Klean Industries Inc announced that it has partnered with City Circle Group (CCG) to build a fully integrated, continuous tyre pyrolysis plant to recover carbon black and biofuel in Melbourne, Australia. Klean Industries provides technologies and solutions for resource recovery, waste recycling and the production of clean energy from waste. As for City Circle Group, it is a provider in demolition, decommissioning, remediation, excavation and recycling in Australia.

It is known that Australia has a waste problem with disposal fees that are continuing to rise. Klean further claims that end-of-life tyres and end-of-life plastics are piling up and being dumped in landfills all over the country. Through their partnership, Klean and CCG aim to solve this environmental crisis by putting their combined skillsets together to create meaningful change that will help Australia develop a low-carbon, circular economy while reinforcing the goal of zero waste to landfill. According to Klean, both parties see significant opportunities for creating hundreds of new and highly skilled cleantech jobs with enough project opportunities in Australia to invest billions of dollars into the Australian economy over the next decade.

Sharing his views on the partnership, Matt Skidmore, CEO, City Circle Group, said, “It is with great excitement that we announce this project and partnership with Klean Industries. The concept of waste-to-commodity recycling is something that fits within our vision to become a truly circular economy business that provides real and positive outcomes to our communities.”

Adding to this, Jesse Klinkhamer, CEO, Klean Industries, commented, “We are thrilled to be taking resource recovery to a whole new level in Australia. With CCG as our partner, we are going to define a new era in what it means to develop clean industries. Our industry partnerships speak to our credibility, and it is these relationships that support and enable our team to build world-class facilities that set the global standard in Environmental, Social, Governance (ESG) but will also enhance Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) to a level not seen before in Australia.”

Klean states that the two have been engaged in the final analysis of a Detailed Feasibility Study (DFS) to design and build a fully integrated tyre pyrolysis plant. The result thus far has illustrated a significant opportunity. As per Klean, the parties are now in the final phases of contract negotiations with feedstock providers and offtake parties for all the project output products which are being pre-sold. Klean claims that the parties plan to complete the DFS by the end of December 2022 and anticipate the project being financed before the end of the first quarter of 2023, with construction taking place in 2023 and operations starting in 2024.

A project site is already secured and planning permission and permitting are underway. According to Klean, the project is centrally located 45 kilometres northwest of Melbourne, Victoria. It has access to a highly skilled workforce. Given the ease of establishing and conducting business in Melbourne, Klean states that the decision to locate a tyre carbonisation facility is compelling and logical. This offers numerous short-term and long-term benefits to the area.

As per Klean, the Melbourne project includes Klean’s commercial scale, environmental-friendly scrap tyre carbonisation technology with a planned initial capacity of up to 120 metric tonnes per day (TPD). This is approximately 12,000 tyres per day and equates to approximately 40,000 metric tonnes per annum (TPA). Klean claims that the project is designed to convert the waste tyres into highly valuable recovered carbon black (rCB) and recovered fuel oil (rFO). This plant will be fully integrated with Klean’s proprietary tyre char upgrading technologies that enable the transformation of low-value tyre char into high-value carbon black replacements which can replace Virgin Carbon Black (vCB) by volumes of 10 percent up to 100 percent, depending on the specific application.

The CCG plant will also include recovered fuel oil upgrading technologies for the conversion of the recovered pyrolysis oil. The CCG facility will be ISO 9001, 14001 certified and all products will also be ISCC certified as circular raw materials, according to Klean. 

The resulting products from the Melbourne project will then re-enter the virgin raw material supply chain through the local marine fuel market, new tyre, rubber compounding and virgin carbon black manufacturing industries. Klean states that this enables these industries to create product circularity by re-integrating recovered resources back into the marketplace, enabling them to improve environmental performance and lower raw material product costs while also offsetting emissions associated with their respective industries.

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

TyreSafe, UK’s charity dedicated to raising tyre safety awareness, has joined forces with Road Safety Support (RSS), a not-for-profit organisation, in a new partnership rooted in their shared dedication to evidence-led road safety. As TyreSafe nears its 20th anniversary, it views this collaboration as vital to its mission of reducing tyre-related casualties and contributing to the ultimate goal of eliminating death and serious injury on British roads.

Road Safety Support brings specialised expertise to the table, working with police, highways authorities and safer roads partnerships both domestically and overseas. Their wide-ranging services include casualty data analysis, developing enforcement strategies, supporting speed and red-light camera technology, road safety marketing and providing independent expert evidence for traffic prosecutions.

This alliance strengthens TyreSafe’s existing network among enforcement and highways bodies, allowing tyre safety education and enforcement to be better integrated with broader road safety intelligence and operational data. By combining forces, TyreSafe gains access to RSS’s analytical and enforcement expertise to create more evidence-led campaigns, while RSS and its partners benefit from TyreSafe’s deep specialism in tyre condition research and practical guidance.

Underpinning the collaboration is a mutual recognition that reducing road harm demands coordinated, multi-disciplinary action. Both organisations are committed to the Safe System approach, ensuring that safer vehicles – particularly tyres – are given equal priority alongside safer roads, speeds and people. By blending RSS’s strengths in data, enforcement and legal processes with TyreSafe’s two decades of dedicated tyre safety knowledge, the partnership aims to deliver more consistent, informed and impactful road safety outcomes.

Stuart Lovatt, Chair of TyreSafe, said, “Tyre safety is a fundamental part of safe vehicles, yet it is still too often overlooked in the wider road safety conversation. Partnering with Road Safety Support is an important step in ensuring that tyre-related risk is better understood and addressed using robust data and real-world insight. As TyreSafe continues to work closely with police forces, highways authorities and local authorities, this partnership will help strengthen the evidence base that underpins effective enforcement, education and prevention activity.”

Emma Kelly, Development, PR and Advocacy Manager at Road Safety Support and Road Safety Support International, said, “Road Safety Support works with police forces, road safety partnerships and stakeholders to develop robust, evidence-led road safety strategies. Tyre condition plays a vital role in collision prevention, yet it can be underestimated when considering vehicle-related risk. Partnering with TyreSafe allows us to integrate specialist tyre safety knowledge into broader enforcement and safety frameworks, helping partners make more informed decisions and deliver more effective interventions.”

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Nexen Tire America recognises that with energy and fuel costs continuing to challenge drivers, many are seeking ways to maximise efficiency beyond simply altering their driving routines. While adjusting habits like reducing speed is common, the company points to several overlooked factors that can significantly affect a vehicle’s energy consumption and overall cost per mile.

A critical yet often underestimated element is the role of tyres. Rolling resistance, which is the energy needed to keep tyres moving, directly impacts fuel economy and electric vehicle range. Choosing tyres specifically engineered to minimise this resistance, such as Nexen’s N’Priz S Grand Touring All-Season, can yield noticeable improvements. However, even the best tyres require consistent care; underinflation and misalignment create excess drag that forces the vehicle to work harder, quietly eroding efficiency over time.

External vehicle modifications also play a significant part. Accessories like roof racks and cargo carriers disrupt aerodynamic flow, and even open windows at highway speeds can create more drag than using air conditioning. Driving habits themselves deserve a strategic rethink as well. Opting for a slightly longer route with fewer stops can prove more efficient than a short, start-and-stop journey. Smoother acceleration, gradual braking and coasting to a stop help conserve momentum, which is especially beneficial for regenerative braking systems in electric vehicles.

For electric vehicle owners, additional steps can further extend range. Preconditioning the cabin while the car remains plugged in reduces the strain that climate control places on the battery during travel. Combined with a conscious effort to ease off the accelerator early to maximise energy recovery through regenerative braking, these practices allow drivers to go further on every charge, complementing the efficiency gains from proper tyre selection and mindful driving.

Aaron Neumann, Head of the Nexen Tire America Tech Center, said, “There are several opportunities to improve efficiency that aren’t immediately visible to drivers. From tyre design and maintenance to subtle driving habits, these factors work together to influence how much energy a vehicle uses. By paying attention to the details, drivers can take meaningful steps toward reducing costs and getting more out of every mile.”

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Hankook Tire has claimed the top position in the latest Auto Bild manufacturer ranking, securing a dominant presence across key tyre categories. The brand’s ascent was driven by a double test win for its newly launched Ventus evo, which propelled Hankook to share first place in the summer tyre segment. In the all-season category, the company delivered a consistently strong performance, earning third place overall thanks to the Kinergy model series, which accumulated four top placements across various evaluations.

The Ventus evo made an impressive entry into the current tyre season by clinching victory in two separate Auto Bild summer tyre tests, a feat that positioned Hankook as the only manufacturer alongside one other to achieve a double win in the summer tyre manufacturer standings. This debut underscored the tyre’s seamless fit within the premium segment, with the results highlighting its capabilities across critical criteria such as wet braking and dry handling.

In the all-season arena, the Kinergy series demonstrated remarkable consistency across four distinct tests, securing Hankook’s third-place finish in the manufacturer ranking. The model line proved its reliability by delivering strong results across all relevant performance areas, including winter characteristics, further cementing Hankook’s reputation as a dependable leader in that segment.

The Auto Bild manufacturer ranking aggregates results from all tyre tests conducted during the season, assigning points based on a structured system. A test win earns six points, followed by five for an exemplary rating, three for good, two for satisfactory and one for recommended with reservations. Additional bonuses apply, with one extra point for Eco Champion recognition and two for a Green Tyre designation. Across the 2025/2026 season, a total of 67 summer tyres and 61 all-season tyres were evaluated under this framework.

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Brisbane-based NTD has strengthened its leadership position in Australia and New Zealand by finalising four exclusive multi-year supply agreements with major global tyre manufacturers. These deals solidify the company’s standing within a regional wholesale and retail sector valued at over USD 11 billion, ensuring long-term collaboration with key suppliers across a diverse array of tyre segments. The agreements with Radar Tyres, Giti/GT Radial, Cooper Tires and Mickey Thompson Tires cover passenger vehicles, SUVs, 4-wheel drives, electric vehicles, light trucks, commercial fleets and specialised applications in agriculture and mining, reinforcing NTD’s ability to serve a broad customer base.

According to NTD’s Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, Warwick Hay, these partnerships are fundamental to the company’s growth strategy. By securing exclusivity over an extended period, the group can pursue deeper collaboration with manufacturers in areas such as product development, supply planning, and brand building. This structure not only supports commercial flexibility but also enhances supply chain reliability, ultimately ensuring that NTD’s extensive dealer network and customers benefit from consistent product availability.

Two of the newly formalised agreements involve American brands Cooper Tires and Mickey Thompson Tires, both owned by Goodyear. NTD first introduced Cooper Tires to Australia in 1989, and the brand has since become well established in the SUV and light truck segments. Meanwhile, Mickey Thompson Tires maintains a strong focus on high-performance and off-road applications, building on a legacy of innovation in tread design and safety. Representatives from Goodyear and Mickey Thompson noted that NTD’s expertise and commitment have been instrumental in driving brand growth, with the renewed agreements set to build on that momentum.

The remaining two agreements are with Singapore-based entities: Radar Tyres, owned by Omni United, and GT Radial, part of the Giti Group. Radar Tyres has gained recognition in Australia for its value-focused passenger and all-terrain offerings, alongside its distinction as the world’s first carbon-neutral tyre brand. Giti Tire supplies premium products across multiple vehicle categories and has made significant inroads into the electric vehicle segment, supplying original equipment manufacturers such as BYD, GWM and Tesla. Executives from both companies highlighted the combination of global manufacturing capability with NTD’s national distribution network as a key factor in ensuring reliable supply and strong dealer support across Australia and New Zealand.

As the largest independent tyre and wheel importer and distributor in the region, NTD serves more than 4,000 business customers through an extensive network of distribution centres and retail outlets. The company also manufactures retread tyres and provides performance management systems for commercial fleet operators. Hay noted that in a context of global uncertainty, these agreements formalise longstanding supplier relationships while reinforcing continuity of supply. He added that maintaining a broad and dependable product range is essential, particularly as demand grows for eco-friendly, smart and electric vehicle tyres across the diverse sectors the company serves.

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!