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.

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Ironman Tires, a brand owned by Hercules Tire and Rubber Company, has officially launched the All Country AT-X, a new generation tyre designed to merge the capabilities of all-terrain and all-weather designs. This strategic expansion of its All Country line is positioned to deliver year-round performance for SUVs and light trucks, whether on paved roads or off-road adventures. The AT-X is now available at retail locations, effectively replacing the previous All Country A/T and AT2 models to strengthen the brand's standing in the competitive market.

Building upon the legacy of its predecessors, which collectively sold over 700,000 units annually, the All Country AT-X incorporates advanced design and compound technologies. A significant feature is its certification with the Three-Peak Mountain Snowflake symbol, guaranteeing reliable traction in severe snow conditions, a first for the brand in this category. The tyre’s development focused on key improvements, including superior snow traction, enhanced durability and more responsive on-road handling, all while upholding Ironman's core values of affordability and dependability.

The product lineup is comprehensive, with 27 of its planned 40 sizes available immediately and the remaining 13 scheduled for an early 2026 release. The AT-X offers two distinct tread patterns, both meeting the stringent winter performance standards without compromising on tread life or ruggedness. Key engineering enhancements include an optimised all-terrain tread for balanced on- and off-road performance, a next-generation all-weather compound and an aggressive sidewall design that boosts puncture resistance and provides a bold visual appeal. The tyre’s profile was strategically engineered through advanced modelling to promote stability and even wear.

Backing its robust construction is a substantial 50,000-mile (approximately 80,467 km) limited treadwear warranty, alongside a 60-month workmanship warranty and road hazard protection. The All Country AT-X is offered in T, Q, R and S speed ratings in a wide range of sizes to fit 15- to 20-inch rims, making it an accessible and versatile option for a broad spectrum of drivers seeking confident, all-season capability.

Keith Calcagno, Chief Strategy Officer, Proprietary Brands, American Tire Distributors, said, “The All Country AT-X represents a major step forward for Ironman’s product lineup. By combining all-weather versatility with all-terrain durability, the AT-X provides drivers the confidence to go anywhere, in any condition, all year long.”

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In a significant step for sustainable infrastructure, the Selwyn District in Canterbury is poised to conduct New Zealand's inaugural trial of a rubber road surface. According to Radio New Zealand, the trial is scheduled for early 2026 in Glentunnel on State Highway 77. This pioneering initiative represents a proactive move by the council to explore innovative solutions for its extensive roading network and reflects the council's commitment to investigating new technologies that can enhance performance and provide additional value.

Central to this venture is Treadlite NZ, the nation's sole supplier of recycled rubber granules specifically designed for pavement applications. The company's executive director, Brad Pearce, has confirmed their involvement, collaborating with a contractor to supply the material for the proposed trial. Pearce expressed his enthusiasm for the prospect of seeing recycled rubber improve the durability and functionality of roads across the country in the near future.

The rubber road project is just one of several innovations being pursued by Selwyn's infrastructure team. Other exploratory measures include the use of plastic grids in road rehabilitation to minimise excavation and an underground stormwater system, StormBrixx, which manages surface flooding in vulnerable areas. The council is also considering a novel contracting model where companies lease road lanes, creating a financial incentive to complete work quickly and efficiently. This drive for innovation occurs against a backdrop of managing one of the country's largest geographic road networks, which is facing pressures from high growth and increasing traffic loads.

While data indicates that Selwyn's roads are among the smoothest in New Zealand, the council acknowledges the ongoing challenge of maintaining surface conditions as its infrastructure ages. The upcoming trial in Glentunnel, facilitated by the specialized materials from Treadlite NZ, stands as a testament to the council's forward-thinking approach to extracting greater value and longevity from its critical assets.

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Maxion Wheels, the world’s leading wheel manufacturer, has officially confirmed its readiness to begin series production of forged aluminium truck wheels in January 2026. The announcement was made at the SOLUTRANS 2025 exhibition in Lyon, France. This production will be housed in a new, state-of-the-art 24,500-square-metre plant located in Manisa, Türkiye, which was developed as a joint venture with İnci Holding. The facility is now fully operational, featuring advanced machinery and an initial annual capacity of approximately 350,000 wheels, with a flexible design to accommodate future market growth.

The introduction of these wheels significantly expands Maxion's commercial vehicle portfolio, allowing the company to offer what it now considers the industry's most comprehensive product range. The new forged aluminium wheels will be available in high-demand sizes and finishes, engineered to meet the stringent requirements of OEMs and fleets across Europe and Türkiye for superior durability, performance and appearance.

Looking forward, the company is already developing a patented surface treatment designed to offer enhanced durability, improved corrosion resistance and easier maintenance. This innovative solution is currently undergoing laboratory and benchmarking tests, which have so far yielded highly promising results.

Mark Gerardts, CEO, Maxion Wheels, said, “Forged aluminium truck wheels represent a critical evolution in our strategy to deliver the most complete and innovative commercial vehicle wheel portfolio in the industry. Our steel wheels have set the benchmark – and our forged aluminium truck wheels will meet it with the same uncompromising quality and reliability.”

Mustafa Zaim, President of the Board of Maxion Inci and Maxion Jantas, said, “Our collaboration with Maxion Wheels combines global product expertise with local manufacturing excellence to deliver a new wheel line-up that redefines choice and quality for truck OEMs, fleet managers and drivers. This milestone is more than the start of production – it’s a commitment to innovation, safety and meeting the evolving needs of OEMs and fleets across Europe and beyond.”

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Apollo Tyres Ltd and the Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT), Bhubaneshwar, are collaborating to incorporate a specialised ‘Tyre Technology’ module into the engineering curriculum. This initiative is unprecedented in India, representing the first time a tyre manufacturer and a technical institution have joined forces to formally integrate the science of tyre design and manufacturing into academic studies.

Apollo Tyres will be instrumental in developing the course, ensuring the syllabus and materials reflect the most current industry practices and technological advancements. Prof (Dr) Achyuta Samanta, Founder KIIT, KISS and KIMS, highlighted that this focus on the critical automotive component of tyres will equip future engineers with the practical knowledge to solve complex technological challenges.

The alliance is poised to offer students exceptional exposure to specialised fields and create transformative educational experiences, bridging the gap between theoretical learning and industrial application.

R Mahalakshmi, Chief Human Resources Officer, Apollo Tyres Ltd, said, “This strategic collaboration marks a significant milestone for the Indian automotive sector. By bringing tyre technology into mainstream engineering education for the first time, we aim to equip young engineers with future-ready skills and real-world exposure. Through internships and on-ground training at our facilities, students will gain hands-on experience with cutting-edge tyre design, manufacturing and testing, strengthening the talent pipeline for India’s mobility future.”

Prof (Dr) Saranjit Singh, Vice Chancellor, KIIT-DU, said, “In the fast-growing demand for a market ready workforce, it is imperative that Industry and Academia work closely together to develop quality tech talent. Being one of the leading technology universities, we have a strong intellectual capital and talent base to partner with industry in bridging the talent gap and nurturing future-ready digital professionals. The introduction of co-branded specialisation, ‘Tyre Technology’, will definitely give our students a new scope for innovation and edge over others.”

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