Trinseo to increase capacity of styrene butadiene rubber in Germany

Trinseo, the US-based manufacturer of plastics, latex binders and synthetic rubber, will expand capacity for solution-styrene butadiene rubber (S-SBR) in Germany. This increased investment is a direct response to rising customer demand for this critical technology, which is a key component in increasing energy efficiency, safety and durability in performance tires.

The asset upgrade at Trinseo’s synthetic rubber manufacturing complex in Schkopau (Germany) will add 50 kilo tonne (KT) of S-SBR capacity, increasing the company’s global S-SBR production by 33 percent. This additional capacity is expected to be online in January 2018. 

“This investment is in line with Trinseo’s strategy to grow our performance materials businesses, in particular our S-SBR business, which has seen very strong market demand. This expansion in Schkopau is the fastest solution to meet our customers’ growing demand for our Sprintan rubber products, as well as next generation development grades of advanced S-SBR,” said Hayati Yarkadas, senior vice president and business president, performance materials.

Trinseo’s Sprintan advanced S-SBR rubber grades provide a unique combination of properties in tyres - improved lower rolling resistance for performance and fuel efficiency, as well as wet grip and durability.  

“Our expansion of S-SBR is a direct response to customers’ demand, and consistent with sustainability trends around the world. Tyres with reduced rolling resistance are in demand because they make vehicles more fuel efficient, thereby reducing greenhouse gasses. Sprintan rubber products are another example of how Trinseo’s materials are intrinsic to our customers’ products, providing technology that enables products to address global sustainability trends,” said Samer Al-Jabi, global business director for synthetic rubber.