Orion Engineered Carbons has announced plans to expand capacity for gas blacks at its site in Cologne, Germany. The company said the expansion is in response to a continuously growing global market for waterborne and solvent-borne coatings.

“The expansion of capacity in Cologne is one more step in the rapid realignment of Orion’s portfolio toward higher value-added carbon blacks for specialty and technical rubber applications,” said Orion CEO Corning Painter.

Further details on capacity and the project’s timing were not disclosed.

In October last year, Orion acquired French acetylene carbon black manufacturer Société du Noir d’Acétylène de l’Aubette (SN2A) from LyondellBasell and its French affiliate.

Painter said at the time of the acquisition that Orion planned to strengthen production capabilities at SN2A’s plant in Berre l’Etang. SN2A was renamed Orion Engineered Carbons France.

Acetylene black is an ultra-pure premium specialty carbon black characterized by high electrical and thermal conductivity. Key applications are in lithium-ion batteries and high-end electrical cables.