Marking a journey of 59 years since its establishment in 1965, Aeolus Tyres counts itself as an OTR pioneer in China. Indeed, Aeolus reports that it produced the country’s first bias giant OTR tubeless tyre (36.00-51) and currently has the capacity to product radial giant tyres with specifications that includes 27.00R49, 33.00R51, 46/90R57, 50/80R57 and 53/80R63.
Bridgestone Corporation has introduced a new mining solution service that uses a proprietary, Bridgestone-developed algorithm to estimate tyre durability. It first introduced this offering in July 2023 to the BHP Group’s Spence copper mine (Pampa Norte operation) in Chile, which also uses the service to propose the optimal timing for tyre timing as well as driving routes for the mine.
Aeolus has set up two new subsidiaries in Chile and Indonesia to be responsible for tyre import and export and wholesale. Tyrepress China learned that the tyre manufacturer wants to “adapt to the needs of strategic planning and business development, promote the company’s exchanges and cooperation with the international market, continuously expand business fields, accelerate the process of internationalisation, and enhance international competitiveness.”
Kal Tire’s Mining Tire Group reports that its mining tyre recycling plant in Chile has gained International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC) PLUS certification, verifying it meets the circular materials standards for reclaimed oil, carbon black and syngas using a mass balance chain of custody approach. It thus becomes one of just a handful of mining tyre recycling facilities in the world to generate outputs that are 100 per cent ISCC PLUS compliant.
To meet growing demand for mining tyre recycling and recycled rubber products, specifically carbon black and rCB, Kal Tire’s Mining Tire Group and Mitsui & Co. have entered into a joint venture commercialise the Kal Tire thermal conversion recycling facility in Chile from early 2023. Activities there will act as a “foundation” as the venture pursues “opportunities to bring OTR tyre recycling solutions to mining regions around the world.”
Earlier this year, Michelin Group and Scandinavian Enviro Systems announced they were building a facility for extracting raw materials such as carbon black, oil, steel and gas from end-of-life tyres, with Michelin holding 90 per cent equity in the Antofagasta, Chile-based joint venture. Michelin has selected Italian tyre recycling solution provider Salvadori Srl to supply and install the plant’s downsizing system, and also to train local staff in its operation. The plant will use Salvadori’s technology to reduce tyres into pieces of predetermined dimensions before further processing them.
Kal Tire reports that a full start-up is imminent at its new off-the-road (OTR) tyre recycling facility in Antofagasta, Chile. One of two thermal conversion reactors has completed commissioning and is now undergoing full load tests to process 20,000 kg of tyres, the equivalent of five 63-inch tyres. Commissioning of the facility’s second reactor is nearly complete and full production in sight.
Michelin is investing US$30 million in building its first tyre recycling plant in the world in Chile. The project is the result of Michelin’s ongoing collaboration with Enviro, a Swedish company that has developed a patented technology to recover carbon black, oil, steel and gas from end-of-life tyres.
Located in Chile’s Antofagasta region, the plant will be able to recycle 30,000 tons of earthmover tyres a year, or nearly 60 per cent of such tyres scrapped every year nationwide. Work will begin this year, with production scheduled to get underway in 2023.
ITRS has established permanent representation in Chile and the possible development of a Chilean subsidiary. According to the company, Jonathon Orellana is to lead the Chilean and surrounding countries market development as ITRS new technical advisor.
Kal Tire reports that its Mining Tire Group has opened a new off-the-road (OTR) tyre retread and repair facility in Antofagasta, Chile.
At the end of May, Goodyear Tire & Rubber shared details of its plans to increase its consumer tyre capacity in the Americas by 12 million units a year between 2013 and 2019 by erecting a new factory and upgrading existing plants. Further details on these projects have been published by “agência latinapress”; on 27 June, it reported Goodyear’s Latin American region president Jamie Szulc as saying the tyre maker is looking at sites in Brazil, Columbia, Mexico and the US for its greenfield facility, which will have an annual capacity of 6 million tyres. Szulc is also quoted as saying that investments in Goodyear plants in Venezuela, Peru and Columbia are on the cards.
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Aeolus
Michelin; Enviro
ITRS