002 through 2020, as well as 2025. Contact Notch at info@notchconsulting.com for more information or to order.