Swiss Solution for End-of-Life Tires

Swiss company Tyre Recycling Solutions SA (TRS) will use the compounding technology of Swiss manufacturer BUSS to transform powder products obtained from recycled end-of-life tires into compounds at an industrial scale.

According to TRS, its performance materials – which require a specific, proprietary compounding process of TPE (Thermoplastic elastomers) and TPU (Thermoplastic polyurethane) based resins with recycled rubber powder – “bring a truly green transformation to a wide range of applications – from gaskets, logistics, automotive and construction industry to footwear and 3D printing”.

After extensive market and technology research, the company chose the COMPEO compounding technology from BUSS for its “unique combination of powerful, low shear mixing with a conical discharge pump (CDP) unit for pressure build-up”. As reported, the manufacturer’s technical expertise in the handling of elastomers and the possibility of pilot scale production campaigns at its Campus in Pratteln has helped Tyre Recycling Solution with the development and evaluation of its new products until the commissioning of its own compounding plant in early 2022.

“Both companies are working closely together to grow the product platform globally and install further compounding plants within the TRS licensing universe,” a press release informed. “The successful implementation of this ground-breaking innovation represents a true, ecologically sound solution to remove the >1.5 billion scrap tires discarded every year worldwide. In some countries, scrap tires still end up in landfills and are often burnt, creating toxic smoke and contaminants leeching into the environment. By compounding the powder from waste car and truck tires obtained by TRS technology into TPE/TPU resins, not only the tire waste is recycled, but performant sustainable materials are generated which add value in a wide range of applications.”

www.busscorp.com
www.trs-ch.com/en

(Published in GLOBAL RECYCLING Magazine 3/2022, Page 37, Photo: O. Kürth)