Bolder Industries to launch first EU facility

A Boulder, Colorado-based tire recycler supplying materials for the rubber, plastics and petrochemical industries, Bolder Industries Inc. has announced partnerships with Antea Group, Cyclops and OSQB Architects as it seeks to build its first E.U. facility at the NextGen District in the Port of Antwerp, Belgium.

Bolder says the partnerships will ensure that its development plans will remain on track for commercial operations beginning in 2024. It says it will base the Belgium facility’s design on its plants located in Maryville, Missouri and Terre Haute, Indiana.

Bolder says the first phase at its Antwerp location will house three reactors on site, which will process approximately 3 million end-of-life tires per year and dramatically increase production volumes of its sustainable, ISCC Plus certified carbon black (BolderBlack) and petrochemicals (BolderOil) to satisfy increasing market demand for the circular raw materials.

The company says the new location will also bolster its environmental savings by using 98 percent less CO2 and 85 percent less water and energy than traditional methods of virgin carbon black production, while utilizing 98 percent of every scrap tire.

“The Bolder Industries Antwerp location is changing the game for our international clients,” Bolder Industries founder and CEO Tony Wibbeler says. “Once operational, we can more easily serve our customers and expand our delivery to major markets, including E.U.-based tire manufacturers. We’re eager to broaden our customers’ sustainable impact, grow our team internationally and establish ourselves as a global circular solutions provider.”

The Antwerp-based Antea Group says it aided Bolder in identifying its E.U. location and will support permitting moving forward. As partners, they considered multiple European locations and selected the Port of Antwerp for its dedication to sustainability, partnerships with other circular organizations, access to canals and rail systems and proximity to Bolder’s client roster.

“Bolder made a smart move by developing in this specific location near the largest petrochemical cluster in Europe. The multimodal transport possibilities and the site’s focus on circular economy make it the ideal choice,” Antea Group Belgium General Manager Jan Parys says. “We are pleased to guide Bolder Industries through the entire permitting process. It is yet another step towards building a sustainably-growing port and a livable city of Antwerp.”

Bolder says Cyclops, Mechelen, Belgium, was chosen as its project management partner of its experience with industrial recycling facilities and commitment to a transition toward a climate-neutral society. Bolder adds that Antwerp-based OSQB was selected for the build-out of the site due to its ability to deliver architectural, structural and technical engineering disciplines under one roof.

“The road to sustainable tires is only possible if we move towards full recycling of tire waste,” says Tanguy Oosterlynck, founder of OSQB Architects. “We are excited to partner with Bolder in building the new recycling plants for Antwerp, where we will apply BolderBlack-made rubber and plastics materials in the architectural concept, showcasing the versatility of the product.”