On February 18, 2014, Styron announced that it will be doubling its Solution Styrene Butadiene Rubber (SSBR) production capacity of one train, after reaching an agreement with material supplier JSR, to acquire its current production capacity rights at Styron’s world-scale rubber production hub in Schkopau, Germany. SSBR is used in producing high performance tires and green tires with lower rolling resistance. Styron’s Schkopau production site currently hosts eight world-scale rubber trains that supply tire customers around the world. Prior to this agreement, JSR held the capacity rights to 50% of one of Styron’s three SSBR production trains in Schkopau. As a result, as from April 1, 2014, Styron will have full capacity rights to this train, enabling it to increase its capabilities to serve the global tire market. As owner of the Schkopau rubber complex, Styron is uniquely positioned to capitalize on this expansion opportunity, which is strongly in line with its rubber business growth strategy, and is a cost-effective solution to meet increasing customer demands. “This agreement allows us to further grow our rubber business in a very economical and timely manner. The investment builds on the success of the third SSBR train in Schkopau which we brought on-line in 2012. Styron invests continuously in R&D and production capacity to ensure customer success”, says Marco Levi, senior vice president and business president of Emulsion Polymers, Styron. “We are a clear technology leader in functionalized SSBR, continually putting forward breakthrough products that allow our tire customers to meet their goals. With this additional capacity we will be able to react faster to our customer’s needs, and at the same time the production line can be leveraged to produce our next generation grades”, says Francesca Reverberi, business director for Rubber, Styron. In today’s market, tire producers need to develop sustainable products with long life, fuel savings and safe technology. SSBR is a key enabling technology for tires with low rolling resistance combined with excellent wet grip and abrasion resistance in the tread.