Solvay expands highly dispersible silica capacity in France

On Thursday, November 8, Solvay inaugurated its new production unit for highly dispersible silica and a modernized R&D facility at its Collonges-au-Mont-d’Or site in France. This investment follows a similar volume expansion last year in the US and the start-up in 2010 of a new plant in China. These three investments totaled EUR 74 million. The latest expansion takes the company’s total capacity for highly dispersible silica to more than 400,000 tons.

“Demand for highly dispersible silica is pulled by a growing need for safer and more energy-efficient tires and the new European Tire labeling legislation applicable from November 1st,” said Tom Benner, President of Solvay’s Silica Global Business Unit. Solvay markets its highly dispersible silica under the Zeosil® and Zeosil® Premium brandnames.

Here is the press release.