Nynas has played a pivotal role in a landmark achievement for Croatia's energy sector by supplying its advanced NYTRO BIO 300X insulating liquid. This fully renewable fluid has been used for the first time in the Croatian market to fill a 630 kVA distribution transformer. The unit, manufactured by KONČAR – Distribution & Special Transformers, was recently installed in Zagreb for HEP ODS, the national Distribution System Operator.

This collaboration marks the inaugural deployment of a ‘Green Transformer’ in Croatia, representing a significant advancement for the country's distribution network. The project underscores a unified drive towards greater sustainability and a reduced environmental footprint for critical power infrastructure. For Nynas, this milestone highlights the practical application and reliability of its bio-based product portfolio.

NYTRO BIO 300X is engineered to provide a drop-in solution that combines high oxidation stability and superior cooling performance, allowing operators to enhance their ecological standards without compromising on operational reliability or transformer longevity. The successful installation stands as a testament to how industry partnerships are actively accelerating the transition to a more sustainable energy future.

Ivanka Radić, responsible for transformer oils at KONČAR - D&ST, said, “The thermal and dielectric tests on the transformer filled with NYTRO BIO 300X were successfully completed, and the unit is now fully operational. As expected, all test results were within the required limits, confirming the reliability and stability of this innovative fluid.”

Daniele Frustagli, General Manager Italy & the Balkans at Nynas, said, “We are very proud to have been entrusted with this project by KONČAR - D&ST and HEP ODS Zagreb, allowing us to showcase to them and the entire electrical industry the advantages of this fully renewable, bio-based hydrocarbon liquid. In addition to meeting and exceeding the IEC 60296 ed. 5 (2020) specification, the product is readily biodegradable, fully bio-based and has ultra-low viscosity.”

Vanja Burul, President of the Management Board at KONČAR - D&ST, said, “This project reflects our ongoing efforts to explore more sustainable insulating fluids. We see great potential for further use of NYTRO BIO 300X in future applications.”

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Rhodia, the Latin American polyamide leader and a Solvay Group company, has unveiled a major new multi-year investment initiative for its Santo André industrial facility in São Paulo. This strategic programme, valued at BRL 100 million (USD 18.56 million approximately) and scheduled from 2025 to 2028, is designed to drive modernisation, enhance energy efficiency and foster innovation. The funds are allocated for the creation of advanced technologies and an increase in production capacity, with a particular emphasis on high-value-added products. These include smart wires and sustainable solutions that position the national industry at the global forefront.

This substantial investment underscores Rhodia's confidence in the Brazilian market's potential, which is supported by a business environment moving toward greater competitive balance. The company highlights that predictable market rules and effective trade defence measures are crucial for enabling such long-term commitments. By expanding its operations, Rhodia will not only solidify its leadership in polyamide 6.6 production but also advance the spinning processes for polyamide 6. This move is a fundamental step in securing a reliable supply chain and strengthening Brazilian sovereignty, spanning from raw chemical materials to finished part manufacturing. Ultimately, the initiative reaffirms Rhodia's enduring commitment to the national chemical and textile sectors, ensuring enhanced competitiveness and sustained value generation for the local industry.

Daniela Manique, President – Latin America, Rhodia, said, “These investments reflect our confidence in the Brazilian market and its capacity for innovation. We are prepared to offer advanced and sustainable solutions that meet the demands of the dynamic textile sector. We believe that a fair and predictable competitive environment is the main factor for growth, the preservation of skilled jobs and technological development in Brazil.”

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

At the recent Reuters Events – Sustainability Europe 2025 conference in London, Birla Carbon’s President and CEO, John Loudermilk, outlined ambitious plans for the company’s circular product, Continua Sustainable Carbonaceous Material. He revealed a strategic vision to significantly expand its availability, with a target for it to eventually comprise up to 10 percent of the company’s global product portfolio. Sourced from end-of-life tyres, Continua SCM is an industrially-produced material designed to offer the same quality, consistency and technical performance as traditional carbon black.

This innovative material allows manufacturers to integrate greater sustainability and circularity into diverse applications such as tyres, plastics and coatings without sacrificing product performance. Loudermilk emphasised that accelerating this transition requires a multi-faceted approach, including supportive regulatory frameworks, deeper collaboration with tyre pyrolysis technology partners and strengthened customer engagement.

Beyond its circular offering, Birla Carbon is also progressing other sustainability initiatives. These include developing carbon black derived from bio-based feedstocks and exploring advanced carbon capture and conversion technologies. These combined efforts support the company’s overarching aspiration to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, alongside ongoing work to enhance process efficiency and resource utilisation.

Loudermilk said, “While global carbon black consumption typically grows in line with GDP, the demand for sustainable and circular products is increasing at a much faster pace. At Birla Carbon, we see an opportunity to displace up to 10 percent of the carbon black consumption in the world with circular materials like Continua™ SCM, our brand that is derived from end-of-life tyres.”

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Continental has initiated a strategic consolidation of its operations in the United States, which includes the planned closure of its Aldora Mills textile plant in Barnesville, Georgia, by the conclusion of 2026. This decision, impacting approximately 230 employees, follows an extensive review of the company's long-term competitiveness in the Americas. The facility, which produces textile reinforcement materials, including tyre cord fabric, hose yarn and knitted fabric, for exclusive use within Continental’s Tires and ContiTech group sectors, had faced persistent cost challenges for years, with shifting global market conditions ultimately making its continued operation unviable. The company's immediate priority is to provide comprehensive support to the affected staff through career counselling and local employment resources.

Despite this specific closure, Continental is reinforcing its substantial commitment to the US market through continued and significant capital investment. In the past decade alone, the company has directed around USD 1.5 billion into its American manufacturing footprint. This is evidenced by recent projects, such as a major expansion of the ContiTech plant in Mount Pleasant, Iowa and the construction of a new, company-owned tyre distribution centre in the Dallas-Fort Worth area scheduled to open in early 2026.

The company's enduring presence in the country remains robust, with a workforce of over 8,800 people spread across its Tires and ContiTech sectors. Its tyre manufacturing plants located in Illinois, Indiana, Mississippi and South Carolina possess a combined annual production capacity of more than 16 million tyres. The closure of the Aldora Mills facility is therefore presented as a necessary step to safeguard the overall health and future performance of Continental's broader operations across the Americas.

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

In a significant development for environmental science and the rubber industry, Perpetuus Advanced Materials has announced a viable solution for eliminating 6PPD-quinone, a highly toxic byproduct of 6PPD, a chemical commonly used in tyres and synthetic rubbers. This breakthrough is particularly urgent given the established link between 6PPD-quinone and acute mortality in coho salmon, a crisis identified in 2020 that has since spurred global regulatory concern. The company’s innovation provides both a direct manufacturing replacement and a method for environmental remediation.

The core of the solution is an amine functionalised graphene masterbatch, engineered using the company's proprietary plasma-functionalised graphene nanoplatelets. This advanced material operates through a novel mechanism where the amine groups act as radical scavengers, effectively stabilising the rubber and rendering the use of 6PPD entirely obsolete. By preventing the formation of the toxic 6PPD-quinone at its source, this technology addresses the root cause of the pollution. The masterbatches are supplied as pre-mixed sheets or blocks, allowing for straightforward integration into existing manufacturing processes for tyres and a wide array of other synthetic rubber products, including hoses, seals and industrial belts, without requiring any operational changes.

To tackle the existing environmental contamination, Perpetuus has concurrently developed a suite of modular filtration systems designed for stormwater management. These units, which include drain cartridges and bioreactor modules, utilise graphene nanoplatelets to capture pollutants. They are enhanced by a proprietary artificial intelligence platform that provides real-time monitoring of filter saturation and pollutant levels, offering a critical tool for protecting vulnerable waterways and urban runoff zones during the transition to reformed tyres.

Produced on a continuous plasma platform ensuring consistent quality, the masterbatch not only replaces 6PPD but also consolidates numerous other mix ingredients and additives, thereby simplifying production and improving workplace air quality. With over 10 years of specialisation in graphene-enhanced elastomers, Perpetuus is now actively pursuing regulatory approvals and industrial partnerships to accelerate the widespread adoption of this comprehensive environmental solution.

John Buckland, CEO, Perpetuus, said, “This is no longer about mitigation. We’ve replaced 6PPD. Our amine functionalised GNPs deliver the same anti-degradant function as 6PPD but with zero toxic quinone by-products. This isn’t theory. It works in formulation and scales now. This isn't a patch; it’s a permanent replacement. By removing 6PPD at the source, we remove the risk of 6PPD-Q entirely. The science is proven. The solution is scalable. The environmental need is urgent. The only question left is whether regulators and manufacturers are ready to act. This is the moment to eliminate 6PPD for good and replace it with something better.”

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!