CATEGORY - SUSTAINABLE MANUFACTURING
29 Jul 2024
Developments that most significantly reduce plant emissions and usage of energy, water and other resources
ERJ readers are invited to identify, and comment on, entries they believe to be of particular significance for the industry. Your emailed feedback will guide our selection of the winners in each category, to be published in ERJ Sept/Oct 2024 issue.
Ecombine
Liquid-phase rubber mixing technology
The advanced liquid-phase mixing, enables the production of rubber compounds which ‘can be directly used in final mixing processes and so eliminate the need for multi-stage mixing,’ largely by by enhancing dispersion of fillers as well as filler-polymer interaction. The technology is said to significantly improve the rolling-resistance, wet-braking, and wear-resistance of tires and deliver a 35% reduction in total energy consumption across the production-chain.
ERJ report... / More details to follow...
Hankook
C.L.E.A.R. (Circular. Low-Emission. Advanced. Renewable)
The Korean tire maker has taken a root & branch approach to minimising the carbon footprint of its manufacturing processes: including its initiation of a tire-to-tire (T2T) circular economy consortium of ten global companies and three institutes. Among a range of outcomes to date, Hankook has reported: An agreement with KKPC for developing eco-SSBR using recycled styrene monomer, with the goal of commercial use in tires by 2026; Development of sustainable carbon black using 100% tire pyrolysis oil: and Collaboration with SK Chemicals and Hyosung Advanced Materials, whereby tire cord based on chemically recycled PET was developed and applied to a premium EV tire ‘iON’.
Hankook FTR Awards entry details... /
Klockner Desma
Carbon footprint app for rubber injection moulders
Fridingen, Germany-based Desma has introduced an app that provides a detailed overview of the factors that determine the product carbon footprint PCF of rubber mouldings. The PCF Navigator Ecos also shows which measures can be used to achieve specific reduction effects “thus making an important contribution to understanding the connection between all influencing factors” across a wide range of elastomer types.
ERJ report... / More details to follow...
Siemens
SiGreen dynamic carbon footprint measurement tool
Siemens has developed this innovative management tool to enable dynamic PCF management across tire manufacturing operations. Called SiGreen, the system is designed to enable the industry to manage its PCF more effectively via a system that allows for frequent and pro-active updates of PCF data – including quantifying improvements by suppliers. Tire makers can, therefore, gain access to dynamic PCF calculations – towards accelerating the decarbonisation of their own operations as well of their supply-chains.
Siemens SiGreen presentation... / ERJ report... / More details to follow...
