Tires of the Negev

Israel In Our Day Listen online: http://frontpagejerusalem.com/site/index.php
Reported by Shalle McDonald
Written by Kasey Barr

Not many people would connect the Negev desert of Israel to the production of snow tires; however one of the materials used to give tires more traction in cold temperatures comes directly from the southern sands of Israel.

Silica, or silicon dioxide, has become a standard element in the manufacturing of tires to provide better traction and breaking ability, especially in snow-tires. Michelin Tire director Parmeet Grover, praised silica for three significant benefits: Grover claims the substance provides pliability in cold temperatures when rubber without silica begins to stiffen and become more hazardous. He explains that it also improves fuel economy by reducing the tires’ rolling resistance and is proven to make tires last longer and wear better.

Silica is the most abundant mineral in soil. Besides tires, it is used to manufacture several common and widely used products such of glass, computer chips, and concrete, just to name a few. It is found in sand and quartz throughout the world, but the Silica found in the Negev has a unique property not found in any other location.

According to a report from Israel21C, Ronen Peled, CEO of Dimona Silica Industries recently discovered that he can produce Silica from porcellanite, a substance considered to be a waste material left over from Israel’s phosphate mining industry. Putting waste to work is highly valued in today’s green economy, yet the scientists at Dimona Silica Industries (DSI), discovered another environmental fact that is expected to make Israel’s silica the desire of the international market.

In order to use silica in production, it must be heated to 1,500 degrees centigrade when it becomes a liquid that can be mixed and formed to create the many items we use today. A team at DSI discovered that the porcellanite from the Negev can yield liquid silica when heated to just 90 degrees centigrade.

This discovery makes Negev silica not only cheaper to produce but also a “green” product because it requires far less energy to produce. DSI plans to focus their market on the tire industry where they believe they can have the greatest impact.

“Many jurisdictions today require that at least a portion of every tire sold be made out of recycled or recyclable materials because tire production is known to be one of the biggest industrial polluters,” says Peled. DSI has spent the last decade acquiring patents, developing the right technology and passing regulatory requirements and is now ready to go to market. Israel has issued the company the rights to convert porcellannite in the Negev to Silica for the next 50 years. With this exclusivity, DSI felt confident to build its new facility where they have plans to employ 400 workers making it the largest employer in the Negev region.

Ready to produce green technology and green jobs, Dimona Silica Industries, is a name to watch.

With a cheaper, more environmentally friendly product, DSI hopes to become a powerful player in the world’s tire market, as well as a major force in strengthening the economy of Israel.