The Rhein Chemie Additives business unit of German chemical producer Lanxess has opened a production line for Rhenoshape tire curing bladders at its production site in Qingdao, China.

Lanxess said the new facility, which costs a “low single-digit million euro” sum, is equipped with state-of-the-art technology to manufacture curing bladders for lightweight commercial vehicle tires and passenger car tires.

The investment will expand the additives producer’s global capacity for the high-performance products by around 10%. Rhine Chemie claims to be the only global player offering tire manufacturers bladders, release agents and tire marking inks from a single source.

The company’s fourth bladder plant is the first for its Rhenoshape products in Asia, and Philipp Junge, head of the rubber additives business, said it “opens up significant growth potential,” offering local customers the opportunity to shape the bladders locally. China is now the world’s largest producer of tires.