The Challenges of Tyre Sorting in Recycling: Why a Comprehensive Sorting List Matters
Tyre recycling is a vital industry that contributes significantly to environmental sustainability by repurposing millions of discarded tires each year. However, the process involves more than simply collecting and shredding tires. A crucial part of tire recycling is the precise sorting of tyres - a task that is both complex and time-consuming.
Understanding the Tire Sorting List
Tyre recyclers use detailed sorting lists to categorize used tyres based on various criteria, including:
Brand: Different tyre brands have varying levels of quality, durability, and market demand.
Model: Specific tyre models are sought after for applications such as retreading or resale.
Dimension: Tyre dimensions involve three different measurements— Rim diameter, width, and aspect ratio. The combination of these three dimensions for light vehicle tyres alone can result in over 400 different size variations, each of which must be carefully identified and sorted.
Tread Wear: The remaining tread depth indicates the tyre's usability for resale or retreading.
DOT (Department of Transportation) Code: This code provides essential information about the tyre's manufacturer, production plant, and the week and year of production.
Speed Index: It is a letter code that indicates the maximum speed a tyre can safely sustain when carrying a load under specified conditions.
Load Index: is a numerical code that indicates the maximum load-carrying capacity of a tyre when properly inflated.
The Complexity of Manual Sorting
Sorting tyres manually according to these parameters is an incredibly complex task. Sorting lists can be extremely long and detailed, with countless variations in brand, model, dimension, and other factors.
Additionally, workers often need to repeatedly consult sorting lists to ensure accuracy, which can lead to significant time loss. This constant need to reference the lists not only slows down the sorting process but also increases the potential for human error. Even the most experienced workers may struggle to remember and apply all the necessary criteria, leading to inefficiencies such as mismatched tyres being sent to the wrong processing line or high-value tyres being overlooked for resale or retreading.
Customized Sorting Lists for Different Applications
Each tyre recycler typically has a sorting list tailored to their specific applications, further complicating the process:
Resellers: These recyclers focus on the quality of the tyre, premium brands, and the remaining tread wear. They prioritize tyres that can be resold with minimal processing.
Retreaders: Like resellers, retreaders check the brand and remaining tread wear, but they favor tyres with minimal remaining tread, as these are better suited for retreading.
Granulators: Some granulators sort tyres based on their origin, particularly Asian tyres, due to concerns about Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs). They may also separate tyres with white walls to ensure the production of uniformly black crumb rubber.
Pyrolysis Operators: Pyrolysis requires careful attention to the homogeneity of the input material to maintain consistent quality in the output, particularly in producing high-grade carbon black.
The Role of Technology in Simplifying Sorting
Given the complexity and time-consuming nature of manual sorting, tyre recyclers are turning to technology to streamline the process. Automated systems, powered by artificial intelligence like the one developed by REGOM, can quickly and accurately sort tyres based on the criteria in a sorting list. These systems can read and interpret brand, model, dimensions, DOT codes, speed Index, load Index, measure tread wear, and categorize tyres all in a fraction of the time it would take a human worker.
By reducing the need for manual referencing of sorting lists, these technologies not only improve efficiency but also minimize errors, ensuring that tyres are sorted correctly and processed in the most sustainable and profitable way.
Conclusion
Tyre recycling is a complex process that hinges on the accurate sorting of tyres according to a detailed and often lengthy list of criteria. While manual sorting has traditionally been the norm, the complexity, time consumption, and potential for errors make it a challenging task. As the industry evolves, technology offers a promising solution to these challenges, helping tyre recyclers work more efficiently and effectively in their mission to protect the environment and support the circular economy.
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