News: Tire Recycling & Pyrolysis

Supercars has partnered with Entyr, an Australian specialist in recycling end-of-life tyres by turning them into high-quality raw materials, to convert end-of-life Dunlop racing tyres into high-quality raw materials used to replace virgin resources in manufacturing. Following the Boost Mobile Gold Coast 500 in October, Entyr took delivery of over 400 Dunlop Sport Maxx tyres to be converted using Entyr’s patented thermal processing.

According to ABC News, an Albury business, Carbon MF Pty Ltd, and its director, Mark Fair, were fined nearly $600,000 by the Land and Environment Court for unlawfully accumulating 28,000 end-of-life tyres near Albury Airport. Court records revealed that Carbon MF accepted payment to receive around 22,000 4WD tyres, 45,000 car tyres, and 12,000 truck tyres but failed to comply with an Environment Protection Authority (EPA) clean-up notice. The EPA emphasized the fire hazard these stockpiled tyres posed, highlighting the potential risk to residents and air traffic. Carbon MF Pty Ltd, now in liquidation, faces consequences for environmental negligence.

A new player in the tire recycling market, the company Retyre, offers a fresh approach to material recovery. According to the article by Tyre and Rubber Recycling magazine, while water jetting technology is not a novelty, Retyre's process stands out for its compact, efficient, and portable design, fitting into a 20ft container. Although the intricate details of the technology are not fully disclosed, a preview of the pre-production unit by Tyre and Rubber Recycling substantiates Retyre's claims. The output, known as ActivR™, comprises activated rubber and clean steel, with textile removal in the classifier process.

The IRC2023 (International Rubber Conference 2023) concluded successfully in Haikou, China, from November 7th to 9th, 2023. Liqun Zhang, the chairman of IRC2023, hosted the opening ceremony and highlighted the significance of low-carbon and intelligent technologies in the rubber industry. The event attracted over 1,000 delegates from 20 countries. During the opening ceremony on November 7th, 12 presentations were delivered at the main theater, featuring academic achievements in areas such as rubber technology innovation, bio-based materials, special functional materials, natural rubber substitutes, and the rubber recycling economy.

Fornnax Technology, a renowned pioneering force in the industry of tyre recycling solutions, has yet again demonstrated its commitment to excellence by attaining the prestigious Best Tyre Recycling Industry Supplier Award at the Recircle Awards 2023. The award ceremony, a highlight of the Futurmotive Expo & Talks Event held in Bologna, Italy on Thursday, November 16, 2023, celebrated industry leaders and innovators contributing significantly to sustainable practices in the tire recycling sector.

TRS Tyres Recycling Sud, in collaboration with Rub-Lab and Ecopneus, has unveiled a new asphalt stretch at its Balvano plant, constructed using rubber powder derived from end-of-life tires (ELT). The Rubberap project, a joint initiative, showcases an innovative and sustainable use of resources, promising enhanced safety, environmental sustainability, and optimal mechanical performance. The specially engineered powder, derived from recycled rubber, improves compatibility with bitumen, requiring no adaptation of asphalt plants or specific machinery for paving. This technology has been successfully tested in municipal road sections, emphasizing its eco-performance, superior resistance to traffic stresses, and long-lasting acoustic and mechanical benefits.

Pyrum Innovations AG (Pyrum) – a pioneering company that sustainably recycles used tires with its globally patented, unique pyrolysis technology – has once again demonstrated the sustainability of its business model proven. A scientific study by the Fraunhofer Institute recently published in the renowned journal “Resources, Conservation and Recycling” shows that Pyrum's pyrolysis process offers significant CO2 savings compared to conventional methods.

Porous Lane, a pioneering venture led by Associate Professor Mahdi Disfani and Dr Amir Mehdizadeh, is revolutionizing the pavement and construction industry in Australia by transforming used tires from landfills into robust and permeable pavements. This technology aims to create flood-resistant cities, enhance water quality, and divert waste from landfills. The founders, supported by the University of Melbourne's Translating Research at Melbourne (TRAM) programs, participated in the 2019 TRAM Track and are currently part of the 2023 TRAM Air cohort, focusing on refining their venture's investibility.

At its Board meeting of 9 November, ETRMA Members elected Chris Delaney of Goodyear as President of the Association for a two-year term of office starting on 1 January 2024. Mr Delaney is President EMEA of the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company and currently serves on the Board of ETRMA. Dr Ralf Holschumacher of the German Rubber Industry Association (WDK) was elected Vice President at the meeting.