Carbon Black
An essential material for everyday products.
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Carbon black, a solid form of carbon produced as powder or pellets, is an essential material in products consumers use every day. It is made to customers’ exacting specifications for tires, coatings, ink, batteries, plastics and numerous other specialty, high-performance applications. Carbon black is used to tint, colorize, provide reinforcement, conduct electricity, increase durability and add UV protection.
Acetylene-based conductive additives
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Acetylene-based conductive additives are widely used in lithium-ion batteries in electric vehicles; high-voltage cables for solar and wind farms; and tire bladders, among other products. Orion is the sole producer of the material in the EU.
Orion’s newest plant
Huaibei, China
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Orion’s newest plant is in the Eastern Chinese city of Huaibei. The plant is designed to produce a variety of carbon black for specialty and high-end rubber grades.
The world’s longest-running carbon black plant
Kalscheuren, Germany
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Orion’s plant in Kalscheuren, outside of Cologne, is the world’s longest-operating carbon black plant. In 2022, the facility celebrated its 125th anniversary. The facility is home to the company’s largest innovation center.
Orion’s only plant in South America
Paulinia, Brazil
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Orion’s plant in Brazil is in Paulinia, a municipality in the state of Sao Paulo. The facility produces hard and soft plants along with specialty grades.
The only carbon black plant in Sub-Saharan Africa
Port Elizabeth, South Africa
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Orion is the only global producer of carbon black that has a plant in Sub-Saharan Africa. The facility is in Port Elizabeth, also known as Gqiberha, a major seaport and the most populous city in Eastern Cape province.The plant has two lines for hard blacks and one for soft black.
Conductive additives plant
Berre-l’Étang, France
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Orion’s plant in France is the only facility in Europe that produces acetylene-based conductive additives – a key material for lithium-ion batteries and high-voltage cables for solar and wind farms. The company is building another such plant in La Porte, Texas, which with be the only facility of its kind in the U.S.
Orion’s plant in South Korea
Yeosu, South Korea
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Orion’s plant in Yeosu is on the southern coast of the Korean peninsula. The facility produces hard and soft blacks as well as specialty grades.
