Momentive acquires Continental's tyre application lab

ERJ staff report (DS)

Albany, New York -- Momentive Performance Materials USA Inc. has acquired a 22,000 square foot tyre research and development laboratory in Charlotte, North Carolina, US, following the purchase of certain assets and the sublease of laboratory space from Continental Tire North America, Inc. In addition, Momentive has hired five highly experienced R&D personnel previously employed by Continental.

“When Continental decided to consolidate an R&D laboratory facility elsewhere, we seized the opportunity to significantly add to our tyre and rubber research capability,” said Mike Stout, Momentive's global marketing manager for tyre and rubber.

Momentive said the new laboratory expands Momentive's strategic capability for analysis of the chemical interaction of innovative silanes within the complex network chemistry of tyre and rubber compounds. For 60 years, Momentive has offered silanes like Silquest and NXT.

With the new lab, Momentive expects to increase the annual number of complex compounds tested, provide more specific, relevant data, and reduce turnaround time for development samples. “We can now more directly engage our customers with application data and analysis, while shortening their evaluation cycle of new Momentive products,” said John Nicholson, global technology manager for silanes, Momentive. “We have established not only an exceptionally well-equipped R&D facility, but also added a tremendously experienced staff to operate it, with 160 years of combined experience in tyre development.”

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Press release from Momentive