Biesterfeld Performance Rubber, a division of the Biesterfeld Group, has been selected as distributor by global recycling company Genan for their micronized rubber powders as well as for the easy-to-use rubber modifier GENAN RUBBER+ PREMIXED. The distribution agreement covers the Mechanical Rubber Goods segment in the European rubber market with immediate effect. With this new, international partnership, Biesterfeld Performance Rubber is further expanding its rubber portfolio of innovative and sustainable products, while Genan is strengthening focus on developing new applications for their recycled rubber products.

More sustainable and efficient production processes in the rubber industry

Genan rubber powder is recovered and reprocessed from end-of-life tires (ELT) such as car, truck and industrial tires and is available in different particle sizes. After processing, the secondary raw material produced in this way can be used in a variety of applications such as profiles, shoe soles, wire and cable insulation, conveyor belts, rollers and shock absorbers. The recycled rubber is thus fed back into the material cycle and helps to make production processes more sustainable and reduce CO₂ emissions. The modifier GENAN RUBBER+ PREMIXED already consists of rubber powder coated with VESTENAMER® from Evonik. Due to the excellent compatibility of the VESTENAMER® with Genan’s rubber powder, it simplifies the production process and can be better integrated into the compound. This saves the customer a production step and makes processing easier.

"The rubber powder is easy to incorporate into production processes and provides a reliable solution for establishing sustainable production cycles. A high proportion of phr can be used, even without changing recipe, to achieve higher load of sustainable products within the compound. Through the new collaboration with Genan, in conjunction with Evonik's VESTENAMER® product, we have created a good synergy to offer our customers a solution for a sustainable and simplified manufacturing process," says Franziska Tödter, Product Manager at Biesterfeld Performance Rubber.

Thomas Ballegaard, Group CCO from Genan emphasizes: "The tire industry is the world's largest consumer of rubber. With our recycled and high-quality materials, we show that sustainability and high-performance end products are not opposites. On the contrary. Our aim is to offer recycled materials that can be used as a replacement for virgin materials. In order to guarantee this, we deal with the question of how we can improve the further application possibilities on a daily basis. We are delighted that Biesterfeld is now accompanying us on our journey to make our products better known on the European market for manufacturers of technical elastomer products."

About Genan

The environmental company Genan is one of the largest mechanical recycler of tires in the world. Sustainability is the core value of the Genan Group, and by utilizing the resources of vast amounts of end-of-life tires, Genan helps solve a wide-ranging, global problem.

Genan operates six highly advanced recycling plants in four different countries – counting 320 employees in total worldwide. The annual production capacity of the company totals more than 400,000 tons of tires; and with continuous optimization of production and technology, Genan is constantly striving to run all plants so they are as environmentally friendly and energy-saving as possible.

About Evonik

Evonik is one of the world leaders in specialty chemicals. The company is active in more than 100 countries around the world and generated sales of €15.3 billion and an operating profit (adjusted EBITDA) of €1.66 billion in 2023. Evonik goes far beyond chemistry to create innovative, profitable, and sustainable solutions for customers. More than 33,000 employees work together for a common purpose: "We want to improve life today and tomorrow".

About Biesterfeld Performance Rubber

Biesterfeld Performance Rubber is one of the leading international distributors for the rubber processing industry. The company maintains partnerships with leading global manufacturers and offers technical application expertise and advice as well as customised solutions in the product segments of synthetic rubbers, fillers (carbon black), additives (e.g. anti-ageing agents, accelerators, flame retardants and metal oxides) and customised silicone rubber compounds.

Biesterfeld Performance Rubber is a division of the Biesterfeld Group, one of the world's leading distribution and service companies in the field of plastics, rubber and specialty chemicals. Founded in 1906 in Hamburg, Germany, today the group has more than 1000 employees across 50 locations in Europe, North and South America, Asia and Africa and generates an annual revenue of 1.66 billion EUR (FY 2022). The fully family-owned company operates in the business divisions Biesterfeld Plastic, Biesterfeld Spezialchemie and Biesterfeld Performance Rubber.

Press release by Biesterfeld Group.