Zeppelin to build tire recycling plant in Indiana

The plant will recover carbon black for Pyrolyx AG.


Zeppelin Group GmbH, based near Munich, says it is building a tire recycling plant in Terre Haute, Indiana, that will recover carbon black from old tires for its long-term partner Munich-based Pyrolyx AG. The groundbreaking took place in Terre Haute Aug. 22, 2017, and construction starts on the plant Sept. 5.

Zeppelin is taking on the planning and execution of the overall plant, which has a value of roughly $30 million, the company says. The order value is approximately $17.6 million.

“We are delighted to be supporting Pyrolyx in tire production with our expertise as a market leader in the plant engineering sector, as well as planning the entire plant and acting as general contractor,” says Guido Veit, business unit manager, plastics and rubber plants, at the Zeppelin Group. “This means that Zeppelin Group is also making an important contribution to the responsible handling of natural resources.”

The tire recycling plant at Terre Haute is expected to produce approximately 12,900 tons of rCB, as well as pyrolysis oil and steel. The plant will recycle nearly 4 million old tires every year. Compared with traditional carbon black production, there will be a saving of approximately 2.5 tons of CO2 per ton of rCB produced.

Pyrolyx says the site in Indiana was chosen because of favorable logistics as well as the support of the city of Terre Haute. Once fully operational, the facility will employ 55 full-time staff. Following the plant’s completion, Pyrolyx will be the first producer of rCB in the world to have two international production sites.

Niels Raeder, CEO of the Pyrolyx Group, says, “By building its second plant now in the USA, the Pyrolyx Group is emphasizing its global expansion plans. The increase in its production capacity will uniquely allow Pyrolyx to meet the growing demand for recovered carbon black. Even before construction begins, we have signed long-term purchase contracts for Pyrolyx rCB. As a result, we can look to the future with a great deal of optimism."

“Our objective in the plant engineering business area is not only to build plants for tire production but also to usefully supply these tires for further processing at the end of their useful life,” says Axel Kiefer, head of the plant engineering strategic business unit.

In addition, Peter Gerstmann, chairman of the management board of Zeppelin, says: “Sustainable economic activity is securely anchored in the Zeppelin Group strategy. Solutions should make a decisive contribution to resolving one of the world’s most significant environmental problems.”

Zeppelin, together with Pyrolyx AG, has developed a process through which carbon black can be recovered from old tires. The process uses pyrolysis to decompose shredded tires down to raw materials, and high-value carbon black is created, the company says. The recovered carbon black can be used to produce new tires.

The Pyrolyx technology also releases oil and gas. The gas released by the process can be used in gas engines, supplying most of the energy needed for the process itself. The oil can be purified and recycled using various other methods. Valuable steel is also recovered from the tires.

Pyrolyx and Zeppelin have been working together for almost nine years. 

Get curated news on YOUR industry.

Enter your email to receive our newsletters.

Loading...