Regarding the current state-of-the-art of tyre recycling technologies, the European legislation, the potential market and our technical and human capabilities, after the feasibility study we have concluded to continue with RETYRE project as it has been proven to be a competitive and unique solution for the effective recycling and valorisation of tyre rubber. We have found that not only RPP product and our technology will be a good business, but also RRM is a potential to be commercialized.
During the Feasibility Study GT has clarified different approaches to commercialize RETYRE depending on the targeted customers and end-users. After the industrial scale-up of the existing prototype (350kg/h), to a DEMO plant of 2,000 t/y, GT will upgrade the pilot to have a capacity production of 5.000 t/y of RRP, which will be sold directly to the tyre production sector. Apart from this, GT will commercialize RETYRE technology through license agreements and manufacturing RETYRE plants for the principal waste-tyre management sectors: Tyre recovering sector, Re-processing sector, Granulating sector and Tyre production sector.
The targeted end-users of RETYRE (both technology and RRP) will have at least one of the following qualities:
Based in Eastern Europe (with potential for improving ELTs recovery rate), Central-Europe, UK or Turkey
Established waste recovery/processing/recycling company
Business strategy focused on eco-innovative production
RETYRE will significantly increase the value of end-user’s output products. Economic benefits will be gained through improved purity of rubber crumb, low-wear of mechanical parts of the shredding equip-ment, faster ELTs recycling time and increased materials recovery. The use of recycled rubber as a raw material will reduce the dependence of the virgin rubber, so it will improve the competitiveness of the companies. With established supply chains of waste tyres, end-users will have clear advantage over start-ing productions as the input material is limited, which will allow to expand their markets.
Savings in raw materials: Currently, natural rubber is traded at 1700€/ton on the global market. Assuming 30% by weight of the rubber is replaced with RRP, this will make a saving of 350€/ton in addition to savings with regard to transport/shipment, material handling and storage. Moreover, replacing solid rubber with waste powder will reduce energy needs for mixing rubber compounds considerably.