Czech supplier Draslovka expanding green tire additives business

Prague – Czech chemicals manufacturer Draslovka Holding is expanding its production of diphenylguanidine (DPG) to support green tire manufacturing globally.

The company is exploring potential locations in the state of Gujarat, along the western coast of India for a new DPG facility while considering an alternative option of expanding its existing factory in Memphis, Tennessee.

The move to add capacity for DPG, said Draslovka in a 2 Nov statement, is aimed at meeting the growing demand by tire makers which are focused on sustainable products.

With North America being second largest consumer market for DPG after Europe, Draslovka said the expansion at the Memphis facility was a “logical choice”.

Described as the “largest solid cyanide production facility in the world”, the unit was formerly the Chemours Mining Solutions, and was acquired by Draslovka last year.

Draslovka said it was in talks with local stakeholders on the expansion project, which it said would benefit “global tire manufacturers based in neighbouring states.”

In the meantime, Draslovka said it is investigating possibilities of expanding into India in an ambition to become “one of the largest suppliers” globally.

Draslovka said it currently has 20% of DPG’s global market share and the expansion will improve its position the market significantly.

DPG is used widely as an accelerator in processing natural rubber, and is “a key component” of high-performance, green tires, according to Draslovka.

The additive interacts with the silica surface and reinforces the rubber’s compounds, helping to decrease rolling resistance in tires.