MOSCOW (MRC) -- Synthos (Oswiecim, Poland) has restarted its 185,000-metric tons/year emulsion styrene butadiene rubber (E-SBR) facility in Oswiecim following a fire on 7 January, reported Chemweek with reference to the producer's statement to OPIS Monday.
"Production (has) restarted," Synthos confirmed. "The event doesn't have any impact on the operations and delivery of products from other business units of the company."
Production at the Synthos Dwory E-SBR unit in Oswiecim was idled after the fire broke out following an explosion on 7 January "in the incinerator of the E-SBR rubber production installation," according to a company statement. The synthetic rubbers segment represents a considerable part of its operations, according to Synthos.
Synthos produces 120,000 metric tons/year of styrene and 105,000 metric tons/year of expandable polystyrene (EPS) at Oswiecim and it makes 50,000 metric tons/year of polystyrene (PS) at the site, according to IHS Markit data. The company also produces synthetic adhesives and latex. E-SBR is used in the production of various downstream items including car tires, conveyor belts, and footwear.
As MRC informed earlier, Polish chemicals and plastics group Synthos has launched a new eco-friendly EPS grade for heat insulation panels which includes recycled polystyrene raw material. Synthos, headquartered at Oswiecim in southern Poland, started extruding the product, ‘InVento Optima’ on a dedicated line installed at its base manufacturing site at the end of 2018.
SM is the main feedstock for the production of PS.
According to MRC's ScanPlast report, Russia's estimated consumption of PS and styrene plastics totalled 454,990 tonnes in the first eleven months of 2020, which corresponds to the previous year's figure. November estimated consumption of PS and styrene plastics grew by 4% year on year to 45,830 tonnes.
Synthos SA is one of the largest producers of petrochemical products in Poland and is the largest producer of emulsion rubbers in Europe. Besides, it is the third largest European EPS producer.
MRC