ERJ Business Briefing: July/Aug

Tracking the latest announcements and new business developments in the global rubber and tire industries...

Covestro and bp have signed a long-term power purchase agreement for renewable energy from a solar power plant in Spain. The 10-year agreement increases the share of renewable energy in Covestro’s total electricity consumption in Spain from less than 10% to 30%, the German chemicals supplier said 4 July. With the new agreement, a significant portion of the electricity consumed by the company's main production site in Tarragona can now also be supplied by renewable sources, enabling Covestro to cut its CO2 emissions by 16,000 tonnes per year.

Japan's Zeon Corp. has confirmed the schedule of a previously announced plan to expand its manufacturing facility in Pasadena, Texas to increase production capacity for hydrogenated nitrile rubber (HNBR). Read more

Hutchinson SA has expanded its operations in India with the opening of a new automotive parts production facility in Chennai, southern India. The facility will produce belt drive systems, precision sealing systems, and anti-vibration solutions, said Hutchinson confirmed in a statement to ERJ. Read more

Evonik has commissioned a new plant for Aerosil ‘easy-to-disperse’ silicas at its production facility in Rheinfelden, Germany. The capacity expansion will see the German group using an “innovative dispersion technology for fumed silica” at the site in southern Germany. The technology “simplifies” the incorporation of silica as a rheology additive into paint and coating formulations. As a result, the silicas enable “easier, faster and more sustainable formulation of paints and coatings,” according to Evonik.

More items to follow...