Lanxess and Triangle sign rubber supply deal

German specialty chemicals company Lanxess and Chinese tyre maker Triangle Group have strengthened their long-term partnership with the signing of a halobutyl rubber supply agreement. Under the terms of the agreement, which was signed at Triangle’s headquarters in Shandong Province by Ron Commander, global head of Lanxess’s butyl rubber business unit, and Lin Bin, senior vice-president of Triangle Tyre, Lanxess will supply Triangle with halobutyl rubbers from 2012 to 2014. Financial details of the agreement have not been disclosed.

Halobutyl rubbers are used in tyre inner liners; they serve to provide a layer that is impermeable to air, thus ensuring constancy of pressure inside the tyre. Lanxess has supplied halobutyl and regular rubber to Triangle for more than a decade now. “This new agreement will further strengthen the already successful partnership between Triangle and Lanxess,” Commander stated. “China is already the largest tyre and automotive market in the world and is set to grow even further, driven by the megatrend mobility.”

“We have secured a reliable supply of top-quality butyl rubber, which will help us respond to increasing global demand for tyres,” added Lin.

In announcing the new agreement’s signing, Lanxess comments that the Triangle Group is one of China’s largest tyre makers, with an annual capacity of 23 million consumer, truck and off-road tyres and sales in more than 160 countries.