Yulex, Versalis to produce guayule rubber in Southern Europe

Guayule, unlike Hevea brasiliensis, is suited for growth in a number of regions – including Southern Europe Italian elastomer firm Versalis and guayule biomass specialist Yulex Corporation have announced the formation of a strategic partnership to manufacture guayule-based biorubber materials. Within the partnership, the companies will launch an industrial-scale production complex in Southern Europe.
According to Yulex, the partnership agreement will cover the entire manufacturing chain from crop science to biorubber extraction to the construction of a biomass power station. Versalis will manufacture materials for various applications: after an initial focus on consumer and medical specialty markets, the target is to optimise the process to reach the tyre industry. The partnership will leverage Yulex’s core competencies including crop science and biorubber extraction technologies, to boost Versalis’ bio-based portfolio. The investment will include a research project to develop technologies targeting the tyre industry.
Guayule (Parthenium argentatum) is a renewable, non-food crop that requires little water usage, no pesticides and it is an alternative source of natural rubber because – unlike Hevea rubber – the latex produced from guayule is allergy friendly.
Versalis, with its market leading position in the elastomer industry, plans to expand its leading-edge technologies in the synthetic rubber business by including guayule rubber as a supplementary business opportunity and an increased commercial offering. “The partnership with Yulex is strategic to Versalis, considering concerns over the forecasted scarcity in the butadiene market and volatility of this chemical, which in turn causes long term pressure on the price of products like synthetic rubber,” said Versalis chief executive officer Daniele Ferrari. “Partnering with Yulex represents our commitment and momentum towards entering the global market as a major green chemistry player. All of our green chemistry partnerships aim to enhance Versalis’ bio-based portfolio and will feed oil-based production chains with high-performance intermediates from renewable feedstocks, in particular in the elastomers business.”
“Versalis is an ideal global partner for Yulex, as they are a leading supplier of elastomers and have the ability to rapidly scale and commercialise processes,” said Jeff Martin, chief executive officer, president and co-founder of Yulex Corporation. “Together, through our shared vision of expanding green chemistry, we can accelerate the positive impact that guayule-based biorubber high-value products have on the environment, human health and sustainable global growth.”
Yulex Corporation first made tyre industry headlines in February 2012 when Cooper Tire & Rubber announced it had entered into a partnership with Yulex with a view towards producing a Hevea rubber alternative in North America. Under this deal, Cooper agreed to provide advanced polymer and materials science expertise and utilise its design, development and testing capabilities as part of this project. Yulex would contribute experience with the development and production of advanced engineered biopolymers from the guayule plant.
“The agreement between Cooper Tire and Yulex will facilitate development of a domestic supplemental source of natural rubber by leveraging resources and capabilities of both companies,” said Chuck Yurkovich, Cooper’s vice-president of Global Technology, in February 2012. “Our goal is to develop a reliable source of natural rubber, thus decreasing our reliance on off-shore raw material sources. If successful, the programme will create a new agricultural polymer with broad-based tyre industry applications, convert desert wasteland into viable farm land for associated crops, and create jobs for American workers.”
In July 2012 Cooper and Yulex received a US$6.9 million grant for research into the guayule plant. The grant covers a four year period and is intended for research focused on developing enhanced manufacturing processes, testing and utilising guayule natural rubber for use in tyres, and evaluating the remaining guayule plant biomass as a source of bio-fuel for the transportation industry.