VORONEZH, Russia—Sibur is expanding the production of thermoplastic elastomers at its compounding site in Voronezh.
Sibur, in 2018, launched the expansion project, which adds an annual capacity of about 50,000 metric tons of SBS. According to Sibur, the construction phase of the plant was completed in January, and the company is ramping up trial production at the unit.
So far, the facility has an annual capacity of 3,000 tons of TPE, and is "proceeding with the homologation of new product grades," the company statement added.
To become fully operational later this year, the unit will produce five new SBS grades for applications in the footwear, automotive and packaging industries as well as road construction.
Moscow-based Sibur commissioned the Voronezh chemical complex in May 2013, and expects production output to reach 135,000 tons per year once the new plant is fully on stream.
The company said it has employed "cutting-edge technologies," including a "German air purification" unit, at the compounding plant to meet environmental standards.
"With our additional production capacity (for TPEs), we will be able to meet the demand in both the Russian and foreign markets," said Pavel Lyakhovich, member of the management board and managing director at Sibur.