Amandus- Kahl tyre recycling plant for Qatar

Qatar/Germany – Industrial conglomerate Al-Hodaifi of Qatar has diversified its operations with the addition of a tyre recycling business. The company has opened a plant at Umm Al Afai near the country’s capital of Doha which is capable of processing 1.6 million tyres a year, grinding them to produce different grades of rubber granules, steel and nylon. The plant has been manufactured by Germany’s Amandus- Kahl and can accept all types of used tyres.

The ground tyre material can be used in new tyres, soles for footwear, floor coverings and waterproof materials, as well as in sewage treatment and in irrigation solutions. It can also be mixed with asphalt which, according to Al-Hodaifi Recycling’s Managing Director Brian Murphy, improves the lifespan of the road and reduces noise by 50% at a financial saving of around US$ 50 000 per lane kilometre.

The tyre recycling plant is scheduled to become fully operational in November, says Philipp Biedenkopf, Product Manager (Tyre Recycling) at Amandus- Kahl. The plant is computer controlled, with automated processes said to ensure a high-quality end product. Mr Biedenkopf adds: ‘This is the second tyre recycling plant in Qatar but it is the first industrialised one. The waste tyres at the Umm al Afai landfill will be turned into valuable products to the benefit of the country’s infrastructure, which will reduce the cost of maintenance and production.’