Before the conference, we caught up with Jeff Shiue, General Manager at Eco Infinic, to discuss the key themes of his upcoming presentation.
Your talk at the Recovered Carbon Black Asia 2026 will dive into Commercial Scale Pyrolysis Chamber Design & rCB Performance in Tire Compounds. Why do you think it’s important for others in the industry to hear this message?
At Eco Infinic, we believe that an industry is not fully mature until most companies can sustain themselves with positive cashflow. Achieving manufacturing economies of scale while producing stable rCB and TPO products that meet the quality demands of the largest off-takers is one of the best ways to achieve financial sustainability. We would like to share our experiences on this topic and hopefully inspire others to grow this industry with us.
Can you give us an update on what's happening in your local market? What are the latest trends over there?
Thailand has a closed ELT market with strict laws against importing. This had kept the ELT pricing fairly stable in the long term. However, we have noticed that foreign trading companies have started to come in and purchasing ELTs for exporting. This drives up ELT pricing and reduces stability in the market. We are working with other pyrolysis companies to lobby the government and enact laws to keep the local ELTs within Thailand.
Which challenges and opportunities do you see for the recovered carbon black industry in your local market?
Many pyrolysis companies in Asia still struggle with maintaining consistent rCB and TPO quality. However, once consistently high quality can be demonstrated, the off-take demand is very high. We would like to work with more partners in Asia to increase the availability of high quality rCB made with continuous pyrolysis processes and proven back-end processing.
Looking ahead, what do you think will be some exciting developments in recovered carbon black or tire pyrolysis soon?
We look forward to the ASTM D36 Committee further establishing global standards for rCB and TPO products, to help the tire pyrolysis industry move further towards industrialization. We think there is value is specialized products, but commoditization is the key driver to truly scaling up and satisfying the needs of the tire industry.
What hurdles does the RCB/tire pyrolysis value chain need to tackle in the next few years?
There are many different technology packages in the pyrolysis industry, each with its own set of advantages and disadvantages. However, to achieve true economies of scale, the industry will likely have to consolidate around just a few technology packages to offer the large potential off-takers consistent product quality across various regions. The large tire manufacturers have global footprints, so should the pyrolysis operators that aim to grow alongside them.
Are there any specific collaborations within or with the value chain that you're looking for?
Eco Infinic is actively seeking companies that can partner with us in various new locations as we expand our manufacturing footprint across the globe. We possess abundant investment capital and a proven technology package, but need local equity partners that can help us navigate the specific on-take and off-take challenges in each region. We welcome anyone who is interested in collaborating to reach out to us at the rCB Asia Conference.
