News from Notch Consulting, Inc.

January 17, 2023

Solvay launches RHA-based HDS, announces new silica plant for North America

Filed under: Silica — Notch @ 4:48 pm

Solvay (Brussels, Belgium) announced today that it is investing in a new production line at its silica plant in Livorno, Italy to produce highly dispersible silica (HDS) using sodium silicate derived from rice hull ash. Production is expected to begin by the end of 2024.

This new breakthrough silicate process provides a circular solution as it gives a second life to rice husk in a local value chain. Coupled with renewable energy integration at the plant, it will allow Solvay to achieve a 50% reduction in CO2 per ton of silica. This will make the Livorno site Europe’s best in class silica production site in terms of CO2 footprint.

Solvay plans to gradually replace its existing portfolio of Zeosil highly dispersible silica for the tire industry with circular HDS, which the company says will help tiremakers reduce their CO2 footprints and reach sustainability goals. In addition to the tire industry, the new silica also has applications in the personal care and food/feed industries. Solvay is the first silica producer to commit to the production of RHA-based silica in Europe, though Evonik announced last September that it will add an RHA-based silica unit at a plant in Thailand in 2024.

Solvay also announced plans to build a new HDS plant in North America over the coming years, but did not provide details on this project. The new facility will be designed for circular raw materials and be aligned with the company’s carbon neutrality roadmap, according to Solvay. The company is also investigating projects on circular HDS in Asia and South America.

February 16, 2021

Sumitomo expanding tire capacity in NY, Thailand, and Japan

Filed under: Carbon Black, General, Rubber, Rubber Chemicals, Silica, Tires — Notch @ 11:11 pm

Sumitomo Rubber Industries Ltd. (Kobe, Japan) plans to invest $122 million over three years to increase capacity for passenger car, light truck, and medium truck tires at its factory in Tonawanda, New York. Sumitomo is budgeting $96 million to raise capacity for car and light truck tires from 6,500 units/day to 12,000 units/day by year-end 2023, as well as another $26 million to raise truck tire capacity from 1,750 units/day to 2,300 units/day by year-end 2024.

In a press release announcing the project, Sumitomo said the expansions were driven by strong demand in North America for its light truck, SUV, and medium truck tires. In particular, sales of the company’s Falken-brand high-performance tires continued to expand steadily in 2020 despite the impact of COVID-19.

In Asia, Sumitomo is expanding capacity for light truck and SUV tires at plants in Amati, Thailand, and Miyazaki, Japan. With the expansions, Sumitomo will have capacity to produce 4,150 units/day at the plant in Thailand by year-end 2023 and 1,600 units/day at the plant in Japan by year end 2024. These expansions will primarily be used to supply the North American market.

March 20, 2020

Pirelli suspending production in Georgia and Romania

Filed under: Carbon Black, General, Rubber, Rubber Chemicals, Silica, Tires — Notch @ 2:17 pm

Pirelli Tire North America plans to suspend operations at its factory in Rome, Georgia due to concerns about the coronavirus. Pirelli plans to scale back production for one week beginning March 22 and then suspend production for one week beginning March 29. The factory will be cleaned and sanitized while closed. The week of curtailed production will allow the plant to meet demand while operating with fewer employees present. The reduced production also corresponds to reduced demand. Capacity at the Rome plant is 400,000 PC tires per year.

Pirelli also announced on Thursday that it as suspending production at its plant in Slatina, Romania from March 23-31.

March 19, 2020

Goodyear suspends production at European, North and South American plants

Filed under: Carbon Black, General, Rubber, Rubber Chemicals, Silica, Tires — Notch @ 1:17 pm

In an effort to halt the spread of COVID-19, as well as response to related market decline, Goodyear is suspending production at its North and South American tire, retread and chemical plants through at least April 3. The decision affects 13 factories in Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Peru, and the United States. Some 17,000 workers will be affected. Goodyear is also suspending operations at its European tire and retread plants beginning around March 20th and continuing through at least April 3.  Goodyear operates 11 tire plants in Europe, located in France, Germany, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland, and Slovenia. The move affects some 12,000 workers.

March 17, 2020

Michelin idling tire plants in Italy, Spain, and France

Filed under: Carbon Black, Rubber, Rubber Chemicals, Silica, Tires — Notch @ 8:43 pm

Michelin is idling tire factories in Italy, Spain, and France beginning today for at least one week to deal with coronavirus.

Coronavirus hits European car industry

Filed under: Carbon Black, General, Rubber, Silica, Tires — Notch @ 8:32 pm

The last few days has seen a rapid escalation in the number of plant closures in Europe’s car industry. Companies announcing closures include Ford, Volkswagen, Daimler, Fiat Chrysler, and PSA Group.

Techcrunch: Ford, Daimler to suspend production at European factories due to COVID-19

Automotive News Europe: Ford suspends European production

Automotive News Europe: VW Seat unit to halt all production 

Wall Street Journal (subscription): Volkswagen, Airbus Halt European Production Amid Wave of Factory Closures

The Telegraph (subscription): Europe’s car industry stalls as coronavirus shuts plans

 

March 11, 2020

Goodyear introduces new generation of EV tires

Filed under: Silica, Tires — Notch @ 2:58 pm

Rubber News reports that Goodyear is introducing a second generation of its EfficientGrip Performance tires for electric vehicle. According to Goodyear, the new tires offer 50 percent longer life than the first generation, which launched in 2018. Goodyear had planned to launch the line at the Geneva International Motor Show, but that event was canceled due to coronavirus. Instead, Goodyear launched the tires with a video press conference from its European headquarters in Brussels.

Pirelli reduces production at Italian plant after worker diagnosed with coronavirus

Filed under: Carbon Black, Silica, Tires — Notch @ 1:25 pm

One day after reporting that its production plants in Italy were relatively unaffected by the coronavirus outbreak and quarantine, Pirelli announced that an employee at the Settimo Torinese factory tested positive for Covid-19. In response, Pirelli is slowing production at the plant and operating with a very limited number of employees.

Pirelli announces that it was informed by the family of an employee at its Settimo Torinese factory, with the subsequent confirmation of healthcare authorities, that the employee has tested positive for Covid-19. To safeguard the other employees, Pirelli has adopted all the precautionary measures as foreseen in the recommendations and requirements of the government decrees issued to date. Given this situation, the company has decided to slow down production, with a progressive recovery in the coming days. This will permit the factory to operate with a very limited number of employees and guarantee maximum safety in health conditions. In the meantime, Pirelli is proceeding with the complete sanitization of the plant and work areas. The supply to clients will continue with a suitable level of service drawing on available stock.

Pirelli has two tire factories in Italy, which account for 7.5% of its output.

Nokian begins commercial production at Dayton

Filed under: Carbon Black, insoluble sulfur, Rubber Chemicals, Silica, Tires — Notch @ 1:06 pm

This week, Nokian Tyres North America began commercial scale production of passenger car and light truck tires at its new plant in Dayton, Tennessee. Construction began 30 months ago and trial production began 8 months ago. At full capacity, the $830M factory will have a capacity of 4M PC/LT tires per year.

February 24, 2020

Notch speaking at Tire Tech Expo this week in Hannover

Filed under: Carbon Black, Conferences, Recovered Carbon Black, Rubber, Silica, Tires — Notch @ 12:09 am

Tire Tech Expo will be held this week (Feb. 25, 26, 27) at the Hannover Messe. This is one of the best and most comprehensive conferences on all aspects of tire-making, compounding materials, and equipment, with three days of talks alongside a huge exhibition floor. Here is the conference program.

Here are the details for the Notch paper:

Session: Understanding the Role of Polymer, Filler and Compound Additives (Stream 3)

Wednesday February 26, 10:15 AM.

Paper: “Carbon Black and Silica: Challenges and Opportunities”

Older Posts »

Powered by WordPress.com.