HUMBLE, TX - Orion Engineered Carbons, a global producer of carbon black for the pigment and rubber industries, will construct a fifth production unit for tread blacks at its plant in Yeosu, South Korea. The additional unit will increase the plant’s annual output by 36 metric tons, to a total of 188 metric tons. The project is scheduled for completion in May 2013. 

“This investment at Yeosu demonstrates Orion’s commitment to partner in the growth of our key Korean tire customers,” said Jack Clem, Orion’s Chief Executive Officer. “With our latest reactor technology, Orion Engineered Carbons will continue to meet the rigorous quality standards demanded by world-class tire manufacturers.” 

Dr. Dietmar Balschukat, General Manager for the Asia-Pacific Region, added, “The fifth unit at Yeosu will also produce carbon blacks geared for export especially to Japan and China, and facilitate operational flexibility to supply additional volumes of Orion’s specialty PUREX^® and high-performance grades.” 

Orion, through the Yeosu plant and its sister plant in Bupyeong, Seoul, Korea, leads the carbon black industry in the Asia-Pacific region with strict environmental controls over air, water and noise pollution. “We pride ourselves on maintaining a ‘white glove’ level of housekeeping,” commented Balschukat. 

With 15 production sites and five technical centers, Orion Engineered Carbons is an innovative, global producer of high-quality carbon blacks focusing on collaborative partnerships with customers in rubber and pigment applications. For more information, visit www.orioncarbons.com.