ContiTech and Bolder Industries announced the commercial-scale integration of BolderBlack® into ContiTech’s conveyor belt manufacturing in the Americas region
Over the past 12 months, ContiTech incorporated BolderBlack, Bolder’s proprietary recovered carbon black (rCB) alternative, into general-purpose conveyor belt cover compounds across its facilities in the region.
The integration came after a joint qualification process in which Bolder and ContiTech teams ran production trials across ContiTech’s plants in the Americas to validate processing behaviour and material performance, with the results confirming that BolderBlack met the full threshold industrial manufacturers require before scaling a new raw material input.
“Sustainability in industrial manufacturing must be earned through performance, quality, consistency, and cost,” said Mathew Augustine, Head of Product Development, Industrial Solutions Americas, ContiTech. “By integrating BolderBlack into our conveyor belt production, we are demonstrating that circular materials can meet the rigorous standards our customers expect. This partnership with Bolder Industries shows that circularity and competitiveness can go hand in hand in real-world manufacturing.”
BolderBlack is produced from 100% post-consumer or post-industrial rubber waste through Bolder’s proprietary thermal conversion process, with the process requiring approximately 98% less water and generating 86% fewer emissions, compared to virgin carbon black production.
“Manufacturers don’t adopt materials just because they’re sustainable. They select materials because they perform,” said Tony Wibbeler, CEO of Bolder Industries. “BolderBlack doesn’t ask manufacturers to compromise, and in many applications, it outperforms. The market is getting its answer and we’re proud to partner with Continental.”
