Evonik on track with tire silica expansion in Turkey

Essen, Germany – Evonik Industries AG is “fully on track” to expand its tire silica production capacity in Adapazari, Turkey, according to a 21 Feb statement.

Launched in response to "growing demand for innovative silica", the expansion project will primarily serve customers in south eastern Europe and the Middle East.

Designed to increase capacity by 40 kilotonnes per annum (ktpa), the project is expected to be completed in late 2019.

“Our strategic capacity expansion… improves the supply security and local availability of tire silica and speciality products,” said Andreas Fischer, head of the silica business line at Evonik.

The company is adapting its product range on site to shorten transport routes and to increase availability and supply security, explained Hark-Oluf Asbahr, head of marketing for tire and rubber materials.

Among other products, Evonik will produce Ultrasil 9100 GR precipitated silica reinforcing filler and Ultrasil 5000 GR, for optimising wet and winter properties of tires, at the Turkish site.

Furthermore, Evonik’s new plant in Sao Paulo, Brazil has already reached full capacity due to high regional demand.

In Charleston, South Carolina, where the company started up a new tire silica production plant last October, production has reached a commercial level.

“The new silica production in the American ‘tire belt’ was received very well by regional customers,” Fischer added.

Evonik produces Ultrasil 7800 GR for energy-saving SUV tires at the Sao Paulo and Charleston sites as well as in Chester, Pennsylvania.

There is "large demand" for this product since its launch last year, the company stated.