Synthetic rubber technology upgrade is imminent

The implementation of the European Union's "Tire Labeling Act" has significantly increased production costs for domestic tire manufacturers, making it harder for Chinese tires to compete in the EU market. This is a widely recognized challenge. According to a tire industry technician, the main reason behind the rising costs lies in the raw material upgrades required by new regulations. “Quality raw materials are crucial for tire performance,” he explained. “You can’t make good clothes from rags.” Rubber is the primary component in tire manufacturing. Natural rubber, styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR), and butadiene rubber—these materials act like the fabric that determines the final quality of the “clothes” we call tires. Currently, China’s synthetic rubber technology is still lagging behind global standards. Most new projects for butadiene rubber and SBR are based on outdated designs, with no significant process innovations or new product development. For example, domestic butyl rubber production is over 50 years behind multinational companies, with major gaps in both technology and operational experience. Even though some companies have imported technologies from Italy and Russia, these only bring them up to the world’s general level. “The production process isn’t advanced, so the products remain at the low-end,” said one tire expert. “At this point, China’s synthetic rubber technology is falling behind the tire industry’s development, and an upgrade is now urgent.” To meet EU labeling standards, many companies are forced to import high-quality synthetic rubber, which comes at a premium price. “We have no choice but to buy foreign products, and there’s little room for negotiation,” said a company employee. “If we use domestic SBR, the tire quality might not even meet EU requirements.” Their tone was clearly frustrated. For instance, in the case of solution polybutadiene rubber, the average price of top-tier products from Japan, South Korea, and the U.S. is around 30,000 yuan per ton, while domestic alternatives cost about 20,000 yuan. The price gap is clear. Some industry insiders suggest that the raw material difference can be mitigated through formula adjustments. For example, using domestic solution SBR could still achieve the desired low rolling resistance if combined with high-quality additives like novel silane coupling agents. However, this would increase costs significantly compared to traditional methods. “Green” tire technology is pushing the industry toward a necessary upgrade in synthetic rubber production. Analysts believe that as tire technology advances, pressure will mount on domestic rubber manufacturers to innovate and improve their processes. They must also actively adopt and develop new products to meet evolving market demands. Xiong Yunjun, head of the Tire Marketing Department, noted: “In the short term, synthetic rubber development may trail tire technology. But with the growing maturity of ‘green tire’ technology, China’s synthetic rubber industry will inevitably catch up. The current cost issues will also gradually ease.” Industry experts agree that improving synthetic rubber technology is essential to solving the rising costs in tire production. It’s not just a technical issue—it’s a strategic necessity for long-term competitiveness.

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