Dutch tyre upcycling company Black Bear has entered into a strategic partnership with German EPC contractor MMEC Mannesmann (MMEC) to speed up the rollout of the former’s breakout tyre recycling technology. MMEC will perform the detailed engineering, procurement and construction of Black Bear’s European facilities; MMEC’s strong presence in the Middle East will also boost emerging Black Bear facilities in the region.
Black Bear is a sought-after manufacturer of recovered carbon black (rCB) of highest quality – produced using end-of-life tyres instead of fossil oil as a resource material. The green and sustainable end-product, a result of Black Bear’s unique carbonisation process, is used as an additive in rubber, tyres, plastics, coatings plastics and inks, and colourising products. Many manufacturers are looking towards sustainable alternatives to reduce their environmental footprint, as seen in one of Black Bear’s Dutch clients, AkzoNobel, a multinational company specialising in paints and coatings.
Joost Raimond, Construction Director at Black Bar recounts the timely partnership with MMEC, which will prove to be a “game-changer” to meet the growing demand for rCB and offer real turn-key plant realisations to the tyre recycling technology.
MMEC is an established company in the oil, gas, refining, chemical and renewables industries. Their expertise includes early project developments, feasibility studies, conceptual, basic and front-end engineering design up to detail design, procurement and construction.
Johann-Georg Rathgeb, Head of Technologies of MMEC is convinced of commissioning “state-of-the-art” plants across the globe, given that MMEC is well-versed in highly innovative and large-scale engineering projects globally,and thus an ideal partner for Black Bear’s “highly promising” technology.
“We are delighted about this partnership with Black Bear. We carry strong belief in their technology and look forward to rolling it out around the world,” said Oliver Apelt, CEO of MMEC.
Black Bear plans to address the waste-tyre problem and lead the transition towards a circular economy by rolling out hundreds of tyre upcycling plants with local partners around the world, focusing on Europe for its next plants. When it reaches its full potential of repurposing every end-of-life tire with its circular solution, Black Bear will reportedly reduce global annual oil consumption by more than 215 million barrels upon reaching its full reprocessing potential.
Jan Jonkman, the Founder of Black Bear recounts the intense and diligent cooperation between his and MMEC’s management teams, noting that the partnership will prove to be of unmatched value for the future of the EPC industry.