HS HYOSUNG ADVANCED MATERIALS signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with TATA STEEL Thailand last month to secure a long-term supply of sustainable steel raw materials. This partnership ensures a stable procurement of eco-friendly steel for manufacturing tyre steel cords, reinforcing the company’s commitment to sustainability.

TATA STEEL Thailand, part of India’s renowned Tata Group, specialises in producing high-quality steel using the electric arc furnace (EAF) method. This process recycles scrap metal and is far more energy-efficient than traditional blast furnaces, reducing carbon emissions by approximately 60 percent. By sourcing these sustainable materials, HS HYOSUNG ADVANCED MATERIALS can manufacture tyre steel cords with a significantly lower carbon footprint. Additionally, sustainable steel cords yield higher profit margins compared to conventional alternatives, strengthening the company’s revenue stream in this sector.

Tyre steel cords are critical for enhancing tyre durability and shape stability, with growing demand for high-strength variants due to the expanding electric vehicle market. Furthermore, advanced markets like Europe are increasingly prioritising sustainable materials, boosting sales potential for eco-friendly steel cords. HS HYOSUNG ADVANCED MATERIALS aims to increase the proportion of sustainable steel cord sales from five percent in 2025 to 15 percent by 2027.

The company’s sustainability efforts have been widely recognised. In October 2023, it received the Platinum Medal from EcoVadis, placing it in the top one percent of over 130,000 global companies assessed for ESG performance. Additionally, it was listed on the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) Korea for the second consecutive year in December, underscoring its leadership in sustainable business practices.

Nak-Yang Sung, CEO, HS HYOSUNG ADVANCED MATERIALS, said, “Through this MOU, we have secured a stable source of sustainable raw materials and will continue to meet the growing demand from global tyre manufacturers for sustainable products.”

For over 70 years, Ergon has been delivering innovative products and service solutions for ever-changing needs. With more than 4,200 employees working across a solutions-driven supply chain, the company supports industries and communities globally. Customers can access Ergon’s products and services in more than 100 countries around the world.

Through an enhanced focus on the needs of speciality markets, Ergon has grown to become the world’s leading producer and marketer of naphthenic oils. Its horizons have expanded, but the mission remains the same: meet needs, support families, serve customers.

Ergon manufactures, markets and distributes speciality oils in the US, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia. Its strategically located terminals throughout these regions create a secure and consistent supply of speciality oils for customers.

As chemistries shift and the needs of customers evolve, Ergon is leveraging its expertise in speciality oils to advance industries, such as the tyre industry, with innovative, low-carbon solutions that meet the evolving demands of customers.

OVER 30 YEARS OF QUALITY PROCESSING AND TESTING

Customers can trust that Ergon’s process oils are formulated to meet exact specifications and undergo thorough testing. Ergon International partners with various laboratories, including its own US facilities and esteemed European laboratories, to rigorously test materials and deliver consistent, high-quality solutions. The company’s technical experts are recognised worldwide for their commitment to working with partners to advance industry standards for quality speciality oils.

HIGH-QUALITY OILS

Ergon’s process oils are genuine naphthenic oils produced to precise specifications and designed for a variety of processing applications. These oils offer low pour points, excellent solvency, low odour and strong colour stability. The products range from low (4 cSt) to high (936 cSt) viscosity, with blending capabilities to meet a range of industry needs.

TAILORED TYRE SOLUTIONS FROM A TEAM OF GLOBAL EXPERTS

Customers are seeking dependable solutions for an array of applications. Ergon’s experts understand the unique needs of each and tailor formulations to optimise product performance. The products, such as HyPrene Process Oils, are essential for a wide range of tyre applications, including passenger vehicles, heavy-duty trucks, off-road vehicles, aviation and motorcycles.

Properties such as viscosity, solvency, molecular weight, thermal stability and polarity are key to tyre performance. These chemical properties influence vulcanisation, flexibility, durability, traction and rolling resistance. Achieving the right balance can be a challenge, but Ergon’s team of technical experts is dedicated to developing formulations to meet customers’ specific tyre needs.

Sustainable tyre development prioritises eco-friendly process oils, such as bio-based and recycled materials, energy-efficient manufacturing and circular economy principles. This results in greater longevity of tyres through improved traction and rolling resistance.

Ergon’s tyre solutions help optimise safety, rolling resistance, grip and performance while reducing CO₂ emissions through the adoption of greener technologies. These advancements enable the development of specialised tyres, such as those for challenging terrains or for electric and autonomous vehicles.

PRODUCT COMPLIANCE

Ergon’s tyre oils, including naphthenic oils, are carefully monitored to meet stringent regulatory requirements, ensuring compliance with the amendment (EU) 2015/326 of Annex XVII to the REACH regulation (EC) 1907/2006; the European standard EN 16143:2013, which governs the determination of Benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) and selected polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in extender oils.

Additionally, Ergon supports tyre manufacturers in aligning with Regulation (EC) No. 1222/2009, which provides the EU framework for tyre labelling based on fuel efficiency, wet grip and noise performance. By prioritising both compliance and performance, Ergon’s process oils help customers navigate evolving industry standards while optimising tyre formulations.

ERGON PRODUCTS USED IN TYRES

Ergon Mineral Oil Products – Low-PAH Naphthenic Oils

• HyPrene 100E (For High Filled Compounds)
• HyPrene L1200 (Alternative for MES)
• HyPrene L2000 (Alternative for TDAE, RAE and Black Oil)

Ergon Sustainable Products

• ISCC + Naphthenic Oils – HyPrene Products
• Recycled Oils – NuovoPrene Products
• Bio-Based Oils – EcoPrene Products
• 100% Bio-Based Oils – RBD Vegetable Oils

ERGON IS COMMITTED TO DOING RIGHT WITH ITS PRODUCTS, FOR THE PLANET, BY ITS PEOPLE AND THROUGH ITS PRINCIPLES.

Solutions to Meet Sustainability Targets

Ergon’s latest innovations focus on cleaner naphthenic oils and sustainable products, supporting eco-friendly materials from bio-based sources, such as EcoPrene Process Oils and RBD Vegetable Oils, or recycled sources, such as NuovoPrene Process Oils.

Recognised for Sustainability Excellence

In 2023, Ergon Refining Inc. (ERI), the company’s refinery in Vicksburg, Mississippi, which supplies naphthenic products around the world, received a silver medal from EcoVadis – a global platform that provides sustainability ratings.

Additionally, Ergon International has joined other Ergon Energy & Specialty Solutions companies in obtaining International Sustainability & Carbon Certification (ISCC PLUS) status, including for its HyPrene and NuovoPrene products. This certification highlights the company’s commitment to product traceability and recycling.

Helping Customers Meet Evolving Regulations

Ergon conducts Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs) for its naphthenic base oils, offering customers comprehensive evaluations of the environmental impacts of these solutions. LCAs serve as valuable resources for reducing environmental footprint and supporting customers in meeting their sustainability goals.

Accelerating Customer Success

Ergon is a service company dedicated to anticipating and meeting needs since 1954. The company transforms molecules into high-value solutions that improve the performance of products people use every day around the world. With its technical expertise and innovation, strategic logistics network and commitment to an exceptional customer experience, Ergon consistently leverages its resources to ensure customer success worldwide. That’s the Ergon way. 

A new proposed standard (WK91069) from ASTM International’s recovered carbon black (rCB) committee aims to dramatically improve production monitoring and productivity for manufacturers. Currently, quality testing for rCB can take as long as 18 hours using an existing method adapted from ASTM’s carbon black standards.

The proposed standard, developed by the committee’s rCB subcommittee, would reduce testing time to just a few hours. According to Pieter Ter Haar, Director of rCB at Circtec and an ASTM member, this change will allow producers to make faster process adjustments, minimise off-spec material and provide end-users with quicker, more reliable results. The initiative reflects an industry effort to enhance efficiency and quality assurance in recovered carbon black production.

Ter Haar said, “The method currently used, which has been adopted from ASTM’s carbon black committee, results in a testing time that can take up to 18 hours. This is very inconvenient for producers for whom this is an important quality parameter.”

Gummiwerk KRAIBURG is advancing its production capabilities through a significant investment in a new, high-performance mixing line for colour compounds. This modernisation initiative underscores the company’s commitment to enhancing operational efficiency, product quality and long-term sustainability.

The state-of-the-art system is engineered to boost production flexibility, improve material consistency and lower energy consumption, aligning with both economic and ecological objectives. To ensure seamless integration, the company has implemented detailed planning that guarantees continuous order fulfilment and supply chain stability throughout the transition.

This upgrade reaffirms Gummiwerk KRAIBURG’s role as a reliable partner for high-performance applications and demonstrates its dedication to maintaining superior quality standards and unwavering production reliability in a competitive market.

Materials science firm Trinseo finalised an agreement on 19 August to establish a recycled polycarbonate production facility within the Zhangjiagang Free Trade Zone. The project represents a total investment of approximately USD 20 million, with its initial phase targeting an annual capacity of 5,000 tonnes. The signing ceremony was attended by Zhangjiagang Municipal Party Committee Secretary Han Wei, Trinseo CEO Frank Bozich and other senior company representatives.

During the event, Secretary Han Wei characterised the project as technologically advanced and well-aligned with the city’s industrial development strategy. He emphasised the municipal government’s ongoing commitment to cultivating a favourable business environment and encouraged further investment in high-value projects. In response, Frank Bozich acknowledged the longstanding support from local authorities and affirmed that the new facility would support regional economic goals and advance circular economy initiatives through innovation.

Trinseo, which established operations in Zhangjiagang in 1998, has invested nearly USD 400 million in the area, developing its largest production base in the Asia-Pacific region. The city has emerged as a significant hub for chemical and new materials industries, hosting 169 large-scale enterprises and 26 Fortune Global 500 companies, with annual output nearing RMB 80 billion. The new Trinseo project is anticipated to contribute to Zhangjiagang’s strategic goal of building a RMB 100 billion-level industrial cluster in chemical new materials.