The Glass Run Channel is Greener on Jyco's Side

U.S. company announces JyGreen technology to recycle tires into high performance extruded TPV automotive weatherseal systems

Dexter, Michigan (PRWEB) December 14, 2007 -- Jyco Sealing Technologies has announced a major breakthrough in rubber reprocessing technology. According to company officials, Jyco now has the ability to utilize reground EPDM from recycled tires and other sources in extruded thermoplastic vulcanizate for high performance automotive weathersealing systems.

"This is a major advantage to our customers trying to build the greenest possible vehicles," stated Shawn Jyawook, Jyco's chief operating officer. "Until now, R-TPV (recycled thermoplastic vulcanizate) has been limited to dunnage or basic injection molded parts like grommets, bushings, bumpers and mud flaps. With JyGreen, we can now extend the environmental and cost benefits to primary seals, glass run channel, hood and trunk lids, sunroofs and other demanding weather sealing applications."

Tires have been a bulk contributor to landfills for many years. By recycling them, we're helping our customers build more environmentally responsible vehicles than ever before, giving consumers better performing weather sealing systems, and saving everyone money in the process.

JyGreen is the recycled (R-TPV) version of JyFlex, the high performance compound that Jyco introduced in 2003.

"It's a bright green win all the way around," added Jyawook. "Tires have been a bulk contributor to landfills for many years. By recycling them, we're helping our customers build more environmentally responsible vehicles than ever before, giving consumers better performing weather sealing systems, and saving everyone money in the process."

Enthusiasm for JyGreen is spreading fast. "The first reactions that we're getting from our customers are fantastic," says Mark Steward, Jyco's Material Development Manager. "Going beyond the benefits of tire recycling, the idea that all of the weatherstripping systems can eventually be stripped from the vehicle and recycled is one that we think the whole auto industry will embrace."

As reprocessed tire rubber, no recompounding is required for JyGreen, and scrap from its processing into TPV is recyclable. The TPV production process itself is free of VOCs and particulate emissions characteristic of EPDM processing. Jyco's production already meets the more stringent environmental standards of Europe and Asia, where the Michigan-based company has plants in addition to their North America operations.

Since its founding in 2000, Jyco has established itself as a world leader in TPV design, engineering and process technology for automotive, heavy truck and RV weathersealing applications. The company has operations in the Belgium, Canada, China, Japan, Mexico and the United States. Jyco's global headquarters is in Dexter, Michigan.

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