News: Tire Recycling & Pyrolysis

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.

This week, Tyrecycle's recycling facility in East Rockingham, located 40 kilometers south of Perth, received its first delivery of off-the-road (OTR) tyres from Alcoa’s mining operations.

Tyros B.V., a start-up specializing in end-of-life tire recycling, is set to launch a 2-hectare pyrolysis plant at the Port of Ostend, Belgium. Backed by €1 million in strategic ecological support from the Flanders regional government, the company is investing in an electric pyrolysis reactor capable of processing 9,125 tonnes of rubber granulate annually into recovered carbon black, pyrolysis oil, and syngas.

The German Tyre Retail and Vulcanisation Trade Association (BRV) has revised its general terms and conditions (AGB) recommendations for the first time since 2021, introducing key updates relevant to tire dealers, particularly in the retreaded tire sector. One major change is the elimination of the shortened one-year statute of limitations for retreaded tires.

Bolder Industries, a leading innovator in circular-economy solutions for rubber, plastic, and petrochemical industries, has secured a strategic investment from Tiger Infrastructure Partners. The funding will support Bolder’s expansion, including the construction of new tire recycling facilities in the U.S. and Europe.

Prism Worldwide, a leader in innovative material solutions that is dedicated to advancing end-of-life tire recycling technology, and Sherwood Industries, a family-owned sheet extruder of thermoplastics, today announced a partnership to introduce Prism’s sustainable thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs) into extruded TPE sheets. Extruded TPE rubber sheets are widely used across multiple industries, including automotive, where they serve as materials for bin mats, mud flaps, and wheel well protectors. They are also used in household products, appliances, toys, and other everyday items such as tread grips, sporting goods, and tool drawer liners.

Emissions Analytics’ inaugural Tyre Emissions & Sustainability USA conference took place in Irvine, California, in May 2024. The Conference welcomed leaders from both industry and academia to share their insights and perspectives regarding how we tackle the challenge of developing tyres with less environmental impact. Tyres are essential for our society to function. How do we produce tyres that are well designed enough to minimise polluting tyre wear but constituted in way to be easy to recycle? How can the tyre industry become more sustainable while delivering tyres to consumers at an affordable price?

PCBL Chemical Limited is advancing its growth strategy through major capacity expansions and investments across its business segments. The company recently secured 116 acres of land in Naidupeta, Andhra Pradesh, to establish its sixth manufacturing facility. The site will accommodate 400,000-450,000 metric tonnes per annum (MTPA) of carbon black production, with the first phase set to add 150,000 MTPA at an estimated cost of INR 9.5-9.6 billion over 2-2.5 years. Its strategic location near Kattupalli and Krishnapatnam ports will enhance logistics efficiency.

The carbon black market in Asia is facing price declines due to weakening demand and lower feedstock costs. Rising energy prices and geopolitical uncertainties have contributed to market instability, reducing manufacturers' profit margins. A significant slowdown in the automotive sector, a key consumer of carbon black, has further impacted demand.