GREENVILLE, S.C.—Michelin is marking its 10th anniversary of doing business with Lehigh Technologies Inc., the Tucker, Ga.-based manufacturer of micronized rubber powders from recycled rubber.
Lehigh, which Michelin acquired in October, is a key player in Michelin's Sustainable Mobility plan that includes an aim to manufacture tires made with 80 percent recycled materials by 2048. The tire maker also previously said it hopes to have 100 percent of its tires recycled by the same year.
"Michelin and our customers will continue to benefit from the implementation of this closed-loop approach, where tires are recycled into tires," said Gary Scheide, who holds responsibility for materials manufacturing for Michelin North America Inc.
Lehigh's proprietary technology converts rubber into high-technology powders that can be incorporated into retread compounds for better performance. It now is part of Michelin's High Technology Materials Business Unit, supporting the Greenville-based tire maker's Sustainable Mobility program.
"Michelin North American retread facilities are zero-waste operations as a result of this closed-loop model," the company said. "This circular economy approach to waste avoidance reduces carbon dioxide load and delivers economic advantages to the company."
Besides their usefulness in retread compounds, Lehigh's MRP replace oil- and rubber-based feedstocks in a wide range of industrial and consumer applications, according to Michelin. These include high-performance tires, plastics, consumer goods, coatings, sealants, construction materials and asphalt.