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Interview with Weibold

A person in a suit AI-generated content may be incorrect.Ahead of this year's Recovered Carbon Black Asia 2025, we spoke with Franklin Raj, Pyrolysis Business Analyst, Representative for APAC at Weibold, to get a sneak peek of what we can expect from his presentation on 'Scaling rCB for Tire Applications – Global Volume Trends and Asia's Emerging Role' Here's what he had to say…


1. Why is it important for others in the industry to hear your message about scaling rCB for tire applications and Asia’s emerging role?

This presentation aims to highlight the current and emerging trends in the rCB sector across APAC. It will examine Asia’s readiness and positioning within the global rCB market, while exploring the region’s future growth potential. In addition, we will discuss Asia’s current collaborations, key barriers, and other influencing factors—beyond product quality—that shape the development of the rCB sector in developing APAC countries 

2. Can you give us an update on what's happening in your local market? What are the latest trends over there?

The pyrolysis (and rCB) sector in India and several developing APAC countries is consolidating, i.e., operators moving away from small-scale, cottage-type units towards organized large-scale facilities. This transformation is driven by improving regulatory constraints, growing access to markets for high-value commodities, technological growth and improved economic viability with larger plants. 
 
3. Which challenges and opportunities do you see for the rCB industry in Asia?

The APAC pyrolysis industry is transitioning from basic fuel-focused operations towards interest in rCB and other high-value commodity products. While a few companies have already succeeded in this shift, the majority of recyclers continue to face significant roadblocks. These include:
  • The absence of economically viable and reliable technologies for rCB production,
  • A lack of standardized rCB specifications and credible testing methods or institutes, and
  • Limited technical knowledge on the rCB sales process with tire manufacturers and/or vCB companies.
Addressing these gaps will be essential to unlocking the sector’s full potential and driving sustainable growth across APAC

4. Looking ahead, what do you think will be some exciting developments in recovered carbon black or tire pyrolysis soon?

The involvement of leading virgin carbon black producers and tire manufacturers with pyrolysis operators for the rCB and TPO. In the medium term, we expect this trend to accelerate, with major OEMs and manufacturers increasingly collaborating with established recyclers. Such partnerships will drive the development of larger, more advanced facilities and raise environmental, regulatory, and HSE compliance standards—enabling plants to align with international standards demanded by global OEMs and manufacturers. 

5. What hurdles does the tire pyrolysis value chain need to tackle in the next few years?

Some of the key hurdles include:
  • Consumer behavior: rCB and TPO are still largely perceived as cost-driven alternatives rather than premium sustainable materials
  • Technology: Reliance on outdated technologies and inefficient processes.
  • Quality and Performance: Tire manufacturers' concerns on performance consistency and reliable supply volumes.
  • Standards: absence of standardized specifications.
  • Supply chain: Fragmentation in the supply chain, limited coordination and scalability.
Addressing these issues is essential to creating a stable, scalable, and globally competitive rCB industry.

6. Are there any specific collaborations within or with the value chain that you're looking for?

As leading consultants offering end-to-end services in this sector, we seek to engage with all key stakeholders—from project initiators and OEMs to investors. However, we are more interested in understanding the perspectives and strategies of the off-takers (especially tire manufacturers and virgin carbon black producers) by learning from their experiences to date and their outlook on the sector’s future.