Laid at the TRS Tyres Recycling Sud plant in Balvano, the new stretch of asphalt is the result of the Rubberap project, which combined the technical-scientific skills of the Innovative Start-Up Rub-Lab and the use of recycled rubber from ELT managed by Ecopneus
TRS Tyres Recycling Sud, in collaboration with the innovative start-up Rub-Lab and Ecopneus, inaugurated at its plant in Balvano (PZ), a new stretch of asphalt made using rubber powder obtained from ELT. This project, part of the Rubberap initiative, marks a significant step forward in innovation and sustainable use of resources.
The use of this solution, the result of advanced scientific research, promises safety, environmental sustainability and optimal mechanical performance.
For its construction, a specifically engineered powder made of recycled rubber from ELTs was used, which improves the compatibility of the powder with bitumen, guaranteeing superior performance. The technology used does not require any adaptation of the asphalt plants, nor specific machinery for paving and compacting and has already been successfully tested for the construction of municipal road sections in Alcamo and Castelvetrano in the province of Trapani.
Thanks to the presence of rubber, the flooring guarantees environmental sustainability and superior resistance to the stresses deriving from traffic, while ensuring long-lasting acoustic and mechanical performance.
The project was made possible thanks to the technical-scientific collaboration of Rub-Lab and using rubber from the supply chain managed by Ecopneus, while the installation works were carried out by Turlione from Baragiano (PZ).
Giovanni Zagaria, Commercial Director of TRS Tyres Recycling Sud declared; “Today, with the inauguration of this new surface at our headquarters in Balvano, TRS Tires Recycling Sud concretely demonstrates its commitment to innovative and sustainable solutions. Specialising in the recovery of End-of-life tyres, our commitment focuses on the transformation of these materials into high-quality rubber granules. The collaboration with Rub-Lab and Ecopneus was fundamental in enhancing our work, allowing us to create, at our own headquarters, a living example of the extraordinary potential offered by recycled rubber”.
Serena Sgarioto, Innovation manager of Ecopneus, underlined that; “Ecopneus is proud to support initiatives like these, which demonstrate the positive impact of recycling in the infrastructure sector, a sector with enormous potential. This technology not only allows us to reduce the environmental impact and promote sustainability but also offers tangible economic benefits. In the specific sector of road paving, the use of asphalt containing recycled rubber powder is a high-quality and performance solution that significantly improves the durability, resistance and safety of roads, thus embodying a virtuous model of sustainability and positive impact for the territory and the community.”
Doctor Antonino Pellicane, Founding Partner of the Innovative Start Up RUB-LAB highlighted; “The results of the industrial research conducted by our start-up, in synergy with important Italian and European research bodies, have made it possible to validate the performance of road pavements made with “rubberised” asphalt mixtures. Starting – in fact – from the mixtures commonly used in any bituminous conglomerate packaging plant, the modification technology of the asphalt mixtures adopted for paving, called ECR (Engineered Crumb Rubber) or engineered rubber powder, allows for effective and efficient use of granular vulcanised rubber in the asphalt while optimising the mechanical performance of the pavement, reducing rolling noise emissions and reducing installation temperatures. In short, eco-performance combined with better durability and road safety performance.
The new flooring made with ELT rubber in Balvano is an excellent example of how the synergy between industry and research can generate innovative solutions. These solutions are not only environmentally friendly but also offer high-performance standards, as demonstrated by the excellent results obtained from the use of modified asphalts on the national road network.
To date, in Italy, asphalts modified with recycled rubber are emerging as one of the most effective solutions and a valid choice for the national strategic road network.
This technology, already used in over 680 km of Italian roads, combines safety, environmental sustainability and high-level mechanical performance. They contribute to reducing traffic noise by up to 5 dB and last up to three times longer than traditional asphalts, better-resisting wear and the formation of cracks and potholes, an aspect which also leads to lower maintenance costs in the medium-long term.
