Putting the “Green” in Our Machine: How TyrFil™ Recycling Processing Equipment is Changing the Category
It’s easy for businesses across the commercial spectrum to make a green claim these days. After all, most operators in the manufacturing field at least think favorably about environmental causes. But it’s another thing to act favorably by putting globally responsible, eco-friendly practices into play in a way that’s truly integrated across the business infrastructure. That’s what we are striving to do each and every day here at Carlisle TyrFil™. It’s a philosophy that’s deeply ingrained in our heritage and in our company mission – and we take it very seriously. We believe that we owe it to our valued customers, OEMs and aftermarket dealers and the entities they serve to continually rethink and implement new and better sustainable practices across our supply chain.
Carlisle TyrFil™, along with our parent company, Carlisle Performance Materials™, is trying to do our part to help a decades old chemical and industrial space evolve at the speed of 21st century innovation. Our industry manufactures and markets polymer based products and technologies that the commercial sector needs to successfully drive the economy, but these technologies must be produced with care. We all have a collective responsibility to ensure responsible materials handling at all times. And it is incumbent on companies such as ours to lead the way in the adoption of ecologically sounds protocol that can, and do, have a measurable impact on the health of our Planet.
That is why we have made it a priority to develop signature recycling technology and equipment that our network of OEMs and aftermarket dealers can trust. Our TyrFil™ Recycling Processing Equipment – the AutoFil Machine and Green Machine – offers the only flatproofing solution with a Closed-Loop System that reduces carbon footprint and saves on production costs. Our Recycling Processing Systems significantly reduce the environmental impact of traditional Tire Flatproofing by:
- Recycling and using up to 65% post-consumer tire fill
- Eliminating up to 65% of the petrochemicals (including oil) normally required to fill an Off-the-Road (OTR) tire
- Keeping used tire fill out of landfills and eliminating landfill disposal fees
Our commitment to bringing equipment systems like these to market began nearly 50 years ago. In 1971, TyrFil™, the world’s first polyurethane tire fill material intended to flatproof tires, was invented. As the industry leader in tire flatproofing, Carlisle TyrFil™ has made providing environmentally supportive products a long-term strategic business priority. As part of this commitment, we are now the only tire fill manufacturer in the industry to offer recycling processing equipment. This equipment has made it possible to keep more than 150 million pounds of tire fill out of landfills.
Our AutoFil and Green Machine Recycling Processing Equipment mixes virgin TyrFil™ with either used tire flatproofing, crumb rubber, or even previously mixed materials, eliminating the environmental impact of sending used polyurethane and used rubber to the landfill. By using the Recycling Equipment with TyrFil™ EcoFil (which offers a water-based fill and recycled material), Carlisle™ is helping to greatly reduce petrochemical production and waste by 75% of what has been traditionally used in tire flatproofing applications. We call this putting the “green” into our machine—and it’s an offering that is unique to Carlisle science and technology.
In addition to a reduction in the use of oil, Carlisle Tire Fill also successfully repurposes recyclable material to breathe new life for discarded materials as part of our flatproofing solution. Our AutoFil and Green Machine systems have been field-proven for more than a decade to meter and mix controlled amounts of virgin liquid tire fill and granulated tire fill to a homogenous TyrFil™ flatproofing mixture that fills the tire exactly the same as virgin liquid tire fill. Typical materials used include 1) granulated recycled fill, 2) rubber crumb, and 3) rubber crumb and recycled fill mix.
Additionally, Carlisle’s AutoFil and Green Machine technology helps to safeguard against the practice of “chunking.” Chunking is the term used to describe filling tires with “chunks” of used tire fill, and then filling the remainder of the tire with virgin tire fill. When chunking, there is no adherence to standardized practices, consistency, or tire fill process control. The result is that the overall tire performance remains inferior compared to a properly filled tire. Plus, these ill-advised practices, once commonplace in the industry, can put tires and equipment – and most importantly – heavy equipment operators at risk.
We are pleased and proud that our eco-friendly technology is at work in the industry to create a more effective, reliable, and truly sustainable solution.
Please click here to learn more about Carlisle’s overall green manufacturing commitment.
