International chemicals leader Solvay is marking the production launch of Highly Dispersible Silica (HDS) at its new state-of-the-art plant in Wloclawek, Poland.

The announcement addresses the growing demand for energy-saving tyres.

Tyres

Polish authorities and other dignitaries present at the ceremony welcomed the plant's coming on stream. Guests included Governor of Kujawsko-Pomorskie Province Ewa Mes, Marshal of Kujawsko-Pomorskie Province Piotr Calbecki, Vice-President of Wloclawek Dorota Grabczyńska, Vice Minister of Environment Janusz Ostapiuk, as well as Belgian Ambassador Colette Taquet.

With 85,000 tonnes of annual capacity dedicated to Solvay’s latest HDS technologies, the plant it will create more than 100 jobs in the Pomeranian region.

An Nuyttens, President of Solvay’s Silica Global Business Unit, said: "From this plant, Solvay will deliver customers in Central and Eastern Europe its latest breakthrough tyre solutions which contribute to cleaner and more competitive mobility. Through its global market reach, innovation capabilities and increasing number of applications in passenger and truck tyres, Solvay is best-placed to meet growth opportunities in improving their performance and in lowering CO2 emissions."

The site will produce the most advanced grades of HDS, a reinforcing agent in the tyre rubber that reduces a vehicle’s fuel consumption by as much as seven per cent. Solvay’s HDS brands include Zeosil PREMIUM and Efficium, another Solvay Silica invention, which helps tire makers to raise productivity levels for both car and truck tire compounds.

With Wloclawek, Solvay’s Silica has a strong global footprint with nine sites close to customers across Europe, South America, North America and in Asia. In South Korea, Solvay is building a plant which will also produce Efficium and, once on stream, raise Solvay’s annual silica capacity by close to 50 per cent between 2014 and 2016.