Epsilon Carbon, a global carbon black manufacturer, has launched N134, a specialized hard-grade carbon black renowned for its superior abrasion resistance and durability. This move marks a major milestone in India’s tire and rubber industry, which has long relied on imports for this critical material.
Solving a Long-Standing Supply Chain Challenge
Until now, India lacked a reliable domestic source of N134 grade carbon black. Tire manufacturers were forced to import the material due to quality inconsistencies and limited local availability. As a workaround, companies often modified their formulations using other grades—sacrificing performance in the process.
Epsilon Carbon now becomes the first Indian company to set up a dedicated manufacturing unit for N134, addressing a persistent gap in the supply chain for both domestic and global tire makers.
Boosting India’s Premium Tire Industry
Premium tire makers for heavy-duty vehicles and high-performance passenger cars rely on high-quality N134 carbon black, as its wear resistance directly impacts safety and mileage. With its latest offering, Epsilon Carbon delivers a reliable, high-performance alternative to imports, giving tire manufacturers the consistency and quality they require.
Produced at Expanded Vijayanagar Facility
The N134 grade will be manufactured at Epsilon Carbon’s recently expanded Vijayanagar carbon complex, which now boasts a production capacity of 215,000 tons. The facility incorporates advanced processing technologies to ensure batch-to-batch consistency—a crucial requirement for high-performance applications.
Supporting ‘Make in India’ and Global Ambitions
This development aligns with the Indian government’s ‘Make in India’ and import substitution initiatives. Beyond catering to domestic demand, Epsilon Carbon is also setting its sights on exporting N134 to premium tire markets in the US and Europe, strengthening India’s footprint in the global carbon black sector.
Leadership Speaks on the Milestone
Vikram Handa, Managing Director of Epsilon Carbon, commented, “This is a proud moment for us and for India’s carbon black manufacturing sector. The high-quality N134 black will significantly reduce import dependency and offer tire manufacturers—both in India and abroad—a consistent, reliable product. Our goal is to match global standards while building India’s capability to serve premium markets.”
Elevating India’s Position in the Global Market
As global demand for performance tires rises, Epsilon Carbon aims to strengthen India’s position in the global carbon black industry with its N134. According to the press release, this launch expands Epsilon’s diverse portfolio of hard and soft carbon blacks used across various tire and rubber applications.
