Skip to main content
Sister Publication Links
  • Rubber News
  • European Rubber Journal
Subscribe
  • Login
  • Register
  • Subscribe
  • Current Issue
  • News
    • OPINION
    • BUSINESS/FINANCIAL
    • COMMERCIAL TIRE
    • GOVERNMENT & LAW
    • Humanitarian Award
    • RETAIL TIRES
    • SERVICE ZONE
    • TIRE MAKERS
    • Best Places to Work
    • RUSSIA WAR IN UKRAINE
  • Aligning with ADAS
  • Data
    • DATA STORE
  • Custom
    • SPONSORED CONTENT
  • Events
    • ASK THE EXPERT
    • LIVESTREAMS
    • WEBINARS
    • SEMA LIVESTREAMS
  • Resources
    • DIRECTORY
    • CLASSIFIEDS
    • SHOP FLOOR
    • AWARDS
    • BALANCING
    • DEMOUNTING
    • SAFETY
    • TIRE REPAIR
    • TPMS
    • TRAINING
    • VEHICLE LIFTING
    • WHEEL TORQUE
    • Best Places to Work
  • ADVERTISE
  • DIGITAL EDITION
MENU
Breadcrumb
  1. Home
  2. News
June 27, 2018 02:00 AM

Michelin cites Lehigh as critical retread business supplier

Tire Business Staff
  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Share
  • Email
  • More
    Print

    GREENVILLE, S.C. — Michelin North America Inc.'s drive to increase the "sustainable material" content of its tires includes its retread business, where over the past decade it's been incorporating recycled powdered rubber into the tread rubber used by its licensed retreaders.

    During that time, Michelin has worked with Lehigh Technologies L.L.C., the Tucker, Ga.-based producer of what it calls "Micronized Rubber Powders" (MRP), which Michelin acquired last October as part of its drive toward more sustainability.

    Lehigh now is a part of Michelin's High Technology Materials business unit, which supports the company's sustainable mobility vision and its ambition to recycle 100 percent of its tires by 2048.

    Lehigh's proprietary croyogenic-based technology converts rubber materials into a high technology powder that can be incorporated in new retread compounds offering higher levels of performance, Michelin said.

    Michelin did not comment specifically on the recycled content of tread rubber it produces, but said at the recent Movin'On sustainability conference in Montreal that on average its tires contain 28 percent sustainable materials — 26 percent bio-sourced materials like natural rubber, sunflower oil, limonene etc., and 2 percent recycled materials such as steel or recycled powdered tires.

     

    In general, Lehigh's PolyDyne and MicroDyne MRP products replace oil- and rubber-based feedstocks in industrial and consumer applications, including high-performance tires, plastics, consumer goods, coatings, sealants, construction materials and asphalt, Michelin said.

    The company plans to be the global leader in using MRP in new tires. By working with Lehigh, Michelin ensures that supply chain efficiencies are maximized and that the specification of the materials fits the performance requirements of the retread compounds.

    "Michelin and our customers will continue to benefit from the implementation of this closed-loop approach, where tires are recycled into tires, with Lehigh Technologies," according to Gary Scheide, responsible for materials manufacturing for Michelin North America.

    "The Lehigh team is a great partner and a reliable supplier to our plants in North America. We look forward to working together to advance our sustainable manufacturing processes as we further incorporate Lehigh's expertise within the Michelin Group."

    Michelin North American said its retread business unit facilities — tread rubber plants in Covington, Ga., and Asheboro, N.C., primarily — are zero-waste operations as a result of this closed-loop model. This circular economy approach to waste avoidance reduces carbon dioxide load and delivers economic advantages, the company said.

    To support the adoption of MRP in Europe, Michelin is working with Lehigh to build a 10,000-metric-ton per year facility in Navarra, Spain, with commissioning scheduled for this summer.

    Letter
    to the
    Editor

    Do you have an opinion about this story? Do you have some thoughts you'd like to share with our readers? Tire Business would love to hear from you. Email your letter to Editor Don Detore at [email protected].

    Most Popular
    1
    Michelin worker dies at Nova Scotia tire plant
    2
    Judge slashes damages in Toyo-Atturo 'trade-dress' lawsuit
    3
    Yokohama to raise U.S. prices on car, truck tires
    4
    Sun Auto Tire adds first locations in Oregon
    5
    OSHA levies 'serious' violations against Conti after worker injuries
    SIGN UP FOR NEWSLETTERS
    EMAIL ADDRESS

    Please enter a valid email address.

    Please enter your email address.

    Please verify captcha.

    Please select at least one newsletter to subscribe.

    Newsletter Center

    Staying current is easy with Tire Business delivered straight to your inbox.

    SUBSCRIBE TODAY

    Subscribe to Tire Business

    SUBSCRIBE
    Connect with Us
    • Facebook
    • LinkedIn
    • Twitter
    • RSS

    Our Mission

    Tire Business is an award-winning publication dedicated to providing the latest news, data and insights into the tire and automotive service industries.

    Reader Services
    • Staff
    • About Us
    • Site Map
    • Industry Sites
    • Order Reprints
    • Customer Service: 877-320-1716
    Partner Sites
    • Rubber News
    • European Rubber Journal
    • Automotive News
    • Plastics News
    • Urethanes Technology
    RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Privacy Policy
    • Privacy Request
    • Terms of Service
    • Media Guide
    • Editorial Calendar
    • Classified Rates
    • Digital Edition
    • Careers
    • Ad Choices Ad Choices
    Copyright © 1996-2022. Crain Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    • News
      • OPINION
      • BUSINESS/FINANCIAL
      • COMMERCIAL TIRE
      • GOVERNMENT & LAW
      • Humanitarian Award
      • RETAIL TIRES
      • SERVICE ZONE
      • TIRE MAKERS
      • Best Places to Work
      • RUSSIA WAR IN UKRAINE
    • Aligning with ADAS
    • Data
      • DATA STORE
    • Custom
      • SPONSORED CONTENT
    • Events
      • ASK THE EXPERT
      • LIVESTREAMS
      • WEBINARS
      • SEMA LIVESTREAMS
    • Resources
      • DIRECTORY
      • CLASSIFIEDS
      • SHOP FLOOR
        • BALANCING
        • DEMOUNTING
        • SAFETY
        • TIRE REPAIR
        • TPMS
        • TRAINING
        • VEHICLE LIFTING
        • WHEEL TORQUE
      • AWARDS
        • Best Places to Work
    • ADVERTISE
    • DIGITAL EDITION