Lehigh Technologies to Build First MRP Facility in Europe

As part of its next phase of international expansion, LeHigh Technologies has finalized a deal with HERA Holding, a European waste resources company, to build the first plant that would make micronized rubber powder (MRP) in Europe. Named Lehigh Spain, the joint venture will set up the factory as a HERA facility in Spain and will cater to the Russian, European, Middle East and African market.

Tires are highly useful, but the over the years, the fast growing automotive industry has failed to find a satisfactory answer to the question of how to dipose off scrap tires with minimal damage to the environment. About 295 million tires are discarded annually and the problem is set to become bigger in the coming years with the growth of the automotive sector. Recycled rubber is generally used to build jogging tracks, basketball courts and sometimes simply burnt for their fuel value.

Lehigh Technologies, which is based in Atlanta, Georgia in the United States is a company that makes sustainable raw materials from end-of-life tires and post-industrial rubber. The company makes micronized rubber powder or MRP from scrap tires and other post –industrial rubber products. This MRP can be used as a substitute for rubber and oil-based materials during the manufacture of tires and other goods. In fact, MRP is made so fine during LeHigh’s proprietary process that it has the consistency of flour.

The new MRP plant will use LeHigh’s proprietary technology and if all goes as planned, the plant is scheduled to make its first shipments by the end of the first quarter of 2017.

Speaking about the collaboration, Dr. Alan Barton, CEO of Lehigh Technologies said, “HERA’s shared vision for creating sustainable solutions makes them an ideal partner for Lehigh’s next phase of international expansion. We are seeing a strong market reception for MRP as companies learn

that micronized rubber powder delivers a strong value proposition, and this new joint venture marks a critical step to meet that rapidly growing demand.”

LeHigh currently offers a wide range of repurposed tire products, including PolyDyne, MicroDyne and EkoDyne and its products are sold in over 18 countries spread across the globe.