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News You Can Use
RTA NEWS YOU CAN USE February 23, 2018 / UPDATED! We'd like you to read an article that has tremendous potential for the benefit of the tire retread and OTR industries / PLEASE CHECK OUT THIS REVISED VERSION OF OUR ARTICLE!
RTA NEWS YOU CAN USE
February 23, 2018
UPDATED VERSION:
PLEASE CHECK OUT THIS REVISED VERSION OF OUR ARTICLE!
To all our of friends at the TIA OTR Conference,
RTA Members and associates:
RTA has been here at the 2018 TIA OTR Conference for the past few days,
and we'd like to share this article that we believe
has tremendous potential for the benefit of the tire retread and OTR industries.
We ask that you please take the time to read this and give us some feedback.
Two RTA members, that we are proud to support, Tyromer, Inc. and AirBoss Rubber Solutions, are collaborating to develop and implement a recycled rubber product, Tire Derived Polymer (TDP), which is currently being used in some of AirBoss' OTR Tires.
Both Tyromer, and AirBoss are here at the conference and can be reached at the contacts listed below the article.
Socially responsible, environmentally sustainable and economically viable, this collaboration is just the beginning of what could be a great benefit for our industries.
_____
Collaboration, success and real-world applications with recycled rubber in OTR tires.
by Jeffrey Parks
Managing Director, Retread Tire Association
Let's take a look at how two companies are succeeding in expanding the economic, and environmental benefits of retreading and recycling to you.
It's very clear that like all commodities, a tire used correctly, maintained properly, retreaded and recycled, is a greater benefit than a tire that is used once and thrown away.
Each year more than 1 billion scrap tires are produced globally. During the average life of a tire, only about 20% of the rubber is used up, leaving a staggering 80% of the tire that needs somewhere to go.
Surprisingly, there are relatively few uses for scrap tires besides retreading and recycling. Passenger tires in North America are retreaded on a very limited basis. We burn nearly half of them for their fuel value.
Besides posing environmental air quality hazards, burning scrap rubber as TDF (Tire Derived Fuel) only recovers a small portion of the energy that went into making the rubber that these tires contain.
Two of our RTA member companies, Tyromer Inc. and AirBoss Rubber Solutions, are pioneering in the production of recycled rubber products in Ontario.
Tyromer Inc., is a company established to commercialize a rubber devulcanization technology to produce TDP, Tire Derived Polymer, by using scrap rubber in a non-chemical, environmentally friendly extrusion process. This TDP recycled product can then be mixed with new tire rubber to create new rubber compounds for retreading.
Under collaboration with the AirBoss Rubber Compounding facility in Kitchener, Ontario, Tyromer implemented its commercial scrap tire rubber crumb devulcanization system, to produce TDP for reuse in OTR tires.
As consumers, we don't always look at the numbers involved with the tires that we use. Let's look at a few facts.
One of the achievements in the TDP compounding process is substantial energy savings. For example, for every ton of Tyromer TDP product used, there is a savings of about 50 tons of greenhouse gas emissions, as opposed to the energy use for producing new, virgin rubber compounds.
Today, in partnership with Tyromer, AirBoss offers its customers an OTR retread compound made with 20% TDP. With a 20% recycled product in the mix, you have reduced the need for just that much new tire rubber. For that 20%, there is tangible energy and cost savings.
For the actual user, such as a truck driver - the properties of the TDP product are solid; the compound is generally very strong and can decrease the tires' rolling resistance for more fuel efficiency.
Also, related to the mileage and efficiency of the tire, TDP can hopefully effect a longer tire life. And obviously, the overall global benefit to the environment is a great gain, by creating new material out of what is now basically considered waste.
To see and appreciate the impact that this devulcanization innovation and TDP (Tire-Derived Polymer) can make, take a look at a video on the home page of Tyromer's website at http://tyromer.com or for more info contact Jon Visaisouk, Tyromer Inc. Director of Strategic Development at jonv@tyromer.com.
_____
We spoke with Chris Bitsakakis, AirBoss Chief Operating Officer, and President of the Rubber Solutions division
RTA: Can you give us a quick overview on the philosophy behind why AirBoss is implementing these or other recycled rubber compound options?
AirBoss: As a company certified under ISO 14001, we have a strong commitment to the environmental impact from our industry and want to provide alternatives to our customers. These products can also offer unique properties to the rubber compound that can yield benefits to the end consumer.
RTA: Has AirBoss been using any other recycled rubber compounds in other applications or just TDP?
AirBoss: We have investigated several other technologies and have come to the conclusion the TDP is the best option for retaining the final properties of the compound.
RTA: Do you anticipate that the success of this collaboration with Tyromer can be significantly useful for other companies or the retread industry in general?
AirBoss: This collaboration will certainly provide value to other companies in the retread and other markets.
RTA: Does AirBoss have any expansion plans to use the TDP in other products besides tires?
AirBoss: AirBoss has several projects in process to use TDP in markets outside of tires.
RTA: According to the info we got from Tyromer, you are using a 20% TDP in the mix. Do you see this as a standard or just a starting point that could increase?
AirBoss: The % used in a compound is relative to the application, therefore just a starting point for development.
We spoke with Sam Visaisouk, CEO of Tyromer
RTA: Can you give us your perspective on what Tyromer has been developing and what you see for the future of the company's collaboration with the retread industry?
Tyromer: As we developed this process for creating a recycled tire derived polymer, we kept two main things in mind. One is that it has to be cheap, because it doesn't matter how good the technology or the product is, if it's not cheap we won't be successful. The second thing for it to work is that it has to be environmentally friendly. So we set out to do that, and I also knew that even if we were successful in making this work, if the tire people don't buy it, there is no market. The tire industry takes up 50% of the global rubber supply. If we can't deliver material that's good enough for the tire industry, it would never work.
RTA: How did you develop your collaboration with AirBoss?
Tyromer: Starting a small company with no rubber experience, the only way we could move forward is through collaboration with industry partners. Fortunately for us, AirBoss is five minutes from the University. So I went to Airboss and I said, "Here's an opportunity where we might be able to make an impact together. Can you can help us?" The previous AirBoss leadership was very supportive, and that support continues now with Chris Bitsakakis, Chief Operating Officer and President of the Rubber Solutions division of the Company.
RTA: How is Tyromer moving forward?
Tyromer: Because of the apprehension on recycled material, we must grow by leveraging success in one area into another. For example, we are working with a major OTR manufacturer to extend the use of TDP beyond retreading.
We will continue to collaborate with the industry. With a global brand, we validated TDP for use in truck and passenger tires in both tread and sidewall applications. We are now commissioning our second facility, in Windsor ON, to supply this customer.
Now if TDP is good enough for new truck tires, there's no reason it can't be used in precure. This allows us to go from OTR retreading into truck retreading.
RTA: So it sounds like you're on the road toward expansion and branching out.
Tyromer: We are planning to set up an operation in California to demonstrate the circular economy business model in which buffing from retread dealers will be used to make TDP to be incorporated into precure. Retreading is scrap prevention – one retread prevents the equivalent generation of six scrap passenger tires. This circular business concept has received very strong support from retread dealers and CalRecyle.
Because scrap tires management is a global problem, our strategy though is to work with partners, and not be everywhere doing it all on our own. For example, we have a licensed operation in China and prospective ones in the US, Turkey and Saudi Arabia.
Both Tyromer, and AirBoss are here at the OTR conference and can be reached at the contacts listed below:
FOR MORE INFO CONTACT:
Jon Visaisouk | Tyromer Inc.
Director, Strategic Development
Tel: 425.444.7615
George Papazotos I AirBoss of America
Sales Director, AirBoss Rubber Solutions
Tel: 519-576-5565 ext. 3095
Mobile: 519-404-7063
And one more thing...
This year's 2018 TIA OTR Conference was once again
a great success, and a fabulous, beautifully produced event.
We Thank the Tire Industry Association for this opportunity to gather,
and we hope to see you all at next year's event.
You can always reach Jeffrey Parks at RTA by phone at 831-620-5345
or email: jeffrey@retreadtire.org
• • •
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
"Learning lessons does not end.
There's no part of life
that doesn't contain it's lessons.
If you're alive,
that means there are still lessons to be learned."
~ Rules for Being Human
RTA: How did you develop your collaboration with AirBoss?
Tyromer: For me, starting a small company with no rubber experience, I knew that the only way we could move forward is through collaboration with partners. For us to go it alone would not be fast enough. Fortunately for us, AirBoss is located in the same area in Canada, five minutes from the University. So I went to AirBoss and I said, "Here's an opportunity where we might be able to make an impact together. Can you can help us?" The previous AirBoss leadership was very supportive, and that support continues now with Chris Bitsakakis, Chief Operating Officer and President of the Rubber Solutions division of the Company. AirBoss has been very supportive in helping us introduce our TDP rubber product to the market.
RTA: How is Tyromer moving forward?
Tyromer: Well, last year, unfortunately the market went down a bit, and we never really got the momentum we needed. However, I was able to connect with another major brand name and we have gone through testing and co-development of our TDP based on tire buffings. This product has been approved for truck and passenger tires in both tread and highway applications, so that gives me the confidence that we can do the same thing with pre-cure. If it's good enough for new truck tires in sidewall and tread, then there's no reason why we can't put 20% into precure. So that's why I approached some Bandag dealers, and then they connected me there. So we took this to Bandag, and we're working now to get some samples for testing, which, if successful, will come up with a whole bunch of possibilities and pre-trials.
RTA: So it sounds like you're on the road toward expansion and branching out.
Tyromer: Yes, but we also know that if this is successful, it could be something very big for the industry. Our strategy though is to continue to work with partners, and not be everywhere doing it all on our own. We also have a licensee in China and now we have our plant opening in Windsor, Ontario. We've had some licensee discussions in Turkey and in Saudi Arabia, so we hope that with support from the retreading organizations in the OTR industry, that we can help the industry to become more competitive against the imports.
Competing with inexpensive imports is a global problem, to be solved only through community action. It can't be overcome by any one person or company.
We would also like to engage with Cal Recycle, the recycling agency for the state of California. Regarding recycling, we believe that prevention is number one. If we can prevent the disposal of one truck tire, it has the value of six passenger tires, so we think they will see the value in supporting this. When we approached them to open the door for us a little bit, they said, maybe they could make an exception but right now, unless you use crumb rubber to make a product for consumer use, we don't qualify for their tire program. Even though we make a material that goes into the tire, it is considered an intermediate material. So again, collectively we can make the difference to develop a range of support. Working together definitely is good for us, good for retreaders, it's good for Bandag and it's good for the state. I think together we can create something significantly beneficial for a good amount for the players in the industry, and work toward our goal of a circular economy through the development and use of Tyromer TDP.
Both Tyromer, and AirBoss are here at the OTR conference and can be reached at the contacts listed below:
FOR MORE INFO CONTACT:
Jon Visaisouk | Tyromer Inc.
Director, Strategic Development
Tel: 425.444.7615
George Papazotos I AirBoss of America
Sales Director, AirBoss Rubber Solutions
Tel: 519-576-5565 ext. 3095
Mobile: 519-404-7063
And one more thing...
This year's 2018 TIA OTR Conference was once again
a great success, and a fabulous, beautifully produced event.
We Thank the Tire Industry Association for this opportunity to gather,
and we hope to see you all at next year's event.
You can always reach Jeffrey Parks at RTA by phone at 831-620-5345
or email: jeffrey@retreadtire.org
• • •
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
"Learning lessons does not end.
There's no part of life
that doesn't contain it's lessons.
If you're alive,
that means there are still lessons to be learned."
~ Rules for Being Human
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phone: 1-831-620-5345
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