Netherlands-based tyre upcycling company Black Bear has named Richard Dikkers its new commercial director. Black Bear says he “brings extensive knowledge and experience” to his new position, where he will support the company’s circular economy-based business model.
Following the fire that destroyed its first pilot plant in February 2019 and hurled the company into operational and financial difficulties, in May 2021 Black Bear Carbon announced plans to build a new flagship plant within the Chemelot Industrial Park in Limburg, the Netherlands. The company took a further step towards realising its plan on 23 March when visiting the Chemelot site with potential investor NEOS Direct Lending.
Victor Vreeken is now chief executive officer of Black Bear Carbon. He succeeds Silvio Ghyoot, who has “decided to leave Black Bear to pursue opportunities outside the company.”
Ten years have passed since a small team with a clever idea and a vision formed Black Bear Carbon, and although the decade hasn’t been without its setbacks, the company is getting ready to roll out its process for recovering carbon black and other valuable raw materials from end of life tyres. Pending financing, a new plant in Rotterdam, the Netherlands will be operational by the end of next year.
Dutch end of life tyre upcycling company Black Bear Carbon has appointed Victor Vreeken its new chief technology officer. In this role, Vreeken will lead the company’s efforts to scale-up and globally roll out its technology for converting tyre rubber into recovered carbon black, gas and biogenic oil.
Michelin’s North American operation has filed a suit against a company importing “counterfeit” tyres from China. The tyres in question are said to violate patents for the BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2.
MMEC Mannesmann GmbH (MMEC), a global leader in engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) and Black Bear, the Dutch tyre to carbon black upcycling company, today announced a strategic partnership to accelerate the rollout of Black Bear’s technology to produce recovered Carbon Black (rCB) from end-of-life tyres.
Dutch tyre upcycling company and recovered carbon black (rCB) producer Black Bear has appointed Geert Glimmerveen its new chief financial officer. He brings with him more than 30 years’ experience in senior finance and executive positions in several leading companies.
Black Bear’s carbon black has received an official Cradle to Cradle Certified Bronze Certificate, assessed by the Environmental Protection Encouragement Agency (EPEA). This is the first time that a carbon black has received this certification.
“This certification is a clear demonstration of our commitment to accelerating the transition towards a circular economy. We are pleased that we can now offer carbon black users a real and officially certified choice for selecting clean and green materials” said Martijn Lopes Cardozo, CEO Black Bear.
Aeroview/Port of Rotterdam