OSWIECIM, Poland—Synthos was hit by a blast and a fire at its emulsion styrene-butadiene rubber (ESBR) production plant in Oswiecim on Jan. 7.
The plant has since been restarted.
The incident, which occurred at the Synthos Dwory site, happened when "an uncontrolled ignition catalyzed an explosion and a fire in the incinerator of the ESBR rubber production installation."
According to Synthos, the fire was extinguished by company firefighters and the state fire brigade within about 45 minutes—with the synthetic rubber unit idled and put into safe conditions.
No employees were injured in the incident and there were no excess emission to the atmosphere or ground waters, the company said.
However, pipelines discharging off-gases from the rubber drying installation were damaged.
"The causes and estimates of losses are currently under investigation of Synthos and the authorities," the company said.
Synthos claims to be the largest European manufacturer of ESBR. It also produces neodymium polybutadiene rubber and high styrene rubber.
The Oswiecim plant produces 185,000 metric tons of synthetic ESBR each year.
