High Demand for Innovative Silica Prompts Evonik Capacity Increase

Evonik Industries is moving ahead with full force to increase its silica production capacity used in tire manufacturing. The company is responding to growing demand for innovative silica used in the tire industry for producing low rolling resistance tires. The capacity increases also aim to respond quickly and reliably to growing regional demand for specialty-grade products. This strategic capacity expansion is being implemented to meet the needs of regional customers. These investments aim to ensure more secure specialty silica supply and enable local sourcing. Hark-Oluf Asbahr, Marketing Manager for Tires and Rubber Materials, described the current demand for the specialty silicas ULTRASIL® 9100 GR and ULTRASIL® 5000 GR as follows:

"We are adapting our product range to local production sites to shorten transport distances and provide our customers with the benefit of increased availability and supply security."

The new plant in Americana, Brazil, which began operations in July 2016, has reached full capacity due to high regional demand. Commercial production also continues at the facility in Charleston, USA, which opened in October 2018. Evonik produces the innovative silica ULTRASIL® 7800 GR for energy-efficient SUV tires at two new factories in Americana, Brazil and Charleston, USA, and at the Chester facility in the USA. This groundbreaking product, launched last year, is experiencing strong demand. The production facility in Adapazarı, Turkey, primarily serves customers in Southeast Europe and the Middle East for export. The construction project, designed to increase capacity by 40,000 metric tons, is proceeding on schedule and is expected to be completed by the end of 2019. In the coming years, Evonik will continue to strengthen its leading position as a silica supplier and will continue to provide specialty products and solutions tailored to the needs of the tire industry. Evonik is a global leader in silica production. In addition to AEROSIL® fumed silica and precipitated silica under the brands ULTRASIL®, SIPERNAT®, ZEODENT® and SPHERILEX®, Evonik produces matting agents made from silica under the ACEMATT® brand and fumed metal oxides under the AEROXIDE® brand. The company's total global production capacity for all silica products is approximately 1 million metric tons per year. Evonik ULTRASIL® 7800 GR is a silica specially developed for very large-size SUV tires and heavily used all-season tires. With more than 36,000 employees, the company operates in more than 100 countries worldwide and generated sales of EUR 15 billion in fiscal year 2018. Additionally, Resource Efficiency GmbH, one of three divisions within Evonik, provides high-performance products for environmentally friendly and energy-efficient system solutions serving many different sectors such as automotive, paints, coatings, adhesives and building materials.   Hark-Oluf Asbahr Marketing Manager Tires and Rubber Materials Evonik