News: Tire Recycling & Pyrolysis

Register for TRAC's 2023 Rubber Recycling Symposium before July 28 to apply Early Bird discount! The Tire and Rubber Association of Canada (TRAC) the U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association (USTMA) together with Host Sponsor, Divert NS, will be hosting the 2023 Rubber Recycling Symposium, held on October 4-5 at the Lord Nelson Hotel; Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.

Wastefront AS, the Norwegian waste tire recycling company, announced a strategic partnership with global energy storage infrastructure provider VTTI, for investment of up to USD 43 million and an agreement to reach a final investment decision for eight global sites within a five year period. VTTI – backed by leading energy and infrastructure players Vitol, IFM Investors and ADNOC (the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company) – is one of the world’s largest independent energy storage infrastructure providers with key locations around the world. The investment in Wastefront and planned investments in future plants are part of VTTI’s global growth strategy in which circular products are an important pillar, with an ambition to conduct more than 50% of its activities in new and transitional energy sources by 2028.

Fabien Gaboriaud, the new representative of Michelin on Enviro's board, describes himself as a competitive individual passionate about innovation and determined to assist Enviro in achieving success. Holding the position of Senior Vice President Sustainable Materials and Circularity at Michelin, Gaboriaud oversees the company's strategic investments in environmentally sustainable materials and circular practices.

Kal Tire’s Mining Tire Group announced it has received International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC) PLUS certification verifying that its mining tire recycling facility in Chile processes circular feedstocks. At Kal Tire’s facility in Northern Chile, end-of-life ultra-class tires are converted to their base elements (carbon black, oil and steel) so they can be reused in new products instead of raw materials. The facility’s thermal conversion processes uses heat and friction to induce a process that sees virtually 100% of the tire reused.

In AZuR’s (Allianz Zukunft Reifen) network, material recyclers are important buyers of end-of-life tires for the secondary raw materials. Recently, AZuR introduced Austrian company KIAS Recycling GmbH as a partner. KIAS Recycling GmbH operates the only used tire recycling plant in Austria, which is one of the most modern in Europe. At the Ohlsdorf site, up to 30,000 tons of end-of-life tires are broken down into their individual components and the majority of them recycled.

TireTech, a German company, has developed an AI-enabled tire inspection system that uses 3D technology to scan and gather data on the condition and material composition of individual tires. The system aims to improve the recycling and repurposing of tires, determining whether they can be recycled for automotive use or turned into granulate material. The founders of TireTech saw the need for an automated tire inspection system and launched the company to address the manual and time-consuming process of tire disposal. By reusing tires, the company aims to tackle the environmental problem of tire waste.

After more than two years of industry-led research and consultation, Tyre Stewardship Australia (TSA) has published its report into the use, recovery, and recycling of Australia’s off-the-road tires, conveyors, and tracks (OTR rubber products). According to TSA, OTR rubber products are critical for the Australian economy. Up to 245,000 tonnes are used and become waste each year, with around 80% of this coming from the mining sector and 10% from agriculture. Regrettably, the vast majority is buried on site, stockpiled, or sent to landfill.

Robert Weibold – an internationally renowned expert in the field of tire recycling and tire pyrolysis – is attending UK Tyre Recovery Association’s (TRA) Briefing Day on September 13, 2023. During the meeting, Robert Weibold will speak about pyrolysis. If you would like to connect with Robert Weibold, discuss business opportunities or request information on consulting services, please send your inquiry at sales@weibold.com.

Marangoni – a worldwide developer and distributor of materials and technologies for the cold retreading of truck and bus tires – is set to showcase a wide range of sustainable tire solutions for commercial vehicles in the quarry at the upcoming Steinexpo (Homberg, Germany, August 23 – 26). The company has partnered with the tire brand Westlake, manufactured by China's Zhongce Rubber Group, in a collaborative sales agreement. This collaboration allows Marangoni to offer both new and retreaded tires in one comprehensive package, presenting a compelling concept for mining operations.