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Interview with WACKER

A person in a suit AI-generated content may be incorrect.Ahead of Sustainability in Tires 2025, we spoke with HeeHoon Jeong, Technical Service Leader for Rubber and Plastics at WACKER, for a preview of his presentation. He will detail WACKER's technical solutions using silanes and siloxanes in rubber compounds. Here are his insights.


Q1. Your topic will be “WACKER Technical Solution of Silanes and Siloxanes into Rubber compound” this year, can you give us a snapshot of what delegates will hear? And why is it important for others in the industry to hear this message?

I will present five key aspects to the audience. I will start by introducing the performance requirement and market circumstances for the tire industry. Next, I will talk about compound design changes for the tire industry, followed by an introduction of key features of advanced tire. Then, I will talk about how to handle challenges for rubber compounding. Finally, I will give an introduction of the feasible solutions of Silanes & Polysiloxanes from WACKER.

Q2. In the sustainable context, what do you think are the key challenges facing the industry?

Energy saving, green tire, and CO₂ emission are the major sustainability challenges facing the tire industry. Tire manufacturing is energy-intensive, requiring significant power for raw material processing, vulcanization, and transportation. Additionally, tires contribute to CO₂ emissions both during production and through vehicle fuel consumption.

For tire company, adoption of energy-efficient machinery or solar energy in production plants, especially in China, could be effective solutions to energy saving.

Green tire is more critical. Traditional tires rely on petroleum-based materials (e.g., synthetic rubber, carbon black, etc.), which are non-renewable and environmentally harmful. Reducing rolling resistance and improving fuel efficiency always show top priority for compound designer.

Q3. What industry topics are getting the most attention currently? How are these factors influencing the future of the tire value chain?

The most pressing topics today are sustainable tire design and CO₂ emission reduction through low-energy tire consumption.

Sustainable tire design is significantly transforming the tire value chain by driving material innovation, manufacturing, distribution, and end-of-life management. It leads to more adoption of high technical raw materials.

Q4. As the inaugural conference in the tire industry, what aspects of Sustainability in Tires are you most excited to participate in?

WACKER is a global siloxane & silane player. I would like to introduce the direction of our development for tire industry and our functionalized materials for better tire energy consumption.