Michelin North America celebrates a decade of business with Lehigh Technologies, a company that manufactures Micronized Rubber Powders.

Michelin’s partnership with Lehigh Technologies began early in the Georgia-based company’s history, when it began manufacturing Micronized Rubber Powder (MRP) to reuse end-of-life tire materials. Lehigh, acquired by the Michelin Group in October 2017, is now a key element of Michelin’s recently announced ambition to make tires with 80 percent sustainable materials by 2048.

“Michelin and our customers will continue to benefit from the implementation of this closed-loop approach, where tires are recycled into tires, with Lehigh Technologies,” said Gary Scheide, responsible for materials manufacturing for Michelin North America. “The Lehigh team is a great partner and a reliable supplier to our plants in North America. We look forward to working together to advance our sustainable manufacturing processes as we further incorporate Lehigh’s expertise within the Michelin Group.”

Lehigh’s proprietary technology converts rubber materials into a high technology powder that can be incorporated in new retread compounds offering higher levels of performance. MRP replaces oil- and rubber-based feedstocks in a wide range of industrial and consumer applications, including high-performance tires, plastics, consumer goods, coatings, sealants, construction materials and asphalt. Lehigh technical experts collaborate with customers to optimize products for each application.

“An increasing number of markets recognize they must improve their sustainability profile and reduce consumption of carbon-based materials,” said Christophe Rahier, director of the High Technology Materials Business Line for the Michelin Group. “Lehigh’s products and technical capabilities enable the use of rubber powders from end-of-life tires to deliver cost savings and performance, as well as sustainability to their customers – not just in the tire industry but also in the asphalt, construction, plastics and coatings markets.”

Tagged: Gary Scheide

Michelin celebrate 10 years of partnership with Lehigh Technologies