Recent developments
Materials and capacity
ARLANXEO inaugurated a Therban HNBR plant in Changzhou (5,000 t/y design; 2,500 t/y first phase), adding APAC supply with advanced finishing, ~80% lower process emissions, and closed‑loop operation. In Europe, Solvay’s bio-circular silica facility in Livorno makes highly dispersible silica from rice husk ash, cutting CO2/ton by ~35%. Both target mobility and tires, bolstering local R&D and enabling up to 15% recycled/renewable tire content aligned with EU policy.
Pricing and inputs
Starting Feb 1, WACKER increases silicone prices by up to 25%, with higher adjustments possible and applicability to existing contracts. The move reflects a more than twofold rise in platinum catalyst costs. Affected markets include automotive, pharma, medtech, electrical engineering, energy transmission, and release-coating; impacted portfolios span addition‑curing silicone rubber, silicone resins, silanes, and silicone‑based release coatings.
Tire circularity scaling
To advance end‑of‑life tire recovery, Lummus’ strategic investment in InnoVent Renewables supports global deployment of licensed tire pyrolysis. InnoVent operates a Monterrey, Mexico plant processing up to 1 million passenger tires annually, producing tire pyrolysis oil, recovered carbon black, gas, and steel. Lummus, exclusive licensor since 2025, will scale the end‑to‑end solution from pre‑processing through purification across its network.