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Eastman launches tyre technology centre in China
STRATEGIES
Eastman launches tyre technology centre in China
T
he Tire Additives division of speciality materials company Eastman has opened a new state-of-the-art laboratory at the company’s China headquarters in Shanghai to help customers with tyre compounding and advanced technology needs. Tyre manufacturers in China and throughout the Asia Pacific region will be able to take advantage of the new lab’s rubber mixing and testing capabilities. The facility can also provide analysis on both performance resin compatibility and the physical and dynamic properties of rubber compounds, Eastman reports. Designed to provide fast feedback, the facility houses the company’s regional chemists, engineers and application development scientists, and is equipped with analytical, rubber compounding and rubber testing equipment. It is furnished with a wide array of equipment and capabilities focusing on physical properties, tyre performance indicators, durability, rubber processing, compound curing and more, Eastman reports. Among the advanced capabilities available are a forward-looking infrared (FLIR) camera for accurate temperature detection during the mixing process, Weibull dispersion testing via tensile pulls and Keyence dispersion measurement tools developed by Eastman to improve the accurate detection of insoluble sulfur dispersion by microscopy. The new Shanghai lab began some testing in March this year, with construction of the facility completed in June. It is already supporting tyre plants in the Asia Pacific region that are adopting the company’s next-generation vulcanizing agent Eastman Crystex™ Cure Pro insoluble sulfur [ADPO, April 2018, p. 5] and new Eastman Impera™ performance resins, the company says. Crystex Cure Pro enables tyre producers to optimize manufacturing yield, minimize sulfur ‘bloom’ and reduce manufacturing cost, Eastman claims. This enables customers to make a greater number of tyres faster while at the same time reducing waste, it says. Impera performance resins reportedly allow tyre makers to deliver the right balance of performance and efficiency across a wide range of formulation parameters, as regulatory and safety standards increase. ‘Sharing our technical expertise and lab capabilities with our customers demonstrates our strong commitment to helping them succeed’, comments San Sutanto, Eastman’s
10
Additives for Polymers
Asia Pacific sales director, Tire Additives. The new lab will play ‘a vital role’ in building trust and enhancing the company’s engagement with tyre manufacturers, he states. The Shanghai facility is Eastman’s second technology centre dedicated to tyres, the original being in Akron, OH, USA. More information: www.eastman.com
Modern Dispersions expands black masterbatch, engineered compound capacities
U
S-based supplier of thermoplastic compounds and concentrates Modern Dispersions, Inc is undertaking production capacity expansions at two of its manufacturing facilities. The developments will reportedly ‘significantly increase’ the company’s production capabilities for engineered compounds and masterbatches. At its Fitzgerald plant in Georgia, USA, Modern Dispersions is adding a 133 mm twin-screw extruder and ancillary equipment to increase the site’s production capabilities for engineered compounds and masterbatches. The expansion is currently underway and is expected to commence operations by 2Q 2020. According to a statement from the company, the additional capacity will meet strong demand growth from a range of markets including automotive, electrical components and electronics packaging. The new line will increase flexibility and reduce lead times, allowing the company to remain cost competitive as it strives to meet its customers’ needs, it says. Modern Dispersions also reveals that it is currently adding capacity for black masterbatches for polyolefins at the Fitzgerald plant. The additional production capacity is scheduled to come online during 2020. Elsewhere, at its headquarters site in Leominster, MA, USA, the company is also planning to install a 50 mm Steer twin-screw extruder with a capacity of 1500 kg/ hour (c. 3000 lb/hour) for a new R&D pilot line. This will help in the development of new engineering plastics formulations for nylon, polycarbonate and polyethylene terephthalate resins. It will also support initial scaleup and pre-production needs, according to Modern Dispersions.
More information: www.moderndispersions.com
November 2019
Eastman launches tyre technology centre in China
T
he Tire Additives division of speciality materials company Eastman has opened a new state-of-the-art laboratory at the company’s China headquarters in Shanghai to help customers with tyre compounding and advanced technology needs. Tyre manufacturers in China and throughout the Asia Pacific region will be able to take advantage of the new lab’s rubber mixing and testing capabilities. The facility can also provide analysis on both performance resin compatibility and the physical and dynamic properties of rubber compounds, Eastman reports. Designed to provide fast feedback, the facility houses the company’s regional chemists, engineers and application development scientists, and is equipped with analytical, rubber compounding and rubber testing equipment. It is furnished with a wide array of equipment and capabilities focusing on physical properties, tyre performance indicators, durability, rubber processing, compound curing and more, Eastman reports. Among the advanced capabilities available are a forward-looking infrared (FLIR) camera for accurate temperature detection during the mixing process, Weibull dispersion testing via tensile pulls and Keyence dispersion measurement tools developed by Eastman to improve the accurate detection of insoluble sulfur dispersion by microscopy. The new Shanghai lab began some testing in March this year, with construction of the facility completed in June. It is already supporting tyre plants in the Asia Pacific region that are adopting the company’s next-generation vulcanizing agent Eastman Crystex™ Cure Pro insoluble sulfur [ADPO, April 2018, p. 5] and new Eastman Impera™ performance resins, the company says. Crystex Cure Pro enables tyre producers to optimize manufacturing yield, minimize sulfur ‘bloom’ and reduce manufacturing cost, Eastman claims. This enables customers to make a greater number of tyres faster while at the same time reducing waste, it says. Impera performance resins reportedly allow tyre makers to deliver the right balance of performance and efficiency across a wide range of formulation parameters, as regulatory and safety standards increase. ‘Sharing our technical expertise and lab capabilities with our customers demonstrates our strong commitment to helping them succeed’, comments San Sutanto, Eastman’s
10
Additives for Polymers
Asia Pacific sales director, Tire Additives. The new lab will play ‘a vital role’ in building trust and enhancing the company’s engagement with tyre manufacturers, he states. The Shanghai facility is Eastman’s second technology centre dedicated to tyres, the original being in Akron, OH, USA. More information: www.eastman.com
Modern Dispersions expands black masterbatch, engineered compound capacities
U
S-based supplier of thermoplastic compounds and concentrates Modern Dispersions, Inc is undertaking production capacity expansions at two of its manufacturing facilities. The developments will reportedly ‘significantly increase’ the company’s production capabilities for engineered compounds and masterbatches. At its Fitzgerald plant in Georgia, USA, Modern Dispersions is adding a 133 mm twin-screw extruder and ancillary equipment to increase the site’s production capabilities for engineered compounds and masterbatches. The expansion is currently underway and is expected to commence operations by 2Q 2020. According to a statement from the company, the additional capacity will meet strong demand growth from a range of markets including automotive, electrical components and electronics packaging. The new line will increase flexibility and reduce lead times, allowing the company to remain cost competitive as it strives to meet its customers’ needs, it says. Modern Dispersions also reveals that it is currently adding capacity for black masterbatches for polyolefins at the Fitzgerald plant. The additional production capacity is scheduled to come online during 2020. Elsewhere, at its headquarters site in Leominster, MA, USA, the company is also planning to install a 50 mm Steer twin-screw extruder with a capacity of 1500 kg/ hour (c. 3000 lb/hour) for a new R&D pilot line. This will help in the development of new engineering plastics formulations for nylon, polycarbonate and polyethylene terephthalate resins. It will also support initial scaleup and pre-production needs, according to Modern Dispersions.
More information: www.moderndispersions.com
November 2019