Cooper Tire and Industrias Negromex patent silica masterbatch process

Cooper Tire and Industrias Negromex S.A. de C.V. (INSA), a subsidiary of Grupo KUO, report that the US patent office has granted a patent to the two organizations for their silica masterbatch process. According to the two companies, the process to produce silane, hydrophobated silica, silica masterbatch and rubber products results in a broader processing window offering “manufacturing efficiencies” for the end user.

“We believe the opportunity to co-develop important pioneering technology with a long-time customer could have a big impact on the tyre business in the future as we focus together on breakthrough technologies.”

Close collaboration between the two companies under a long-term joint development agreement led to the successful development of this new technology, which is an outgrowth of their combined focus on developing cost-effective, leading-edge polymer and silica technology to achieve maximum tyre performance.

“Collaborative efforts between manufacturing companies like Cooper and key suppliers like INSA can lead to the development of breakthrough technology,” said Chuck Yurkovich, vice president of Global Research and Development for Cooper. “We expect the relationship between Cooper and INSA to ultimately benefit both companies and the industry as a whole,” Yurkovich added.

“We have continuously invested in new technologies for our synthetic rubber business for many years,” said Felipe Varela Hernandez, general director of Industrias Negromex. “We believe the opportunity to co-develop important pioneering technology with a long-time customer could have a big impact on the tire business in the future as we focus together on breakthrough technologies.”