Trinseo to soon decide on new SSBR capacity in Asia, Europe

Duesseldorf, Germany – Trinseo is considering adding new production capacity for its functionalised SSBR (solution styrene butadiene rubber) in Asia and Europe, according to Hayati Yarkadas, senior vice president& business president performance materials.

The senior executive went on to say that Trinseo’s customers – among them the top 5-10 tire makers in the three main global regions – also want the SSBR producer to expand capacity in Europe.

“All I can say is that we will continue to invest in SSBR:  stay tuned,” said Yarkadas, adding that the company’s advanced functionalised SSBR has been “sold out for the last two years.”

Trinseo’s functionalised SSBR materials, he said, are being supplied into performance tire markets, where demand is growing at 8-10 percent a year.

The tight supply situation was part of the rationale behind Trinseo’s recent decision to build a pilot SSBR plant at its site in Schkopau, Germany.

As well as speeding up development work and lead times, the pilot facility will “not interfere with the capacity of our commercial lines,” Yarkadas explained.