The TIMBERFARM rubber factory GRAN PIEDRA has started operating. It processes raw rubber*, also known as cup-lump rubber*, into standardized intermediate goods for the rubber processing industry, especially the tire industry. The focus is on the production of TSR products*.
It will take some time before the rubber production of the TIMBERFARM-PANARUBBER rubber plantations can fully utilise the processing capacity of GRAN PIEDRA. In order to ensure that the rubber factory can still be fully utilised and that the sales markets can be developed and served with the TSR products produced in the GRAN PIEDRA rubber factory, rubber is imported from surrounding countries, but especially from Africa.
*Raw rubber - cup-lump rubber. In a first phase, the rubber factory GRAN PIEDRA is geared towards processing so-called cup-lump rubber into standardised TSR products. Cup-lumps are smaller coagulated natural rubber lumps. They are formed when liquid latex flows into the container at the end of the scribing channel during tapping and coagulates there. (Coagulation can be prevented by adding an ammonia solution, for example). Before tapping again on a rubber plantation, the containers are emptied. The collected cup lumps are brought to the factory for further processing either directly or after intermediate storage in a collection point.
*TSR rubber TSR products (TSR = Technical Specified Rubber) are standardized intermediate goods that are mainly used in the tire industry. Their manufacturing is technically straightforward and is mainly mechanical. Depending on the specification, a distinction is made between different degrees of purity: The production of TSR-10 or TSR-20 products essentially involves processing the delivered cup lump natural rubber by intensive mechanical washing, shredding and drying processes. The result is pressed rubber bales that must meet certain standard standards in terms of grain size, purity, durability and shape before they can be properly packaged, labelled and palletised for sale.
18.03.2020 - View Newsletter Q1-2-2020 (currently available in German only)