Nizhnekamskshina Expands Into Using Silica Technology

After several years of working in close association with engineers from one of the world’s largest tyre manufacturing factories, Chronos Richardson has secured a major order from the CIS. Valued at more than 2.5 million euros, the contract is for silica-based tyre compounding systems for the Nizhnekamskshina factory in Tartarstan.

Taftnet one of the largest oil producing enterprises in the CIS owns Nizhnekamskshina. The Nizhnekamsk factory was originally established in the early 1970s using West European technology. Nizhnekamskshina has recently signed a new technical agreement to produce standard and high performance silica blend tyres to the exacting quality standards of the international tyre market.

Chronos engineers report that they have been closely involved in devising an expansion programme for the Nizhnekamsk factory having first visited Tartarstan in 2001. Since then they have worked closely with project partners NKS and RTI Rubber Technology to devise the optimum factory development plan. Initially the intention was to retrofit existing mixing lines, but the scheme that has been ordered is for a factory extension to incorporate two new mixing lines, one for Masterbatch compounds and one Final Mix line.

The scope of Chronos Richardson supply includes: carbon black and silica intake, transfer and weighing; polymer weighing & feeding; oils weighing & dosing; dust collection and material re-feed; two semi-automatic small chemical weighing systems with supervisory control.

“Our vast experience with West European tyre technology and a strong commitment to share and develop our knowledge with Nizhnekamskshina ensured we won this important contract,” commented regional sales manager, John Eaton. He continued: “The first equipment will be delivered in March 2006 and will include globally proven technology along with our latest enhanced products. I am convinced that the progressive culture already demonstrated by Nizhnekamskshina will result in further plant investment.”