Russia-based petrochemical company Sibur announced that its styrene-butadiene thermoplastic elastomers (TPE) unit at its Voronezh-based facility commenced production with a designed capacity of 50ktpa.

The licensor’s representatives witnessed start-up and commissioning work of the equipment at the newTPE-50 unit, which were completed in a 72-hour trial run. Each line showed the nominal design capacity at the finished products stage.

The licensor was contented with the quality of work, readiness of the facility to commence operations and its compliance with the technology transferred under the license.

The licensor concluded, "The operating personnel are well-qualified, and the equipment well-prepared ensuring output of high-quality products in the amounts as specified in the framework project."

Voronezhsintezkauchuk CEO Viktor Kuklinov said, "The new facility proceeds to operate in the production and maintenance mode."

"From now on, the consumers will receive extra volumes of cutting-edge polymer materials for the road building industry and roof coatings," Kuklinov added.

On 23 May 2013, the company started commissioning activities at the new facility.