Raw Materials
Jiangsu Xingda, a leading tyre cord supplier, registered an 11 per cent growth in sales volume in the first half of 2023. Within the overall sales increase, steel cord sales grew by nearly 12 per cent, bead wire sales grew by 6 per cent, and hose wire sales grew by 12 per cent.
Pirelli signed an agreement to acquire 100 per cent of Hevea-Tec, the largest independent processor of natural rubber in Brazil, for “around 21 million euros”. Following regulatory approval, the deal is expected to close by the end of 2023. Pirelli reports that the acquisition will not impact the 2023 net financial position target of around 2.35 billion euro.
Bicycle tyres are generally beyond the Tyrepress.com remit, but we’re making an exception for a product billed as the first of its kind with a “closed-loop product cycle.” In addition to being made from 100% Fair Rubber, the Schwalbe Green Marathon contains around 50% renewable & 20% recyclable raw materials. This 20% includes all carbon black used in the tyre.
By December 2023 Solvay will have been separated into two independent publicly listed companies, with its tyre silica business belonging to the firm focusing on essential chemicals. The names of these upcoming companies are Solvay and Syensqo.
Following the final investment decision by Aramco and TotalEnergies to build a joint venture petrochemical facility in Jubail, Saudi Arabia, Arlanxeo announced it would set up a 140 ktpa plant nearby to produce Ultra High cis Polybutadiene (NdBR) for tyre treads as well as Lithium Butadiene Rubber (LiBR) for use in plastics. Construction is scheduled to start next year and Arlanxeo expects commercial operations to commence in 2027.
The “most sustainable” Continental tyre to date will arrive next month. With up to 65 per cent renewable, recycled and mass balance certified materials, the Continental UltraContact NXT “combines a high share of sustainable materials with maximum safety and performance.”
Bridgestone Corporation recently began producing oil and recovered carbon black through the pyrolysis of end-of-life tyres at a test facility in Japan. The tyre maker is operating this unit within the Bridgestone Innovation Park in Kodaira City, Tokyo as part of a joint project with Eneos Corporation.
Nokian Tyres is taking part in a research project that aims to improve the quality and yield of recycled carbon black from end-of-life tyres, with the goal of using this material more extensively in tyre and rubber products. The two-year development project is coordinated by Windspace Group A/S and co-financed by government initiative the Danish Eco-Innovation Program.
Following on from its development of agricultural tyres with 75% sustainable materials, Apollo Tyres has now achieved the same goal with passenger vehicle tyres. These tyres – an Apollo Amperion high-performance tyre for electric vehicles and an Apollo Aspire 4G+ ultra-high performance car tyre – are not commercially available at present.
Tyre cord manufacturer Xingda and Continental Group recently signed a strategic cooperation agreement at Xingda Steel Tyre Cord (Thailand) Co. Ltd. Details of what is involved in the agreement remain to be seen at this stage, but Xingda representatives report that the cooperation includes improving the supplier management services in Europe.
Arlanxeo has opened a new 65-kilotonne per annum polybutadiene (BR) production line in Brazil. Angelo Brazil, the company’s LATAM regional head, says that this “state-of-the-art BR production line” is a “direct response” to growing demand for the material in Latin America.
Synthos is closing its synthetic rubber Emulsion-SBR (ESBR) production line in the Czech Republic due to “the unsustainable market environment for ESBR due to unpredictable costs in Europe”. Synthos will cease ESBR production at its Kralupy, Czech Republic operation in the second quarter of this year.
Titan International, Inc. has reported record turnover and profitability during the 2022 financial year. While the US-based manufacturer of OTR tyres and wheels increased its net sales by 21.9% to US$2.2 billion, income from operations jumped by more than 141% to $205.8, almost doubling the return on sales to 9.5%.
In addition to unveiling a demonstration tyre containing 90% sustainable materials, Goodyear announces it will begin selling tyres with up to 70% sustainable-material content during the course of this year. No details are available at present, but Goodyear invites “consumers interested in purchasing this tyre” to register for updates at a US market-focused site.
Linglong Tire intends to have 35 per cent sustainable and renewable resources in its tyres by 2025 and 40 per cent by 2030. One source of such materials will be dandelions. The tyre maker established the Dandelion Rubber Industry Technology Innovation Strategic Alliance in 2015, partnering with more than 20 universities, research institutes and rubber companies.
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