Demonstration fuels interest in tire-recycling prototype

By Thomas V. Bona

BusinessRockford.com

More than 100 people from several countries are coming to Rockford this week to see waste turned into energy.

Global Resource Corp. is showing off its Patriot-1 prototype, a machine that turns shredded tires into oil, natural gas and carbon ash. The weeklong demonstration is drawing potential customers and other interested people.

“People have waited a very long time and have come very far — from all over the globe — to witness the demonstration,” CEO Eric Swain said. “There are people who have followed the technology through its evolution for the last two years, so it’s our hope that they see it working (and) they see we’ve reached a critical milestone in its development.”

Swain said Global Resource Corp. is in negotiations with some “very large biofuel-type companies” about ordering machines of their own. Once an order is placed, it’ll take a year for the first machine to be produced. Once the manufacturing system is going, though, machines could be cranked out in half that time.

New Jersey-based Global Resource Corp. built its prototype at Ingersoll Production Systems in Rockford because of connections with the local manufacturer.

Swain said the Rockford area, as well as southern Wisconsin, still is in the running for Global Resource Corp.’s first factory. But because of the specifications the company needs in a building, Swain said, it’s been hard for Rockford-area officials to find a facility.

“I know they’ve been working diligently to give us a choice,” he said.

The Patriot-1 bombards shredded tires with microwaves targeted to excite the hydrocarbons inside, harvesting natural gas, diesel heating oil and other commodities.

The machines can process between one and three tons of tires an hour. They’ll cost $2 million to $4 million, though with related equipment, a fully installed machine could cost up to $9 million.

The emissions-free process is being adapted to turn solid waste, oil shale, heavy oils and coal into energy. For example, the company recently signed a deal with a large oil field services company to develop a machine to turn heavy oil into lighter, more usable oil.

Besides drawing customer interest, Global Resource Corp. wants to draw government support. Swain expects that tighter state and federal laws on waste recycling will send companies and waste handlers looking for new technology like the Patriot-1.

“The ultimate goal is for this technology to make such a significant contribution that it motivates the world’s business and political leaders to embrace it as the de facto standard for processing waste materials,” Swain said.

Contact staff writer Thomas V. Bona at 815-987-1343 or tbona@rrstar.com.