Evonik boosting Thai silica capacity

ERJ staff report (BC)

Essen – Evonik Industries is expanding precipitated silica capacity at its Maptaphut site in Thailand.

Funded by an investment in the “lower double-digit million Euro range”, completion is due for the first quarter of 2014.

Evonik executive board member Dr Thomas Haeberle said: "The purpose of our expansion strategy is to allow us to support the growth of our key customers in southeast Asia and around the world."

Using silica in combination with silanes allows manufacturers to produce tires that greatly reduce rolling resistance, yielding fuel savings of up to 8 percent (compared to traditional car tires). Evonik quotes estimates that the worldwide market for low rolling resistance tires will grow by 18 percent per annum over the next five years.

Dr Johannes Ohmer, president of Evonik’s inorganic materials business unit, said: "We’re the only manufacturer to offer both [silica and silanes], and, for our customers in the tire and rubber industry, that makes us an expert partner for high-performance tire blends.

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Press release from Evonik