Canadian startup turns old tires into new tires in the Netherlands
Canadian startup turns old tires into new tires in the Netherlands Canada-based Tyromer is building a pilot factory in Arnhem to bring its circular rubber products to the European market. Specializing in the devulcanization of rubber from scrap tires, Tyromer will fine-tune and exhibit its recycling technology at its new Dutch facility in order to sell the process to third parties. The company is one of the first in the Netherlands to give this hard-to-process residual product a high-quality new life, making it a valuable addition to the Dutch circular economy. Located at Kleefse Waard Industrial Park (IPKW) in Arnhem, the factory is currently being set up. “We expect to be able to start early in the summer [of 2021],” said Jos van Son, managing director of Tyromer Europe. Tyromer will employ approximately 12 people in Arnhem. “Tyromer has a unique solution to a major problem: mountains of car tire rubber that cannot be reused. Companies such as Tyromer, which have solutions for societal challenges with smart technologies, are a welcome addition to the East Netherlands ecosystem. The fact that Tyromer is establishing itself at IPKW, where many companies are involved with energy and circularity issues, is good news for the activity in our region,” added René Brama, investment manager of Tech at Oost NL. A sustainable product of Mother Nature Tyromer is a perfect fit for the Netherlands’ culture of sustainability. Founded at the University of Waterloo, the startup can create new tires from old ones – turning rubber into a circular product. As a result, the production process requires fewer natural rubbers and fossil fuels. It also saves an additional 94% of energy compared to making “virgin” rubber. In addition, this method reduces CO2 emissions by removing the need to incinerate or combust old rubber. Finally, Tyromer’s process occurs without chemicals or residual waste. “A great deal of ‘waste’ rubber is a product of Mother Nature. It is a durable and strong material. That must not be destroyed,” said van Son. “Tyromer, led by Canadian professor Costas Tzoganakis of the University of Waterloo, invented a way to make new rubber from used car tires (and any other rubbers). As the inventor of the process, Tyromer now sells licenses to compounders, who can then use them themselves. The more companies recycle rubber, the greater the environmental benefit.” Up until recently, recycling rubber was a puzzle for scientists. “Making rubber, also called vulcanization, can be compared to boiling an egg. Once cooked, it is very firm, and you can never reduce it to a raw, liquid egg. With our formula, that is now finally possible with rubber,” Van Son explained. International collaboration gives traction to circular economy At its factory in Arnhem, Tyromer can now convert three sources of rubber into new rubber: natural rubber and synthetic rubber can be obtained from car tires, and industrial rubber can be extracted from, among other things, seals. The company will collaborate on R&D with two Dutch universities to innovate new ways of recycling various rubber sources, thus advancing the Netherlands’ circular ecosystem. “There is still a way of development to be able to recycle other types of rubber in the future and thus save them from the waste mountain. We are going to collaborate with the University of Twente and Windesheim University of Applied Sciences, which have a reputation for polymers and rubbers in particular,” said van Son. Invest in Holland Network helps Tyromer’s Dutch branch come to life Tyromer worked closely with the Invest in Holland Network to find a location in the Netherlands. In addition, because of the project’s contribution to the circular economy and excellent reduction of CO2, Tyromer applied for and was awarded with a Demonstration Energy Innovation (DEI+) subsidy from the Dutch government. “Oost NL brought us into contact with municipalities where we could possibly settle and helped us find the location for the factory. We also received help from Oost NL and the Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency (NFIA) in realizing a Dutch office,” said van Son. Source: Oost NL (Dutch only)
REVYRE has partnered with Tyromer to develop its sustainable process for earthmover tires.
REVYRE HAS PARTNERED WITH TYROMER TO DEVELOP ITS SUSTAINABLE PROCESS FOR EARTHMOVER TIRES. REVYRE has developed a unique and highly efficient way of recycling end-of-life tires while minimizing any environmental impact. When it comes to tires, recycling and disposal have long been a challenging process to perform cost-effectively, efficiently and sustainably. With the current focus on environmentally friendly practices across the globe as it relates to disposal and recycling, the tire industry has also been making significant strides in this field. Recently, Autosphere learned about some new developments on the other side of the world in Australia and New Zealand. In 2020 InfraCo and Energy Estate announced REVYRE—a joint venture partnership designed to address the issue of end-of-life tires in this market. What’s really intriguing is that the REVYRE solution re-purposes a full 100% of tire constituents by a circular process that generates virtually zero emissions and no toxic chemicals or by-products. This technology has been designed to disintegrate most types of tires and recover the rubber compound and scrap materials which can then be re-used to make new tires and other black rubber-sourced products. While the emphasis is currently on the Australia and New Zealand market, the REVYRE solution does have a Canadian connection, as we found out when speaking to CEO Shaun Zukor. REVYRE have formed an alliance and partnership with Tyromer in Canada and RubberJet in Italy to bring the high-water pressure disintegration and devulcanization technologies. together under one roof. We are already opening the first facility in Australia and This will be one of our first sites and then simultaneously that will lead to our second Australian facility in the New South Wales special activation precinct in the Parkes district, and then our third site, which will be one of five locations in New Zealand.
Tyromer again makes Top 10 of Elastomers for Sustainability (E4S) by ERJ
Tyromer again makes Top 10 of Elastomers for Sustainability (E4S) by ERJ LONDON, December 15, 2021 – Tyromer has managed to make the top 10 of European Rubber Journal’s 4th update to their Top 10 Elastomers for Sustainability ranking. The Canadian company is proud to once again be considered amongst some of the largest and most powerful companies in the rubber and polymer industry. Tyromer——Tire to Tire Recycling Tyromer’s devulcanisation technology uses twin-screw extrusion to carefully process ELT rubber crumb and other waste rubber – with encouraging results. Since 2016, a facility within AirBoss Rubber has supplied tire-derived product (TDP) to KAL Tire, which has used it in an OTR retread compound with 20% content. OTR, truck and passenger tires with 15-20% TDP are currently on road trials in North America and Europe and a passenger car tire maker is optimising a tire compound with 30% TDP. A second TDP facility is starting up in Windsor, Ontario, Canada to supply a top American brand. With financial support from the Dutch government, a third TDP plant has been built in The Netherlands to supply a top brand in the EU. In an update for E4S IV, Tyromer reported making “ a ton of progress [this year] as travel has opened up and we were able to get our facilities off the ground.”