GE Expands to Meet Demand for Silica Tyres

GE has expanded its capacity for high technology silanes used in the production of silica tyres. Additional capacity was brought on line last week to meet the high demand for GE’s new proprietary process.

“Demand has been very strong for our new NXT silane that helps enable fast and easy dispersion of silica during rubber compounding for silica tyres,” said Dr. Ian Moore, general manager for GE’s global silanes business. “We are focusing resources on new products and processes, and this is another move in our long-term strategy for growth in the silica tyre segment. In fewer than 24 months of design and construction, we developed and deployed an innovative process that delivers vastly increased capacity for silanes.”

NXT silane is a patented GE molecule that helps circumvent the long, slow, multi-step process required when traditional silanes are used to mix silica with rubber for silica tyres.

GE believes that the tyre industry could potentially realise several hundred million dollars in manufacturing cost savings with the new NXT silane technology. “With raw material prices escalating, the NXT silane family of products may offer tyre manufacturers significant cost reductions in other areas,” said Wayne Hewett, president and CEO of GE Advanced Materials-Silicones.

GE declined to disclose its investment in the new capacity for competitive reasons.