Technology

Recycling system

ART’s recycling system of is characterized by high flexibility in reutilization and first-class quality of the recycled materials. The use of the most modern technology ensures the best possible fulfillment of the most varied customer requirements. The annual processing capacity is 30,000 t of old tires, from which either 15,000 to 18,000 t rubber granulate or 3,000 to 6,000 t rubber dust can be produced. 

Environment

The system was planned and built in keeping with the very latest technological developments.
The technology used works at room temperature (warm milling), as well as in a heavily cooled state with use of liquid nitrogen during fine milling (cold milling of the “brittle” rubber). Liquid nitrogen is collected in the air breakup systems and is delivered suing tank wagons from the respective production systems (these are available at sites in the iron and steel industry, for example).

The production systems are located in closed operating halls; the presorting and milling is performed in a covered area immediately next to the processing machines in the operating hall.

The rubber milling systems are to a great extent encapsulated so that air from the processing points can be sucked up and be cleaned to the greatest extent possible via dust filters. This ensures that no air contamination occurs for the employees and environment.

In addition, the minimization of noise through appropriate damping measures was taken into account as early as the planning phase. For this purpose, calculations and measurements were made by independent experts in order to ensure optimal protection for bystanders and employees.

The environmental friendliness of the recycling system is ensured due to the combination of measures carried out. 

Recycling system

The system is divided into:

• Pre-milling
  The sorted tires are milled using rotary sheers into palm-sized peces (tire shreds).
• Granulation
  The tire schreds are milled in a multistep process in a modern granulation press. This is followed by an involved separation and cleaning process which ensures the highest quality standards for the end product. 
• Cold milling system
  Rubber granulate is cooled to -100° C using liquid nitrogen. This glazes the granulate. In the special mill downstream, the milling of the granulate to the finest rubber dust is performed. The final working steps are drying, cleaning, and sifting of the rubber dust. 

It is characteristic of ART systems both that the highest quality demands are met, and that the most varied customer wishes can be met with a maximum of flexibility. 
 

Compounding

The manufacture of the ASAflex masterbatches is performed in double-snake compounding systems with know-how from ART and is performed on a contract basis by selected partners. An investment in in-house compounding systems at the Ohlsdorf site is being planned and is now nothing but a question of time.