Can you tell us about the background of Radhe Renewable Energy and what was the idea behind the development of the 100 MTPD  single reactor continuous pyrolysis plant?

During our travels around India 25 years ago, we used to find farmers burning the agricultural stubble and waste to clear the fields for the next sowing. This used to cause a lot of pollution. With our understanding of hydrocarbons, we decided to create resource out of this waste. We started Radhe Renewable Energy with the idea of creating green fuels from many types of wastes that caused pollution and were a big disposal issue then. Our initial projects were to convert agricultural waste into valuable briquettes which replaced conventional fossil fuels like coal and furnace oil.

Being a hardcore and focused waste-to-energy company, we understood the chemistry of biomass and the future potential of green fuel from biomass. We persisted to find ways to convert rural agricultural waste into wealth with green environment and for sustainable growth of rural India. Our creative and dedicated team moved forward to develop biomass gasification technology to replace fossil liquid fuel in process industries like ceramics, chemical and steel industries with the use of solid biomass briquettes. We were the first company to develop and manufacture industrial scale size biomass and coal gasification technology and replace complete liquid fuel from ceramic industries near Rajkot, India. This reduced the import dependency of coal as fuel. Our team understands the mindset of process industries. We continuously strive to develop technologies that are not only cutting edge but which also create value for the capital invested. We understand that the lifecycle cost is as important as the acquisition cost in India and the other Asian markets. Last but not least, we are completely dedicated to operational safety and sustainable solutions for our clients.

Radhe Renewable Energy has supplied more than 500 biomass and coal gasification technology plants to the various process industries with successful track record in synchronising clients’ processes with gasification. Over this period, our team has gained considerable experience working with big corporates of India (process houses like TATA chemical, H&R Johnson tiles, Somani, Vedanta group, Mahindra, Steel Ispat etc.). We also gained the experience of major process of steel, drying, fertilizer, petrochemical, food, pharma, rubber and mineral industries.

It was in the year 2006 that we started working on a project to convert waste tyres and municipal solid wastes into valuable products. We were the first amongst many who saw the potential of converting this waste into green fuels at that time. We already had lots of experience to convert biomass into char to get charcoal and gas with fast pyrolysis.

What kept you investing in and developing the continuous pyrolysis technology when everyone else was selling thousands of cheaper batch type plants in India?

Equipped with the vast experience that our team had of all process industries, we knew that we wanted to do a revolutionary work in this tyre pyrolysis field too. Hydrocarbon is a big subject. You must handle them properly with full safety, environmental concern, and efficient and stable operation. You cannot think for cheaper batch type technology. We just did not want to do what other small companies were involved in – basically, copying environmentally non-compliant batch type plants from China and selling it in India. The batch type plants were very unsafe to operate, leading to many fires and explosions. The smell and the gases released have affected thousands of people in the last 10 years of their operations across Indian towns and cities.  

We chose to take the higher road. We decided to develop and build the best technology plant that India will be proud of. It was an uphill task with huge work and investments involved. It took about three years for a lab scale trial plant to come up. We started scaling up later. It has taken us more than seven years to reach our patented full commercial scale 100 TPD single reactor continuous waste tyre pyrolysis plant.

We can proudly boast that we could perhaps be the only manufacturer to have the largest single reactor 100 TPD continuous plant running successfully for the last nine years. It is sometimes hard to believe that an Indian company can develop and deliver a global technology that can challenge the world in price and performance. The world is amazed with what they see when they understand our technology and offerings. Today, we can offer plants meeting European standards and compliances at about one-fourth of the cost of the European manufacturers. None of them have a 100 TPD show plant operating for as long as we have.

How was the journey in developing indigenous technology for upgrading Recovered Carbon Black (rCB)?

Since the last 25 years, we been working with hydrocarbons, and we know the importance of carbon in daily life. Conventional world is producing carbon black from firing of furnace oil with highly polluting industrial process. At present, the world has few options in making carbon black. These processes consume lots of natural resources and are polluting in nature. Carbon is backbone for many products like rubber, tyre, plastics, Bakelite, minerals, graphite, metal etc. With waste tyre pyrolysis process, we are deriving carbon free without use of any natural resources and without any polluting process. Our continuous pyrolysis process is completely environmentally friendly with almost zero discharge. This process also generates surplus energy for other applications. We understood the importance in upgrading the carbon char generated during the process and worked on it for the more than three years. We were finally able to develop the process to upgrade the rCB to commercial grades successfully. Our rCB is a much sought-after derivative in the Indian market and is being exported across the globe.

How do you evaluate the tyre industry in India? What makes you bet on the carbon black business?

The Indian tyre industry is on a phenomenal growth trajectory and is now very receptive to ideas on sustainability and reuse of recycled materials. We are in active dialogue with many rubber and tyre companies for exploring opportunities to work together with regards to the production and usage of our rCB,

Silica is being aggressively adopted by the tyre industry as a reinforcement material due to tightening of the safety and environmental norms? How will this, according to you, pose a challenge for the rCB industry?

Silica is a useful ingredient of tyre and rubber, which is also found in rCB. As silica is extensively being adopted by the tyre industry, we feel our rCB is absolutely apt for the tyre industry. This will meet both their objectives together – sustainability and reinforcement.

Could you highlight the production capabilities?

Currently, we have 750-800 MT/month rCB production capacity. In the next two years, we will have 300 percent of this capacity in India and about 400 percent of this capacity in the rest of the world. Our brand is Hi-Green carbon black.

Could you talk about the markets the company taps? Are you looking to tap new markets?

We have now opened our doors to companies wanting to set up tyre pyrolysis plants with carbon upgradation systems. The response is overwhelming. We have inquiries coming from all over the world. Initially, people were sceptical if we really had done what we say. They are impressed when they visit our facility. We are now in active dialogue with at least 5-6 companies across Europe and the USA. The future looks very bright.  

Do you think there is a need for further collaboration between CB producers and tyre companies?

Yes … definitely, this is a marriage that will last. Tyre companies will be able to complete the circular economy loop. It is a win-win for all.

What are your future plans?

To establish high capacity plants in highly aware European, US, UK and Australian markets and create an ecosystem for high quality tyre-derived oil and rCB. We have started the process to appoint channel partners in Europe and many other strategic markets. We will have our footprints in these markets in the next 24 months.

What are the challenges in the business?

Opportunities and challenges are two sides of the same coin. We always felt that most companies look at the path of least resistance and miss out on the major learning which leads to greatness.

We have built the technology on our own. We have had to invest into the development with our own resources. If we were in Europe or other first world countries, we would have had access to low-cost funding, especially for R&D.

The other challenges in India and other Asian markets are the ever-changing government norms. Quite often, we find that these environmental norms do not have any ground connect. The norms are often formed without proper evaluation of technology merits and guided by local sources. For example, waste tyres are still classified in the hazardous waste category. Strangely, coal and biomass does not classify as hazardous waste. We fail to understand the logic behind such norms. These matters hinder the growth of the right technologies.

Despite all these challenges, we have been able to make our mark in the country.We now look forward to setting our footprints across the globe. (TT)

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

The concluding day of 2026 F1 Pre-Season Testing at the Bahrain International Circuit saw Charles Leclerc set the overall fastest lap of the entire six-day programme. The Ferrari driver delivered a time of 1:31.992s on the C4 compound Pirelli tyres during the final hour of running, improving by eight-tenths of a second on the previous benchmark established by Kimi Antonelli. This performance placed him ahead of Lando Norris in the McLaren, who recorded a 1:32.871s on the C3 tyre. Max Verstappen and George Russell followed, with times of 1:33.109s and 1:33.197s, respectively, both also set on the C3 compound. Notably, none surpassed Leclerc's own leading time on that particular compound, a 1:32.655s. Pierre Gasly rounded out the top times, utilising the softest C5 tyres to post a 1:33.421s.

The C5 compound saw limited use on the final day, employed only by Alpine and Williams for short-run simulations. Aston Martin, despite having the tyre available, opted not to run it and instead completed just six laps on C3s before their session was curtailed. In contrast, teams focused on different aspects of performance. Gabriel Bortoleto and Arvin Lindblad set the pace on the harder C1 and C2 compounds, respectively. The day was also notable for the absence of several drivers, including Fernando Alonso, Lewis Hamilton and Alex Albon, who did not participate in any track action.

Beyond outright speed, teams dedicated significant effort to long-distance evaluation. Gabriel Bortoleto completed 25 laps on the C2 compound for Audi, while Esteban Ocon undertook 24 laps on C1s for Haas. Ocon was also the sole driver to run intermediate tyres, completing four laps to assess front wing behaviour. Over the entire six-day test, a total of 41,366 kilometres were covered across all 11 teams, a distance exceeding the Earth's circumference. The C3 compound proved the most popular, accounting for 61 percent of all laps. In total, 591 sets of slick tyres were utilised throughout the pre-season, with 326 of those deployed in the final three days alone.

Mario Isola, Pirelli’s Motorsport Director, said, “The radical changes introduced to the cars have inevitably shifted the teams’ focus towards power units and aerodynamics rather than tyres over the last few days. The final stages of testing are usually dedicated to optimising the car-tyre package, but it is clear some teams haven’t reached that point yet. Generally speaking, track feedback has been consistent with our simulation expectations. Drivers were able to gain confidence with the entire Pirelli range through both performance trials and long runs, even using the C4 and C5 compounds which aren’t particularly suited to a circuit like Sakhir.

“Mechanical resistance appeared strong across all options, with no signs of graining or blistering. Degradation levels are almost certainly higher now than what we expect for the Bahrain race, when temperatures will be lower and cars more developed. A central theme this season will certainly be balancing temperatures between the axles, especially ahead of the first race in Melbourne. The lower loads of a street circuit might require more intensive tyre preparation or differentiated tyre blanket temperatures, particularly in qualifying. In any case, it will be interesting to discover in Australia how much teams have been ‘sandbagging’ their engine power to avoid showing their hand. We only have to wait a couple of weeks to see the true pecking order.”

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Titan International, a global leader in off‑the‑road (OTR) tyre and wheel manufacturing and distribution, has entered into a significant 10-year exclusive distribution agreement with Triangle Tire USA. This strategic alliance grants Titan exclusive rights to distribute both Triangle and Diamondback branded OTR tyres across United States. By combining Triangle’s global manufacturing expertise with Titan’s extensive North American dealer network and the established recognition of the Diamondback brand, the partnership aims to deliver a comprehensive and unified portfolio of high-performance OTR solutions.

The collaboration enhances Titan’s product offering to include a diverse range of radial and bias tyres suited for the most demanding off-road environments. Customers across critical sectors such as mining, construction, earthmoving, aggregates, industrial operations and equipment rental will benefit from this expanded selection. The integrated portfolio supports a wide array of heavy machinery, including large earthmoving equipment, loaders, dozers, scrapers, haulage vehicles, mobile cranes and container handling machinery for ports, as well as industrial and rental fleets.

This initiative is designed to strengthen the market presence of the combined Titan, Triangle and Diamondback brands within the OTR sector. By leveraging Titan’s national sales and support infrastructure, the partnership aims to drive long-term performance through enhanced dealer adoption and improved customer satisfaction. The arrangement ensures that end users have access to a broader spectrum of mission-critical tyre solutions backed by reliable distribution and service support.

The initial rollout of Triangle and Diamondback OTR products is currently underway through Titan’s dealer network in United States. An expanded range of sizes and patterns is scheduled for release throughout the year, with dealers encouraged to consult their Titan representatives for detailed information on availability, specifications and ordering procedures.

Paul Reitz, CEO & President, Titan International, said, “This partnership combines Titan’s deep channel reach with Triangle’s expanding OTR portfolio to deliver a broader, more competitive offering to our customers – backed by Titan’s service, training and technical support. We’re excited to bring the Triangle and Diamondback families into our US distribution platform to improve availability, coverage, and value across critical OTR customers.”

Campbell Metcalfe, CEO, Triangle Tire USA, said, “Triangle is pleased to join forces with Titan to bring our OTR innovations to more US customers, faster. Titan’s scale, distribution strength and customer support capabilities will substantially enhance access to Triangle and Diamondback products across key industries.”

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Radar Tires, a globally recognised manufacturer known for its off-road and high-performance products, is broadening its footprint in the light truck and off-road vehicle segment with a major expansion of its popular Radar Renegade-X line. Responding directly to robust market demand and the model's sustained success among enthusiasts, the company will introduce nine new sizes featuring rim diameters from 18 to 26 inches. A key highlight of this expansion is the debut of 26-inch options, catering to the growing trend of customised and lifted trucks requiring larger wheel fitments.

Since its market introduction, the Renegade-X has built a strong reputation for delivering uncompromising off-road capability without sacrificing on-road civility. Consumer feedback consistently praises its superior traction in mud and rocky terrain, its robust durability and notably low road noise – a combination rarely achieved in the mud-terrain category. This balance of aggressive performance and refined driveability has solidified its appeal.

The tyre’s distinctive design is the result of a collaboration with the renowned Italian design house GFG Style, blending engineering rigor with premium aesthetics. Its technical features include a high void-to-lug ratio designed for effective self-cleaning in mud, alongside a specialised rock-crawl compound for enhanced grip on varied surfaces. Durability is addressed through a three-ply sidewall construction, while a strategic combination of stone ejectors and serrations protects the tyre casing. Furthermore, sidewall lugs inspired by stealth design not only contribute to a striking visual profile but also improve lateral traction in challenging conditions.

The newly added sizes are intended for a wide range of vehicles, including Jeeps, pickup trucks and full-size SUVs. Availability is scheduled to commence through authorised dealers in February 2026, with additional sizes arriving through April of that year.

Rob Montasser, Vice President, Radar Tires, said, “The response to the Radar Renegade-X has exceeded our expectations, and our dealer partners have consistently requested additional sizes to meet customer demand. This nine-size expansion, including our first 26-inch rim diameter sizes, demonstrates our commitment to providing dealers with a comprehensive product offering that supports sustained, profitable growth while giving consumers more choices for their vehicles.”

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Nokian Tyres has formally released its climate transition plan, a comprehensive roadmap guiding the company’s decarbonisation efforts. This strategy is anchored in the company’s near- and long-term climate objectives, which received validation from the Science Based Targets initiative in 2024. Crucially, the organisation’s ambition to achieve net-zero emissions across Scope 1, 2 and 3 aligns with the stringent requirements of limiting global warming to 1.5°C, as dictated by contemporary climate science.

The company has already made significant progress, particularly within its own operations. By the close of 2025, Nokian Tyres had successfully reduced absolute Scope 1 and 2 emissions by more than 38 percent relative to the 2022 baseline, edging closer to its interim target of a 42 percent reduction by 2030. The newly published plan elaborates on this trajectory, detailing the primary sources of emissions and the essential strategies for reduction both internally and across the broader value chain. These actions are designed to meet the 2030 benchmarks while maintaining a clear pathway towards the ultimate goal of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

Endorsed by the company’s Board of Directors, the plan is a living document subject to updates as emission-reduction technologies and methodologies evolve. Further details are accessible on the corporate website. This strategic approach is already yielding tangible results and external recognition. The company’s Romanian facility stands as the world’s first full-scale tyre factory to achieve zero CO2 emissions in its own operations. Furthermore, this commitment to sustainability was acknowledged in 2025 by TIME Magazine, which named Nokian Tyres one of the World’s Most Sustainable Companies, and by CDP, which awarded the firm its sixth consecutive leadership-level score for climate action.

Paolo Pompei, President and CEO, Nokian Tyres, said, “Our work towards net-zero emissions is not only about us but also about drivers worldwide. Through our actions and innovations, we reduce the environmental impact of tyre manufacturing while delivering the safety and quality that define Nokian Tyres.”

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!