Evonik expanding tire silica capacity

Essen, Germany – Evonik Industries is to increase production capacity for precipitated silica at its site in Adapazari, Turkey by 40 kilotonnes per annum, the company has announced.

Startup of the new production complex, operated as a joint venture with Turkish company EGE Kimya, is scheduled for 2020, said a 29 June statement..

In reply to ERJ's enquiry, an Evonik spokeswoman said the company "does not provide details about our capacities, neither for single plants nor overall."

The project involves an investment “in the lower double-digit million euro range” and is in response to high demand within the tire industry, the company did state.

In particular, Evonik said the expansion will support high levels of demand for highly dispersible silica used in producing ‘green tires’, particularly in south eastern Europe and the Middle East.

As well as producing its Ultrasil rubber silica, Evonik said the facility will also serve growing market demand for precipitated silica.

With the project ,“we are reacting to the massive demand in the industry, strengthening our business partnership with the tire manufacturers,” said Dr. Johannes Ohmer, a member of the Evonik Resource Efficiency GmbH board.