Ecore expands offerings with purchase of 360 Tire Recycling Group

LANCASTER, Pa.—What started out as a friendly partnership grew into something much more substantial as Ecore International completed its acquisition of 360 Tire Recycling Group in April. The new division is known as Ecore 360.

Before the purchase—for which terms were not released—360 Tire Recycling Group branded itself as a tire recycling management company. The two companies developed a strategic partnership in 2022, but as the two parties came to know more about each other, something more permanent seemed beneficial, said Trey Bennett, Ecore 360 general manager and former 360 Tire Recycling Group CEO.

"Once we learned more about their philosophies (in the industry) and what their goals were, we just thought it was a natural fit," Bennett told Rubber News. "As we chatted more with (Ecore CEO Art Dodge) about the circular economy view they had, it was clear we both shared the same beliefs and interest in keeping tires out of landfills."

The initial strategic partnership made sense because of the heavy emphasis both companies place on truck tire feed stock. The former 360 Tire Recycling Group, with 2022 revenues of about $15 million, was "85-percent focused" on truck tire feed stock, according to Bennett. The company was looking to expand its platform with more of a vertical downstream emphasis on new business before the strategic shift toward Ecore.

"We have been selling raw feedstock so we can put it back into the marketplace for many years," said Bennett, one of the partners who started 360 nearly 15 years ago.

The acquisition strengthens Lancaster-based Ecore's position in tire and buffings collection, while aiding in the procurement of raw materials for the company's flooring and surfacing products, according to a company news release. Its leadership also hopes the move will elevate both the Ecore 360 brand as leaders in the world's transition to a circular rubber economy.

"360 Tire's commitment to providing an environmentally responsible, one-stop recycling effort for its customers aligns perfectly with Ecore's vision of a planet free of rubber waste," Dodge said in a statement.

Ecore was founded more than four decades ago, and since then has been transforming rubber waste and upcycling more than 100 million pounds annually. The company uses recycled rubber to create more than 1,500 different products, including high-performance flooring, pour-in-place playgrounds, athletic fields, mulch trails and more.

"It was not our original intent to look for an (acquiring) partner, but that's what happened," Bennett said, citing Ecore's deep bench of expertise and capabilities and its commitment toward tire sustainability.

As a result, 360 Tire Recycling Group's nearly 80 employees have all transferred to the Ecore 360 division. All three facilities formerly owned by 360 Tire Recycling Group are part of the acquisition as well, he said. Those facilities include production facilities in Caddo Mills and Mexia, Texas, and a recycling facility in Greenville, Texas.

360 Tire Recycling Group has been a provider and recycler in the truck stop and retreading industry since 2009, while building a dedicated expertise in end-of-life tire sourcing and handling. Now under the Ecore 360 brand, the company will focus on multiple touch points, including scrap tire rehauling and processing, buffing collection, and casing and used tire sales. The end goal is to provide customers with a sustainable, circular process for converting reclaimed rubber.

The former 360 Tire Recycling Group brings significant logistics experience and direct logistics knowledge to Ecore. It owns 630 trailers and more than 30 semi-trucks, covering a 10-state region of the Southeast U.S. Additionally, the 360 team provides full maintenance for vehicles and related machinery.

Previously, Ecore had outsourced both logistics and maintenance, Bennett said. The acquisition also will allow Ecore to take full advantage of an expanded range of products, including turf for playgrounds and athletic fields. The Ecore 360 division collectively brings a strong background in dealing with heavy asphalt as well.

Ecore will benefit from retailer relationships built by Bennett and fellow leaders at 360 Tire Recycling Group. Those include Love's Travels Stops, TA Travel Centers, Southern Tire Mart and others.

"Synergistically, Ecore-360 Tire Recycling Group will be able to better serve customers with more efficient transportation times through our state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Ozark, Ala.," Dodge said. "Joining forces with such a major player in the truck tire supply chain also expands our partnership opportunities with retreaders and scrap tire generators to form sustainable, closed-loop solutions."

Bennett hopes that Ecore 360 will be able to expand capacity at its Mexia plant to help develop a broader footprint in the Texas market for crumb rubber applications on playgrounds and athletic fields. The division also will be a support mechanism for inbound feedstock and logistics for Ecore's 245,000-sq.-ft. plant in Ozark. That manufacturing facility sits on 32 acres of land and provides room for future expansion.

"We want to act in concert with Ecore for spreading our brand and creating new opportunities to serve our customer base in the Southeast," Bennett said.