If you want to turn used tires into a source of revenue, a complete tire recycling system covers the whole path, from the whole tire to clean rubber granules, recovered steel, and separated textile fiber. The process is purely mechanical, takes place at ambient temperature, and uses no chemicals, so it generates absolutely no pollution. The result: sellable products, chips for fuel, mulch, granules for sports surfaces, and rubber powder.
A well-designed tire recycling system chains shredding, magnetic separation of the steel, and fiber separation into a continuous, modular, and scalable flow. It starts with coarse shredding and reaches, depending on the configuration, fine granules, with each fraction having its own market. See the full range of recycling equipment and where each piece fits into the flow.
Key Advantages of a Used-Tire Recycling Line
• Complete, modular flow, a tire recycling system links shredding, rasping, granulation, and separation into a single chain, configured in stages depending on the desired final product.
• Mechanical process, no pollution, everything happens at ambient temperature, with no chemicals and no burning, so no emissions and no wastewater to treat.
• Rubber and steel recovery, the magnetic separators extract the steel wire, and the fiber separators remove the textile, leaving clean rubber and sellable steel.
• Multiple sellable products, TDF chips of 50–100 mm, wire-free mulch of 20 mm, granules of 1–5 mm, and rubber powder, each with its own market.
• Scalable capacity, the system is sized from a starter line up to an industrial installation, adding stages as the volume grows.
• Powerful primary shredding, the primary shredder works with high torque and low speed, breaking down whole tires, including truck and OTR tires.
• Automation and control, conveyor-belt feeding, fraction control through interchangeable screens, and recirculation of oversized material.
• Real payback, from waste that takes up a large volume you obtain feedstock in demand in construction, sports, and industry, shortening the recovery period of the investment.
Technical Specifications, Tire Recycling System
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Process type | Mechanical recycling at ambient temperature, no chemicals |
| Feedstock | Car, truck, and OTR tires, whole or pre-cut |
| Primary shredding | Twin-shaft shredder, high torque and low speed |
| Intermediate chips | 50–150 mm after primary shredding |
| Metal separation | Magnetic separators (steel wire) |
| Textile separation | Negative-pressure fiber separators |
| Final products | TDF chips 50–100 mm, mulch 20 mm, granules 1–5 mm, rubber powder |
| Components | With CE marking where applicable |
| Capacity | Configurable per project |
Applications and Industries for Rubber and Steel Recovery
A tire recycling system serves waste-management operators, tire recyclers, and investors who want to enter a market with abundant, cheap feedstock. Each fraction finds its buyer: the chips go as TDF to cement plants, the granules to sports surfaces and elastic paving, and the steel to steelworks. For an operator, this means multiple revenue streams from a single waste.
The management of used tires is strictly regulated in the European Union; landfilling whole or shredded tires is prohibited under Directive 1999/31/EC on the landfill of waste, which turns recycling into a necessity, not an option.
Beyond fuel, rubber recycled from a tire recycling system goes into modified asphalt for more durable and quieter roads, into elastic tiles and pavers, into fitness mats, and into molded products. The fine powder even reaches regenerated rubber. For an investor, the ability to deliver several fractions at once, from coarse mulch to fine powder, opens contracts in different industries and stabilizes demand.
The volume of end-of-life tires in Romania and the region grows year after year, while local processing capacity remains limited. This means abundant feedstock, often at zero acquisition cost or even with a take-back fee collected, and constant demand for the resulting products. A properly sized tire recycling system positions you exactly at the intersection of a pressing environmental problem and a growing sales market.
Compatible Materials
A tire recycling system processes practically all types of rubber tires, regardless of size. Very large tires, from construction or agricultural machinery, are pre-cut before shredding, and those with a steel bead first go through bead extraction. The better sorted the incoming flow, the cleaner the steel and fiber separation.
| Accepted material | Notes |
|---|---|
| Car tires (passenger vehicles) | The main source, direct processing |
| Truck tires | Pre-cut if they exceed the feeding size |
| OTR / machinery tires | Mandatory pre-cutting for large diameters |
| Industrial rubber | Belts, profiles, and rubber waste |
How It Works
The flow on a tire recycling system is continuous, automated, and mechanical, from the whole tire to the final fraction:
1. The tires are fed and, if needed, their steel beads are extracted, then the large ones are pre-cut.
2. The twin-shaft primary shredder breaks the tires down into chips of 50–150 mm.
3. A magnetic separator extracts the steel wire released from the chips.
4. The rasper reduces the chips and releases the remaining steel, moving the material toward granules.
5. The granulator reduces the rubber to 1–5 mm, and the fiber separator removes the textile.
6. The fractions are screened, sorted by size, and discharged separately, ready for sale or fine grinding.
Oversized material is recirculated, so the final product stays uniform. A continuously monitored tire recycling system keeps the fractions consistent and quickly brings new operators to stable results, a real advantage in plants with staff turnover.
Frequently Asked Questions
What products come out of a tire recycling system?
Depending on the configuration, you obtain TDF chips of 50–100 mm for fuel, wire-free mulch of 20 mm for landscaping, granules of 1–5 mm for sports surfaces and paving, plus rubber powder for asphalt and regenerated rubber. To these are added the recovered steel and the textile fiber. In practice, a single tire recycling system gives you several revenue streams from the same waste.
Does the process use chemicals or heat?
No. It is a purely mechanical process, at ambient temperature, with no chemicals and no burning. The tires are shredded, rasped, and granulated, and the steel and fiber are physically separated. This means no emissions and no wastewater to treat, an important advantage for permitting and for environmental costs.
What types of tires can it process?
The system processes car, truck, and OTR tires. Large tires are pre-cut, and those with a steel bead go through bead extraction before shredding. Capacity and stages are sized according to your volume and the desired final fraction, from a starter line up to an industrial installation.
Is the delivered equipment new?
Yes. We deliver new, unused equipment, built to order, not refurbished units. The construction uses components from established suppliers, with CE marking where applicable, and every line undergoes a complete inspection before shipping. You receive the technical documentation and operating manuals in your language, for a commissioning without surprises.
What makes URSTAG a premium brand?
European design, top-tier components and experience. Every machine is designed by our engineering teams in Europe and built from components by industry leaders such as Siemens, Schneider Electric, ABB, WEG, SEW-Eurodrive, NORD Drivesystems and Bonfiglioli. The result is reliable, energy-efficient and durable equipment, backed by over 15 years of experience and by delivery, installation, training and service included.
How long does installation and commissioning take?
Transport, commissioning, and operator training are included and carried out by a local team, in your language. Before shipping, the system undergoes a complete inspection, so your unit becomes operational quickly, with no hidden installation costs.
How much space and what utilities are needed?
The floor area depends on the number of stages and the chosen capacity, from a compact starter line up to a hall for an industrial installation. The system needs a three-phase electrical supply and space for handling the tires at the inlet and the fractions at the outlet. We size the layout together with you, depending on the available hall and the material flow.
Why URSTAG?
URSTAG is a premium brand of recycling equipment, with over 15 years of experience. You don't just get a machine, you get a solution engineered by specialists, built from top-tier components and backed by a team that supports you from design through commissioning.
• European engineering, every machine and every complete line is designed by our engineering teams in Europe, with a focus on reliability, safety and energy efficiency.
• Premium components, we build on motors and automation from industry leaders: Siemens, Schneider Electric, ABB, WEG, SEW-Eurodrive, NORD Drivesystems and Bonfiglioli.
• Over 15 years of experience, we know how materials and machines behave in real-world operation, and we configure each solution for your flow and volume.
• New equipment, configured for you, we supply new units, made to order for your application, with complete technical documentation.
• Delivery, installation and training included, we handle transport, commissioning and operator training, with support throughout the equipment's life.
As a premium brand, URSTAG relies on European engineering, top-tier components and experience. You choose a partner that supports your production long term, with equipment built to run reliably in demanding industrial environments.
