News: Tire Recycling & Pyrolysis

A research team at the University of Toronto has developed an innovative self-sensing composite material made from crumb rubber derived from recycled tires. This new material has the potential to enhance infrastructure monitoring by serving as a skin-like overlay on bridge decks and pavements, enabling real-time defect detection and weigh-in-motion capabilities.

On February 19, Orion S.A. (NYSE: OEC), a specialty chemical company, announced financial results for its full-year financial results for 2024, reporting a third consecutive year of $300+ million EBITDA and highlighting positive 2025-2026 inflection in Free Cash Flow. “Orion delivered more than $300 million of Adjusted EBITDA for the third consecutive year in 2024, but we are not satisfied by these results.

The European Commission has confirmed that 24 non-OECD countries have successfully submitted their requests to continue receiving EU recycled materials under the new Waste Shipment Regulation (WSR). While this is a positive step, nearly 150 non-OECD countries have yet to submit their notifications, risking an automatic export ban by May 21, 2027.

The Tire Technology Expo & Conference kicks off next week! We are looking forward to a comprehensive 3-day conference, where the latest industry developments in tire manufacturing and design will be explored! What’s in store? Over 240 exhibitors showcasing cutting-edge products. More than 165 speakers from leading manufacturers, organizations, and educational institutions. Three accredited short courses running alongside the show

UK-based Virdis Chemicals Ltd has acquired the rubber curatives and additives business of J. Allcock & Sons, a Manchester-based rubber recycler. This acquisition does not affect Allcock’s other business operations. The deal strengthens Virdis’ rubber chemicals portfolio by adding the Intercure® range of curatives for FKM, carnauba wax, and other essential rubber chemicals.

Pyrum Innovations AG has successfully completed the mechanical assembly of its new grinding plant in Dillingen. Developed by Hosokawa, the jet mill has an input capacity of 1,650 kg/h and an output of 1,350 kg/h, making it the world's largest grinding plant for recovered carbon black (rCB). The process recirculates unused material to minimize waste and enhance efficiency.

In 2024, Sunshine Coast Council launched a demonstration project to test the use of off-the-road (OTR) tyre-derived crumb rubber in road construction and repairs. Now, 12 months on, the results are in—and they reveal a promising future for this innovative material. The project not only confirmed that crumb rubber from OTR tyres can replace traditional crumb rubber in bitumen blends and asphalt mixes, but also provided valuable technical data on performance, constructability, and durability.

The Recircle Awards, organized by Retreading Business and Tyre & Rubber Recycling, has unveiled the final nominees for this year's event, recognizing sustainability and innovation in the tyre retreading and recycling industry. The shortlist includes four new award categories, with winners selected by the Nominations Committee, which consists of 13 independent industry experts.

Gradeall has reported record sales in the United States as more companies adopt advanced tire recycling equipment to cut disposal costs and meet environmental regulations. The surge in demand spans key markets like Texas, California, and Florida, where businesses are increasingly turning to Gradeall’s tire balers, sidewall cutters, and other machinery to process end-of-life tires efficiently.