Zeppelin Systems and ReOil are to build a first-class tyre recycling plant in Poland
Zeppelin Systems has been a reliable plant engineering partner for the rubber and tyre industry for decades. On the path to a sustainable future for plant engineering, the company launched the Zeppelin Sustainable Tire Alliance in March 2023 to cooperate with international partners on shaping the future of tyre production and tyre recycling in a more environmentally friendly manner. One of the members of this technology alliance is the Polish company ReOil, which built Europe’s largest pyrolysis plant for the recycling of old tyres in 2015. Since then, ReOil has recycled around 20,000 tons of old tires annually. Zeppelin Systems was awarded the engineering contract for the construction of a second ReOil pyrolysis plant. Construction is scheduled to start in February 2024. After the completion of the gigantic plant, around 60,000 tons of old tyres are to be returned to the sustainable circular economy every year.
ReOil, said to be Europe’s largest pyrolysis plant operator, works in the field of raw material recycling. The company uses continuous pyrolysis to break down rubber from old tyres into gas, oil and recovered Carbon Black (rCB).
The recycled materials obtained are reused, for example, in the manufacture of textiles, new tyres, rubber components, plastics, steel or aviation fuel.
After commissioning in 2015 and initial test runs, ReOil has recycled around 70,000 tons of old tyres since 2020 to date. Since 2020, the plant has been operating in a process-stable and profitable manner.
With the construction of the new pyrolysis plant, the company has tripled its annual recycling capacity to around 60,000 tons per year. A first-class plant covering an area of around 27 acres, brought to life by technology and engineering solutions from Zeppelin Systems.
Zeppelin Systems had previously supplied the basic engineering for the new plant in 2019, and the company has now been rewarded with the completion contract due to the high level of customer satisfaction.
As the main responsible engineering partner, Zeppelin Systems delivers turnkey solutions all from one source: from plant technology to process engineering and final plant planning. “A flagship project for Zeppelin Systems with a signalling effect. Only a few companies can implement such complex and extensive projects virtually anywhere in the world,” says Dr. Markus Vöge, CEO of Zeppelin Systems GmbH, adding; “The aim is to offer process solutions in the future that can be provided as part of license models. For example, theELT pyrolysis plant as a turnkey product from Zeppelin Systems.”
Guido Veit, Vice President Sales, Plastic and Rubber at Zeppelin Systems GmbH, adds; “ReOil’s engineering contract is the first project as part of the Zeppelin Sustainable Tire Alliance. This makes us proud and demonstrates the strength of the alliance. In addition, we will continue to work hard to bring additional processes to technological maturity and strengthen the network in terms of the circular economy.”
ReOil Managing Director Paweł Mikuśkiewicz is also delighted with the very successful partnership between Zeppelin Systems and ReOil; “We knew that this major project could only be planned and built with the help of an experienced and internationally active plant engineering partner. That is why we chose Zeppelin Systems, and we really appreciate our long-standing, trusting business relationship.”
