Dayco sustainable rubber project to recover discarded automotive belts

Roseville, Michigan – Dayco has launched an R&D project to advance the circular economy by reusing devulanised rubber in the design of components and in production processes.

Under the 36-month project, the US automotive supplier is to deliver two key objectives via a collaboration between its R&D department and Chieti plant, in southern Italy.

Dayco's initiative will look to reduce the percentage of elastomers from the traditional supply-chain used in its manufacturing processes.

This, the company said 28 Nov, will be achieved by mixing secondary raw materials with the virgin raw materials in the finished product’s final composition.

A second “more ambitious” objective, said Dayco, involves collaboration with vehicle service facilities for the recovery of the belts replaced during routine schedule service.

“These rubber components, after fulfilling required function and durability specification, can have a second life,” said the US supplier.

They can, for example, be recycled in a different class of products, which will naturally reduce the impact on the environment.