Dwory to make Nd-BR for Michelin at new plant

By David Shaw, ERJ staff

Düsseldorf, Germany - Synthos Dwory, the Polish SBR maker has announced a scheme in which it will build a new plant for butadiene rubber. The material will be made under licence from Michelin using neodymium as a catalyst. The licence permits Dwory to make up to 80 kt/year. Dwory said the plant is due on stream in 2011. Dwory did not reveal the investment involved in the new plant.

In a related move, Dwory will supply BR to Michelin for at least seven years from the start of production. This deal is estimated to be worth around €30 million per year of the contract.

Dwory said it is Michelin's only licensee in Europe. Michelin currently makes the same product at its facility in Bassens, Bordeaux, where it has capacity for around 75 kt/year, according to statistics published by the IISRP.

Dwory said, "the signing of the agreement also means long-term strategic partnership with the Michelin company." Dwory said Michelin will take some of the new factory's production and the rest will be available for sale on the open market. The company did not specifiy actual volumes, saying the information is confidential.