The recycling of Off-The-Road (OTR) tyres is one of the tyre industry's toughest challenges, mainly due to the size and complexity of these heavy-duty tyres. OTR tyres are built for rugged use in mining, construction, and agriculture, making them durable—but difficult to recycle.
The tyre recycling market was valued at USD 6 billion in 2023 and is forecast to grow to USD 8.21 billion by 2032, according to market data. Despite this growth, only around 50% of tyres are currently recycled, leaving a significant proportion destined for landfills or incineration. This trend poses long-term environmental risks and increases the need for more efficient recycling solutions.
Fornnax Technology, a manufacturer of tyre recycling equipment, has highlighted how size reduction technology plays a crucial role in making OTR tyre recycling commercially viable and environmentally beneficial.
The company’s Crumb Rubber Production Line breaks down large OTR tyres into valuable, reusable materials such as crumb rubber, rubber mulch, and tyre-derived fuel.
Fornnax’s recycling system uses a three-stage process designed to maximise output purity while ensuring operational efficiency:
■ Primary shredding: The process starts with the SR-Series primary shredder, which cuts whole OTR tyres into strips approximately 50mm wide and 300mm long. Oversized strips are automatically recirculated for reprocessing.
■ Secondary shredding: Next, the R-Series secondary shredder reduces the tyre strips further into 20-30mm steel-free rubber mulch. Ferrous metals are separated out using magnets.
■ Granulation: In the final stage, the TR-Series granulator downsizes the rubber mulch into 0.8-4mm granules. Steel and textile residues are removed, delivering rubber granules with up to 99.9% purity.
Fornnax says its system can process a variety of waste tyres without the need for specific size or type limitations. The size reduction technology allows for multiple end products:
■ Tyre shreds (50-300mm): Used in civil engineering as tyre-derived aggregate.
■ Tyre shreds (50-80mm): Suitable for tyre-derived fuel in cement kilns, pulp mills, or power plants.
■ Steel-free rubber mulch (12-30mm): Used in landscaping, playgrounds, civil engineering, and pyrolysis.
■ Rubber granules (0.8-4mm): Used in sports surfaces, road construction, rubber mats, reclaimed rubber sheets, and automotive parts.
While OTR tyre recycling remains a challenge, companies like Fornnax are helping to make the process more efficient, turning a significant environmental issue into an economic opportunity.
What is the challenge in OTR tyre recycling?
OTR tyres are large, complex, and highly durable, making them difficult to recycle compared to standard passenger or truck tyres.
Why is the market for OTR tyre recycling growing?
The tyre recycling market is expected to grow from USD 6 billion in 2023 to USD 8.21 billion by 2032, with increased demand for recycled rubber products.
How does Fornnax’s technology help?
Fornnax offers a three-stage size reduction process that breaks down OTR tyres into valuable materials like tyre shreds, steel-free rubber mulch, and crumb rubber.
What can the recycled materials be used for?
Applications include tyre-derived fuel, playground surfacing, civil engineering, reclaimed rubber products, and road construction.
What is the purity level of the final crumb rubber product?
Fornnax claims up to 99.9% purity in its crumb rubber output.
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